BY JANE McINNIS
While San Ramon Valley High Science teacher Cindy Egan was named a California State semi-finalist Teacher of the Year earlier this month, she admits she doesn't always think of herself as a teacher.
"I'm more of a representative of all the teachers in the district," she said.
Egan is in her ninth year teaching environmental science and engineering at San Ramon Valley High.
Prior to teaching, she worked as a civil engineer for 25 years with an office in Oakland.
Egan is a visible force in the community, serving as a board member for Sustainable Danville Area, as well as a local organizer for urban farming.
She also leads the robotics and environmental engineering programs at the school, volunteers for coastal and creek clean-ups and helps organize urban farming.
"My students do an incredible amount of volunteer work," she said. "I know they're working to build their resumes, but I can't believe how much these kids go above and beyond."
Egan was named the county's teacher of the year along with West Contra Costa Unified School District's Beth Levine, a teacher at Montalvin Manor Elementary.
She is among 18 top educators statewide who will be honored at a California Teacher of the Year gala in February, according to an article in the Contra Costa Times.
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