2000

Jeanne Culbertson

Classroom Teacher

Chaparral Elementary School

Hire Date

2/16/88

Years of Service

11.5

Degrees

B.A., California State University, San Diego

To teach well, we do not need more techniques and strategies as much as we need a vision of what is essential. It is not the number of good ideas that turns our work into art, but the selection, balance and design of those ideas. —Lucy Calkins

Jeanne was born in Pasadena, California. She attended Pasadena City College and graduated from California State University, San Diego with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts.

Jeanne and her husband, Bruce, have raised their three boys in Claremont. Jeanne was involved as a den leader for Boy Scouts, Team parent for Little League and T-Ball and Team Parent/Assistant Coach for soccer.

Jeanne started at Chaparral in February 1988 as a long-term substitute and was hired the following year in a permanent position. A colleague has written about her “Mrs. Culbertson embodies the commitment to excellence in education, which even seasoned teachers find inspiring.”

She loves her students past and present." She tracks her students lives through high school and college graduations and even some marriages, often bringing back information to Chaparral of what a student has achieved. “Her curriculum invites creativity on the part of the students. Her enthusiastic attitude motivates staff, students and everyone around her.” Dave Paul says, “she’s a bottle of energy!” She goes beyond the "call of duty". She spearheads the science and fine arts fairs and the track team that competes at Vista as well as a before-school running program for K-6 students which even has parents attending. Jeanne is also a champion of Chaparral’s Outdoor Science Camp.

She serves on many committees districtwide including the Professional Development Committee and is a representative in bargaining negotiations.

Jeanne, along with several of her teaching colleagues at Chaparral was recently honored in Inland Empire Magazine in that publication’s salute to “Teachers Who Make a Difference.” She was also recently notified by Johns Hopkins University Institute for the Academic Advancement of Youth that she was selected by students as an educator who has had the most significant impact on the students’ educational development.

In her spare time Jeanne has been a member of the District bowling league. She has a second house in San Clemente where she likes to go as frequently as possible. During a recent summer she went fishing in Alaska which some of the lucky staff at Chaparral were able to enjoy.