At the start of CPT on March 7, English teacher Lynne Kelsey was named Teacher of the Month for the CVUSD.

CVUSD superintendent Dr. Mark McLaughlin, along with other board members, presented the award to Kelsey, who will be retiring at the end of this school year.

“It’s very nice recognition,” said Kelsey. “What matters most to me really is the respect of my peers, so I feel very honored.”

Kelsey began teaching at WHS in the middle of the 2004-2005 school year, taking over senior English classes from a teacher who had left.

“There was just something so interesting about these young people who are going off and starting their lives,” said Kelsey. “I decided that it was really neat to be part of that, one of the people who was sending them off in a good way, so that’s where I found my niche to teach seniors.”

Throughout her time at WHS, she has mainly taught seniors, and this year’s senior class will be the 14th class of graduating seniors she has taught.

The award honors Kelsey’s “dedicated service to her students, to her department and to the school community at large,” said English Department Chair Lora Novak.

Kelsey has also served on WHS’s Technology Committee, helping to integrate more technology into classrooms and lessons.

“I think Mrs. Kelsey’s sense of humor, knowledge of current trends and tech innovations and understanding make her a great teacher for seniors,” said English teacher Hilary Waldinger.

During her final school year at WHS, in addition to English 12 CP, Kelsey continues to teach a course she helped start at WHS: CSU Expository Reading and Writing. After being the first in the CVUSD to teach it, she has embraced it in its third year at WHS, helping seniors prepare for college level writing.

“My favorite part of teaching is just seeing my students become adults,” said Kelsey. “It’s just kind of fun to see how they’re growing up and having successful careers.”

Kelsey is known for her willingness to help others, both by her students and fellow teachers.

“She just really likes to help, so she’s always trying to help, trying to be there and trying to make our last year really great,” said Olivia Bayers ‘18, Expository Reading and Writing student. “She’s really passionate about teaching; she loves what she does and she really cares about all her students.”

Students praise her ability to motivate them in class, providing engaging lessons during their last year at WHS.

“She’s really genuine,” said Kolton Feldman ‘18, who is in Kelsey’s Expository Reading and Writing class. “She just cares about us as students; she makes it fun to come here to class and enjoy being there.”

Kelsey will retire after the Class of 2018 graduates. Her time at and contributions to WHS will be remembered.

“Her impact goes beyond the students in her classroom,” said Novak. “I am sorry for WHS and for the English Department in particular to lose such a resourceful, innovative, tech-savvy, creative and generous teacher.”

After a successful teaching career, Kelsey will leave a lasting mark on WHS and its students.

“We will miss Ms. Kelsey a lot next year,” said Waldinger, “but I congratulate her on starting an exciting new chapter in her life.