"Coach Partida" Nominated as Educator of the Year

One of just 10 nominees from high schools in Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties, Coach Mary Partida of Valley View High School (VVHS) was recently recognized at the California League of High Schools Region 10 Educator of the Year awards dinner. A physical education coach for 26 years, Partida has spent her entire teaching career in the Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD), first at Badger Springs Middle School for two years, then at VVHS for the last 24, where she still teaches today. VVHS Principal Kristen Hunter, who nominated Partida for the recognition, wrote, “Ms. Partida teaches her students more than physical education. She motivates and encourages her students to be professionals in all walks of life. She promotes college entrance and helps many students apply for and reap the benefits of scholarships. Ms. Partida is one of the most open-minded and team-oriented people on campus. She is a problem solver and is open to suggestions and input from her peers. She is the epitome of a great leader and teammate.” When asked why she dove into the realm of teaching, Partida replied, "I had two very inspiring teachers and coaches in high school, Mrs. Davis and Coach Lee, they touched my life in PE and on the field and court. I am a teacher today because of them and many other teachers who touched my heart throughout my school days." However, Partida does more than teach PE; for 18 years she has coached softball within the MVUSD, and was the coach who started the softball program at VVHS. "I was blessed to work with many talented young ladies through the years. Our softball teams won league titles in ’94, ’95, ’96, 97, ’99, 2000, 2011, 2012. We also won a Division 1 CIF championship in 1999. There have also been many, many young ladies from our program who went on to college on full ride scholarships," she said. Marina Allen was one of those young ladies. Allen met Partida back in 1995, when Allen recalls she got in a fight at school and got expelled. After returning to school, Coach Partida called her into the office and asked if she wanted to be on the softball team, which she already was, and when Allen said yes, Partida said that she could not get into another fight for the rest of her time at VVHS, and she didn't. Allen recalls not being the best of students and the positive difference that Partida made in her academic and athletic performance by taking enough of an interest to make sure she attended her classes and stayed on track. Allen shares that she did not come from a family where education was a priority, but with the help of Coach Partida, she was able to maintain a 3.0 GPA through high school and eventually obtain a full-ride athletic scholarship to Cal Baptist University, being the first in her family to obtain a college education. Allen shared, "In high school, as a freshman, she helped keep me on track to college. She has been a mentor to me since I was in high school and even now I still talk to her often. She instilled integrity and many character traits that I live by today." Allen played Varsity Softball at VVHS under Coach Partida for all four years of her high school career, and after college became Coach Partida's assostant softball coach, later being mentored by Partida to take over the roll of head softball coach, which she carried for about ten years. While Coach Partida is no longer the head softball coach at VVHS, she is still involved with the program as volunteers when she can. Kristina Lyman, another former athlete under Coach Partida's instruction shared, "I have known Coach Partida for 23 years as both a student athlete and mentor. I have never met someone more dedicated to her job, students and the families she serves. She taught me to be a person of integrity and always look to help others. Coach Partida helped mold and guide me to be the person I am today. I am a successful educator and contributor to my community because of the life lessons she taught me through softball." "I share a quote with my students every day so hopefully they are taking the words to heart and applying them to their daily lives. I also believe in teaching life skills, teamwork, values and morals to my students. Words I like to share are: 'Be Thankful For Your Blessings Everyday,' 'Treat People The Way You Want To Be Treated' and 'Be Nice, Kind And Respectful.'" said Partida. Another past student, Samantha Galarza, who has known Coach Partida for seven years, says "I like to think of Coach Partida as an angel sent from heaven, rather than just a coach. She teaches through example and lives the life that she would want others to live. Through words I can never express how much I appreciate her; whether it's through her encouragement in the bad times or acknowledge the good, she is always there. We talk almost day. She sends me her daily quotes every morning, and its a great way to start my day." Galarza was the recipient of a full-ride scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, where she is now a junior; an accomplishment that she believes Coach Partida's influence played a large role in helping her reach. Over the years, Coach Partida has taught over 5,200 students, saying, "I am blessed to be touched by their lives."