Suzanne Teacher Named to National 'Dream Team'

Suzanne Middle School math and drama teacher Helen Papadopoulos has been named to the 2013 LearnZillion Dream Team, an elite list of educators.

More than 3,000 teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators nationwide applied for the Dream Team but only 200 were picked, according to a news release from the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

Those selected were chosen according to their understanding of the Common Core Standrds, which outline the newest requirements for what students are expected to learn. They were also picked on their ability to "create high-quality, highly conceptual lessons that are easily understood by their students," district officials said.  

“I wanted to be a part of the Dream Team because I am passionate about our movement towards implementing the common core standards," Papadopoulos said in a statement.  "It’s important that not only our teachers have resources, but that those same resources are also made available to our students and parents.  That’s what LearnZillion’s all about.”

Papadopoulos was the 2007 California Teacher of the Year. In 2012, she won a Bravo Award.

The Walnut City Council plans to honor her on Wednesday.

Dream Team members will receive an all-expense paid trip to San Francisco in May for TeachFest, a conference that is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The professional development conference ushers in the Dream Team Experience, giving teachers three days to work with Common Core experts, content specialists, and other teachers selected for the honor to learn about the new standards and the best way to teach them, according to district officials.

LearnZillion gives teachers the technology and support needed to use their computer screens for teaching.  The Dream Team will create concise lessons that will be made available for free to students, teachers, and parents through LearnZillion once the conference is over.

Around 1.5 million students are registered for the free site, as are more than 100,000 teachers. More than 400,000 teachers and students view lessons on LearnZillion each month around the world, officials said.

"Throughout the process, Dream Team teachers are motivated by the concept of 'scaling their impact' beyond the walls of their own classrooms and schools," district officials said in a news release. "By sharing their lessons online, all students and teachers can benefit from the expertise of Dream Team teachers."