Laura Polden, a Pearl Zanker Elementary School fourth grade teacher, was honored with the 2017 Leo B. Murphy Teacher of the Year award and a plaque at an unveiling ceremony at Milpitas Public Library on Monday.
Polden’s name and picture were added to the plaque next to the 16 previous honorees, continuing the legacy of Leo B. Murphy, a former superintendent and revered member of the Milpitas Rotary Club.
Milpitas Superintendent Cheryl Jordan and the district’s Board of Education members were present when Polden unveiled the plaque in front of the public including former students. Milpitas Rotary Club provided the plaque and spearheaded the ceremony.
Polden, 30, is starting her fifth year of teaching in Milpitas Unified and was named the 2016-17 district teacher of the year, said after Monday’s unveiling event that she’s always loved working with children and knew she would become an elementary school teacher.
Growing up, Polden served as a camp counselor, nanny, swim teacher and mother’s helper, among other roles, always intending to be an elementary school teacher.
“Nobody taller than me,” Polden quipped. “But even now in fourth grade some of my students are taller than me, but yeah, my personality lends itself better for elementary school children.”
Moreover, Polden’s classroom is known as the singing classroom at Zanker.
“We sing a lot in my classroom, everyday…you can always hear us we have a gold microphone they can sing with. It’s a great way to teach reading skills in early ages,” she said.
In July, Polden was invited to speak at the California Teachers Summit about why teachers should sing more in the classroom.
Polden said she was “humbled and surprised” to be named the Leo. B Murphy Teacher of the Year too. She added that she was ready to go into the new school year with some momentum.
Polden said her favorite part about teaching is her students and said she has learned something from every class she’s taught and continues to learn new things every day.
“You never know what to expect. That is the great part of this job. You can come in with a plan for one thing and it takes you in a completely different direction, I am very lucky in that way,” she said.
Born in Iowa, Polden grew up in Tennessee and eventually came to Mountain View for high school. She got her bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from George Washington University and a master’s in teaching from Santa Clara University. Polden did much of her student teacher work at Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School.
Others also feel Polden as a teacher and person has given much to the school district.
“I think she is extremely deserving. She has this zest for life. She finds a way to connect with all colleagues and invites parents to be a part of her classroom. She is truly a lifelong learner,” Zanker Principal Trisha Lee said of Polden in a statement.
