Michele Lamons-Raiford
Michele Lamons-Raiford is a hearing American Sign Language (ASL) and English teacher at Pinole Valley High School in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. She has been a High School teacher for the past 19 years and an Adjunct Instructor at Solano Community College for the past fourteen years. She has a BA and MA in English from Cal State University Sacramento and teaching credentials in English and American Sign Language (ASL) from Cal State University East Bay. Ms. Lamons (as her students call her) is a proud ASL, Deaf Culture, Diversity, and Special Needs Advocate, a wife to a wonderfully supportive husband, and a mother to a young son with special needs.
The Educator of the Year Awards are presented annually to exemplary educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to preparing students for success in college and in life. These awardees model best practices in teaching or administration inside and outside of the classroom, are peer role models, and demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence in education. Any NSHSS Educator teaching high school has the opportunity to apply.