Mucio Vidales, a teacher at Nicolas Junior High School, has been recognized
as the California League of Educators 2024 Middle School Teacher of the Year. In the photo, Mucio is accompanied by his wife.       Photo by Jose Varela

Mucio Vidales, the teacher at Nicolas Junior High School, was awarded the California League of Educators 2024 Middle School Teacher of the Year. Mr. Vidales was nominated for his educational excellence and his transformational moment as an educator.

This award is granted to a teacher who exemplifies educational excellence and has made significant efforts to implement elements of educational reform. The California League of Educators Educator of the Year award is given annually to California elementary, middle, and high school educators who exemplify educational excellence.

As the nominee selected to represent Region 11, which includes Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Mr. Vidales was honored at the California League of Educators Conference held in Monterey, California, earlier this month.

To achieve the top spot, Mr. Vidales shared his teaching experience, including elementary to middle school, and in subjects ranging from ELA, Social Studies, Spanish, and Theater to Woodworking. The woodworking class gave Mr. Vidales his ‘aha’ moment in teaching. He spoke about the transformational moment when he witnessed a student with destructive behavior become sparked and engaged during a field trip to the Carpenters Union Training Facility.

The moment transformed Mr. Vidales so much that he now teaches five Wood I classes and one Wood II class. The Wood II students are learning carpentry skills to build a tiny house. As part of this Tiny House Project, the students are learning construction trades and becoming agents of change, as the tiny home will shelter a family in need.

These tiny houses will provide a safe place for Fullerton School District elementary school students and their families to sleep and do homework. Mr. Vidales spoke passionately about his immense pride in his students, the amazing growth in their confidence, and the student’s ability to thrive in new experiences such as news agency interviews.

“Knight Nation is proud of Mr. Vidales for being named California League of Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year. Thank you for all your great work with our students,” shared Jose Varela, Principal of Nicolas Junior High School.