San Jose, CA: On October 23, Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) center teachers Tom Nemeth and Maggie Kasberger took center stage alongside Santa Clara County’s top educators at the 2023 Teacher Recognition Celebration. They received the following awards:
2023 Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) Teacher of the Year: Tom Nemeth, Electrical Vehicles/Automotive Services: Tom’s dedication, passion, and motivation in continuing to move the needle forward shines through in all he does for his students and program. We are proud of Tom, who is constantly developing partnerships for students to receive online training with industry leaders, including Ford, Toyota, Tesla, and Subaru. He is leading the way in driving student success!
Tom came to SVCTE with years of retail and corporate automotive experience, and it all started with a high school automotive vocational education and dealership internship. An ASE Master Automobile Technician, Toyota Master Technician, Nissan Technician, and a tinkerer of sports cars, Tom has always been enthusiastic about the automotive industry. His experience includes various positions for Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, and Tesla.
“Teaching automotive CTE is very rewarding. I am influencing students to visualize success and feel accomplished. Students are developing skills that will last their lifetime,” he says.
Boldness in STEM Award: Maggie Kasberger, Sports Medicine and Kinesiology: Maggie received one of only four prestigious countywide Innovation in STEM Awards, presented by The Tech Interactive. Maggie's dedication to education and innovative teaching methods have made a lasting impact on our students. Last school year, she helped acquire an Anatomage Table for her program. This state-of-the-art touch-screen equipment provides a realistic life-sized 3D anatomy system as if the students were working with an actual cadaver.
With more than 10 years of experience competing as an athlete, Maggie is passionate about exercise science. Before coming to SVCTE, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and is working on a master’s in Sports Performance Movement. She is also the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) advisor for SVCTE, where she takes health science students to state competitions to participate in skill demonstration events.
“When I graduated, I knew that I wanted to show students what sports medicine was all about and by teaching CTE, I have the tools necessary to demonstrate a small amount of what the field has to offer,” Maggie says.
Following the event, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) created a video playlist showcasing teachers from across the county. Watch the event video now, and tune in at 50:05 minutes for Tom’s recognition and 20:15 for Maggie’s recognition. Tom is also featured in the What Drew You to the Teaching Profession? video at 1:22 minutes.
Check out the celebration photos here.
A Santa Clara County tradition for over 50 years, the Teacher Recognition Celebration is one of the oldest and largest celebrations of teachers in California. Visit www.sccoe.org/trc for more information about the Teacher Recognition Celebration, including its history and photographs and video of previous ceremonies.
About Metropolitan Education District: MetroED is a regional provider of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Adult Education. We are the largest career-oriented education organization in Northern California for high school and adult students. Annually, MetroED provides 2,600 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley. Register for a free campus tour or get more information at www.metroed.net
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