2022 Teacher of the Year

The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is proud to announce that Nay Flinn, Kindergarten Teacher at Connect Academy; Aimee McCoy, 8 th Grade Humanities and AVID Teacher at Mesa Verde Middle School; and Andrea Ford, Spanish Teacher at Westview High School have been chosen as the PUSD Teachers of the Year for 2022. These teachers embody the PUSD culture and mission through their job performance, dedication to the community, and contributions to the District. Their names will be forwarded to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), which sponsors a countywide recognition program for teachers

Nay Flinn, Kindergarten Teacher at Connect Academy

Nay has been with PUSD for 27 years – her entire teaching career. She believes her greatest accomplishent is the relationships and connections she has created with her students. As a veteran teacher and leader, Nay has been able to create a successful, future-focused kindergarten program for Connect Academy, the new virtual K-8 school in Poway Unified. The program embraces a student-centered environment through both virtual and on-campus learning. Nay is creating an outdoor learning space at Connect Academy, which will include gardening, hands-on STEM connections, blended technology, and social and emotional skill building.

Nay is dedicated to the future of learning and establishes opportunities for both her own students and others in the community to grow their skills, passions and experiences. She has spent hours writing grants to gain support for STEAM and hands-on learning in PUSD, assisted Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in earning badges and awards, volunteered with the First Lego League and Robotics Programs, and allows future teachers from local universities to observe in her virtual classroom. Nay’s commitment to her students, the District, and the community exemplify the leadership and dedication she has as an educator and makes her an outstanding representative of PUSD.

Aimee McCoy, 8th Grade Humanities and AVID Teacher at Mesa Verde Middle School

As a graduate of Poway Unified herself, Aimee knows the difference one teacher can make in a student’s life. She strives to instill a love of learning in all of her students in the same way her former PUSD teachers did in her life.

Over the course of her eight years at Mesa Verde, Aimee’s impact on campus has become increasingly evident. She has successfully developed an integrated AVID course that allows for students to learn the necessary study skills that AVID teaches in conjunction with a Humanities course. Aimee also worked to create an environment that encourages effective and meaningful technology for student learning. She assists teachers of all grade levels and subject areas to create engaging, technology driven lessons for students. In addition, she advocated for a weekly advisory period for students to provide connection to campus adults outside of academics. This time would provide a space for team building, social emotional learning and relational focuses such as No Place for Hate. Aimee’s drive to support all students in their learning endeavors exemplifies the nature of her character and the assets she brings to PUSD. 

Andrea Ford, Spanish Teacher at Westview High School 

Andrea, who has taught in the Poway Unified School District for 14 years, is a Spanish Teacher for all levels. Andrea played an important role in the shift to a standardsbased classroom in her subject area, a shift that most programs have yet to accomplish. She created a new curriculum from scratch, and worked tirelessly to align the World Language program at Westview with best practice and has been able to guide her team and others in the district through this shift.

She values the opportunity to be a safe adult to students and families that may be struggling, specifically with emotional and mental challenges that high schoolers often face. Andrea makes it a priority to sponsor various campus clubs relating to language and community service. She also works with colleagues to organize and offer student trips abroad. These trips provide students an opportunity to practice their skills in Spanish-speaking countries and immerse themselves in the culture while traveling.

Andrea takes her role as an educator seriously and her impact is evident on Westview’s campus. Her devotion to creating the best experience for students – both in and out of the classroom – are reasons why PUSD is proud to recognize her as an honoree.