Gina Minder-Maldonado
Position: Second and Third Grade Teacher
School: Oakley Elementary School
School District: Oakley Union Elementary School District
City, State: Oakley, CA
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Gina Minder-Maldonado was nominated by a friend, Trish Giraldo.
For over 28 years, Gina Minder-Maldonado has challenged her elementary school students to reach for the stars and do their very best each day. She incorporates fun, ingenuity, and imagination in order to engage and encourage her students and to accelerate their learning and development both inside and outside of the classroom.
"Her patience and love for her students is unparalleled. She enlightens young minds in her classroom each year," Giraldo said.
Each year, her classes are diverse in their make-up. In her class, she has many low performing students, EL students, students with learning disabilities, and students who have challenging behaviors. Mrs. M&M, as she is known by staff and students, goes out of her way to reach all her students and provide for their needs. She is very calm and patient and treats her students with respect. She wants to help her students in any way she can, whether it be through planning lessons based on their learning styles, buying them snacks so they're not hungry, taking time to meet with them individually as much as she can to keep a strong student/teacher connection, making time before and after school to help with homework or tutoring, providing clothing and school supplies to those that need it, and more!
Mrs. M&M is the type of teacher who would even carpool a student herself just to make sure that they would get to school.
Her dedication is evident year-round, and her passion does not stop in her classroom. She wears many hats for her school and her district. She has been the EL Coordinator for almost 20 years, a math and ELA Lead teacher, a BTSA coach to many new teachers, a master teacher to student teachers, a technology lead, grade level rep, and RTI Coordinator. There is rarely a position that she hasn't volunteered for, Mrs. M&M loves to help everyone and puts all of her heart into everything that she does. No one was surprised when she won the Contra Costa's County Teacher of the Year for the 2016- 2017 school year.
As a school psychologist, I was always impressed by inspired by how Gina took the time to get to know her students as individuals. She was able to connect with students from trauma backgrounds who arrived in her class with behavioral challenges and low school motivation and went above and beyond to provide them with the love, structure, predictability, accountability, sense of belonging in community, curiosity, and love of learning that they needed to believe in themselves and make a positive turn in their life trajectory. Gina slways met students wherever and however they arrived. Gina truly is a life changer!
Gina was my daughter's 1st grade teacher. She loved her so much.
Gina is a phenomenal teacher!! She is passionate, talented, devoted and extremely successful at engaging her students and getting them excited about learning! She always goes the extra mile. Her students love her as does the school staff.
Gina is an amazing teacher!
Gina was my BTSA mentor and she definitely changed teaching life for me!
There were many meetings during year 1 where I just sat in her classroom and cried from the stress! As a veteran teacher at the school, Gina was so understanding and supportive in helping me find myself as a teacher.
I would love to see her receive this title and win money for the school that we love!
This is Aiden and Mrs. M&M is my mommy! And, this year she's my teacher too! She's nice, thoughtful, we learn a lot and she even dances and does yoga with us! I love her!
When I think of Gina, I think of an amazing woman and teacher. Gina was my master teacher as I was getting my credential. She taught me too many things to list here, however, her determination to do and be the best person and educator she can be has been something I've admired for years. She is always working hard to improve on everything. Gina gives others confidence to do their best and always has encouraging words. Honestly I wouldn't be a teacher today if she had not encouraged me to stick with it. She makes teaching look easy. Gina is brilliant in her ability to teach to students with such diverse learning styles and abilities. She is creative in her teaching and makes learning fun. It was a privilege to be taught by her and learn from her. It's a greater privilege to be her friend. I couldn't have asked for a better example of an amazing teacher and woman.
I met Gina while I was a student teacher at her school in 2010. She was not my master teacher, but she was always so willing to help me in any way possible. I worked with her again later while I was a long term sub at her school. Again, she was always willing to help me, and made me feel like a welcomed member of the staff. Gina is an inspiration to all, and an amazing teacher!
Gina Minder-Maldonado is a great example what a teacher should be. She puts not only her time but makes sure that her students have all the learning tools, she spends her own money for supplies and snacks for the student. She makes sure the students are learning and she spends extra time for the ones that needs extra attention. I wish I had a teacher like her. #LCOY
Ms. Minder-Maldonado is an inspiration to all. She does everything for our staff, such as tech help, ELA, and sunshine committee. Her students adore her. I recall doing an intervention for her class last year and all the students complained because they wanted to her tell stories from books. She reads with so much enthusiasm! She’s very organized and a pleasure to work with. Last year, her home flooded and had she not told me, I wouldn’t have guessed anything was wrong in her personal life, she is always dedicated to her work. She has a deep dedication to each and every student. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a highly motivated person, as Gina.
She’s an amazing and passionate teacher that puts her students education first...
To this day I still talk about Mrs. Minder being such an amazing teacher! I moved schools and she was my first teacher in Oakley and I couldn’t be more grateful! Her love for teaching and motley crew left such an amazing impact on my life and I’m so glad she’s nominated for this award! ??
As long as I've worked in the same district as Gina, she's been a dedicated educator! She gives her all in everything she does and wears her heart upon her sleeve. She is this way in the classroom and with her family. She is the epitome of professionalism and her dedication to children is endless. Her students adore her, their families are grateful to have her teach their child, and the staff she works with appreciate working along side her. She is already a LifeChanger, so it's time that many others recognize it too!
Gina is the most amazing, caring and hard-working teacher! I worked as her immediate supervisor for over 15 years and I saw Gina transform the lives of so many children. She always keeps a positive outlook even under challenging. circumstances.
We need more passionate, dedicated educators like Mrs. M&M.
Mrs. M & M is an amazing teacher and mentor! She has given me so much insight and knowledge that I call on every day in my own efforts.
This is my 19th school year teaching with Gina. Through the never-ending changes we are in education and at our little community school, Gina has never failed to be an inspiration to students, colleagues, and family members. She makes sure that we are all taken care of.
Gina is a quiet storm. Her humility and calm nature are what you first see but behind that demure exterior is a powerful advocate for what’s best for children. She is purposeful and artful in her determination to create an engaging learning experience for her students and is a masterful collaborator with colleagues. A true leader in our school.
Dedicated in bringing out the best in her students in both academics and being the best person you can be with love and patience.
Gina Minder-Maldonado encompasses the passion necessary to match the enthusiasm of her students. She envokes a critical pedagogy that is dynamic enough to meet the needs of each of her students. She is tenacious in implementation of curriculum, detailed in her assessment and humble in her adjustments. She is unrelenting in her goal of reaching every child and where's her committment on her sleeves. Her cardinal principle of preparing the whole child is shared among her peers as she serves as an example and mentor to many. Gina is changing lives every day while every day, her life is enhanced by her very students, peers, family and friends she brings so much joy to. Thank you Gina for your unconquerable soul.
I have known this young lady, Gina Minder-maldonado, for 30+ years. I knew she was destined to be a thoughtful caring teacher, before she embarked on her College studies
Gina is an extraordinarily strong teacher who has touched the lives of many children in Oakley. She always puts her students first. She is patient, kind and creative. She goes above and beyond as an educator.
Gina is such a dedicated educator and exemplifies the sincerity, community, and love in our little school. This can be seen in the interactions with students, parents and staff alike.
