Claes Nobel Educators of the Year

NSHSS is pleased to highlight our Claes Nobel Educators of the Year for 2014-2015, presented to ten exemplary educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to preparing students for success in college and in life. These ten educators are among NSHSS’s student-nominated Claes Nobel Educators of Distinction program that recognizes educators who model best practices in teaching, are a positive influence for students and peers, and who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in education, as well as community engagement. Since the inception of the Educators of Distinction program in 2004, NSHSS has recognized more than 38,000 educators worldwide.

John Carnesecca
Department Chair, Social Science
Great Oak High School, Temecula, CA

Mr. Carnesecca has twenty-four years of experience in educational leadership. In addition to heading his school’s Social Science Department, he has served as an assistant principal, chair of the District Social Science Curriculum Committee, a defensive coordinator for varsity football, a head softball coach, and has taught IB history for seven years. He has received multiple Teacher of the Year and Coach of the Year awards–leading his teams to numerous playoff seasons. Mr. Carnesecca earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Chapman University.

Mr. Carnesecca believes that it is essential for an educator’s knowledge of content to be coupled with a passion to teach and inspire. Instead of instructing students to copy information from a power point presentation or merely verbally presenting material to students, he believes that students should be prompted to think critically and independently delve further into the content. He asserts that the brain is a muscle that must be exercised by “stretching”–by “reading, writing, discussion, problem solving, group work, and participation.”

Superintendent Tim Ritter explains, “. . . John is a gifted, dedicated, and hard-working individual who has earned the respect of his peers and is recognized as a teacher among teachers.” Mr. Carnesecca’s nominating student adds, “’Coach Carny’ is an amazing person and such an inspiration to me and many other students. He is one of those teachers a student will never forget.”