Three exceptional women celebrated
Gamma Theta, our local Hemet/San Jacinto Chapter of the International Society of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), an organization that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators, proudly announces their 2021-2022 awards.
Melinda West-Melrose received the Outstanding Service to Chapter award. She joined Gamma Theta in 2009, became involved with the hospitality committee and for the last two years served as Vice President. During these two years, she scheduled speakers and catered for meetings, hosted Board meetings at her house, and submitted news items to the local newspaper.
Melinda taught in the Hemet Unified Schools from 1986 to 2003. She began as a substitute teacher and then was hired as a full-time teacher. She taught in first grade and kindergarten. During her time with Hemet Unified, she was a bilingual representative; was active in the School Site Council at two schools; a California State University student’s mentor teacher, and an HTA representative. In addition, she was a Fruitvale Elementary Outstanding Teacher of the Year. During her career, she strived to have her students learn and be successful and integrated academics with fun, memorable experiences. Her outside interests include cooking and entertaining at home, eclectic book reading, gardening, traveling and loves riding extreme roller coasters.
Gayle Mattson received their Professional Service Award for her 38 years of active involvement in our community’s educational services.
She has been both a teacher and administrator in Hemet Unified Schools. She taught at Hemet Elementary, Acacia Middle School, West Valley High School and was a leader in the Hemet Teachers Association. She opened Dartmouth Middle School as Vice Principal, was Vice Principal at Acacia Middle School and was their Principal. Gayle was also the Coordinator for Child Welfare and Attendance at the District Office.
During her 13 years in DKG, she served four years as Treasurer, five years as the Ed Law/Policy Chair and has been a DKG bill evaluator for three years. This March will also be her fourth year speaking to Gamma Theta about famous women during Women’s History Month.
Gayle has been Division 33 President in the California Retired Teachers Association for eight years and will retire after this next two-year term. She also serves in Area IX as a Government Relations Representative in CalRTA, working with legislative advocates and meeting with legislators.
In higher education, Gayle taught in the master’s program at Azusa Pacific University in the English as a Second Language education program at MSJC and currently supervises student teachers from Cal State University, San Bernardino. In her spare time this year, she added being a weekly group leader for Bible Study Fellowship International. Our valley has benefited greatly from her dedicated service in education.
Linda Rogers received this year’s award for Outstanding Public Service in our community. She has recently retired from serving as Executive Director of Valley Restart Shelter for 18 years.
The Shelter is a structured emergency shelter (90-day program) for families with dependents. The transition from homelessness to greater self-sufficiency and independence has been successful for more than 80% of its nearly 200 participants annually. With Linda’s leadership, and a high level of accountability and transparency, Valley Restart was able to network and garner increasing community, faith-based, and county support to offer “a hand up, not a handout.” Their program provides emergency shelter, evening community meals, street outreach and navigation to the most vulnerable. Linda credits her success from wise mentoring she received over the years.
Prior to serving as Executive Director of Valley Restart, she worked over a 24-year span serving people in substance abuse prevention and mental health programs. Before that career, Linda was a primary grade school teacher in New York City during the late sixties and early seventies. The San Jacinto Valley has been well served by her energy and experiences!
Melinda West-Melrose | Contributed
Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle
