Calabasas High teacher honored for innovative teaching





WELL DONE—Diane McEvoy receives the Instructional Leader Award from the Las Virgenes Unified School District on Oct. 12.

WELL DONE—Diane McEvoy receives the Instructional Leader Award from the Las Virgenes Unified School District on Oct. 12.

Calabasas High School English teacher Diane McEvoy has again been recognized by the Las Virgenes Unified School District for her exemplary teaching skills.

At the district’s Oct. 12 Staff Development Day, McEvoy was presented with the LVUSD’s Instructional Leader Award.

The district’s Educational Services Department created the award in 2013 to honor teachers who are lifelong learners and who go above and beyond in implementing innovative classroom practices.

“We congratulate Diane McEvoy on this well-deserved recognition,” said Mary Schillinger, assistant superintendent of education. “Our district and its students have greatly benefited from her leadership and unwavering commitment to student growth and literacy.”

Calabasas High School principal C.J. Foss said that McEvoy exemplified the name of the award—Instructional Leader— in and out of the classroom.

“She champions educational innovation and proven methodologies that result in student learning,” Foss said. “She is a joyful, passionate advocate for teachers and students who inspires everyone around her to be their very best. I’m a better principal because of Diane McEvoy.”

McEvoy said she always tries to make her English literature lessons “real” for her students.

As an example, McEvoy helped her students glean a lesson from “The Myth of Sisyphus,” a philosophical essay by Albert Camus that tackles man’s search for the meaning of life. Sisyphus is condemned to push a boulder up a mountain even though it rolls down time and again. Yet Sisyphus is happy with his struggle.

The lesson for today’s teens, she said, is to find worth in whatever you must do, whether it’s an assignment or a job.

“Think of the Common Core test as the boulder,” she said she told her students.

McEvoy has been teaching in LVUSD for 29 years with all but one of those years at CHS. She has been the CHS English department chair for 16 years.

“I have a great passion for what I do,” she said.

“As the recipient of an award that encourages teachers to strive to be the best, and for me to be recognized as such a teacher, is an honor,” McEvoy said. “My career started and will end in Las Virgenes and my ride has been spectacular.”

Las Virgenes Unified School District serves about 11,000 students from Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and the Los Angeles County portion of Westlake Village in 16 schools, from preschool through high school.

The district and its schools have received numerous accolades, including the College Board’s AP Honor Roll, California Gold Ribbon Schools Award, California Distinguished Schools Award, National Blue Ribbon Schools Award and U.S. News Best High Schools Award.

LVUSD was also named High Performance District by the American Institutes for Research.


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