A Filipino educator is California’s Teacher of the Year

Photo from KTVU/Twitter

Extending his exceptional dedication beyond the four walls of the classroom made Joseph Alvarico deserving to be chosen as one of California’s Teacher of the Year.

For this Filipino educator, teaching is more than just textbooks. As he puts it, “When the student comes into my classroom, I have to know what that student is feeling.”

Though he feels like a rockstar when teaching, he shines the spotlight on the real stars: his students. He believes that “In order for the kids to shine, I actually have to step back.”

With Alvarico championing empathy and care for his students’ performances even in classes outside his own, his efforts have been recognized with Contra Costa County naming him as 2023 Teacher of the Year.

On top of this, he also received a call from California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announcing him as one of California’s Teachers of the Year, making him the only teacher chosen in the whole of Northern California.

California ‘Teacher of the Year’ says teaching makes him feel like a rock star https://t.co/K36uyNpoDy

— KTVU (@KTVU) November 2, 2023

“It’s an incredible moment,” he shared with his family in the Philippines.

You may also like: Fil-Am educator, author is one of Wisconsin’s most influential Asian American leaders

His unexpected journey as a Filipino educator

Though both his parents were teachers, Alvarico never expected to be one. This changed when he received a scholarship from De La Salle University-Manila but with a catch—he had to take up education and teach for a year.

He then responded to an ad from Mt. Diablo Unified School District in Contra Costa County, California, and got an interview.

“They came, they actually came, the human resources came to the Philippines and interviewed me there,” he recalls. The next thing he knew, the principal was then interviewing him via phone.

He then landed a job teaching at a middle school before moving to Ygnacio Valley High School, where he currently teaches engineering. Alvarico also runs the robotic club, where they have built 120-pound robots in just 8 weeks.

Aside from teaching, Alvarico is also passionate about diversity and college access. One project he has, through Cal Poly, is called Femmineers, which aims to encourage more girls to pursue studies in engineering.