SLz Unified Teacher of the Year—Glenna Wurm-Hayenga

Whatever you do, don't try to throw a surprise party for Glenna Wurm-Hayenga.

Trying to keep anything at San Lorenzo High School a secret from the 15-year veteran teacher, activities director and cheerleading coach is—in the words of Rogers and Hammerstein — like trying to hold a moonbeam in your hand. 

And yet, upon learning Wurm had been named the district's teacher of the year, Principal Theresa McEwen and her staff made a valiant effort.

Unfortunately for them, nobody told the custodian. And so, on a Tuesday early last month, he did what came naturally when there was an event to plan—he went to Wurm.

"I ran into the custodian, who said, 'What time are your sound guys going to be here this afternoon?" Wurm recalled. "And I said,  'We don’t have a request for sound today.'"

But just to be sure, she sought out the sound guy.

"He pulls out his phone and he looks, and he says,'We need to be in A-hall by 2:30 for Ms. Wurm."

And then he went quiet. 

Considering how engrained she is in the culture here, it's hard to imagine that Wurm only ended up at San Lorenzo High School by accident. San Lorenzo Patch caught up with her to talk about how she got here, and where she's headed.

Patch: How long have you been teaching at San Lorenzo High School? 

GW-H:  i just had my 15-year award yesterday.  I've been here 15 years and coached cheerleading for 14. I've taught sign for 13,  I've been activities director for nine, and I taught health for six.

I only came to be here for a year, to get my credential. I did half of my student teaching deaf, and I needed to do the other half hearing. I just came for a year, and in that year,  I found home. I haven't left since.

Patch:  How did you become interested in sign language? 

GW-H: When I was in high school, I went to a program called Close Up, where we went to Washington, DC. In the week’s time that we were there, there were deaf schools as well. Everything was interpreted. I was a very gestural young lady, and I just fell in love.

I made it my minor in college. As part of the minor, you have to do 180 hours of working with the deaf. My 180 hours led to ten years on campus (at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont).

I started as a classroom aid. After my first year I was asked to be an interpreter for mainstream classes for the deaf kids that were academically equal to hearing kids. Somebody said, you should get your CBEST and sub so you can make some money. I was subbing at the deaf school and at Fremont schools, and then that’s when my friend said 'What are you thinking? Be a teacher.'

San Lorenzo had a health position open.  My principal here said, ‘Have you ever considered teaching sign? I said, I know how to teach kids using sign, but I don’t know if I know how to teach kids to sign. That was my third year. Before I knew it, it was more sign, less health.

Patch: What's your favorite thing about your job?

GW-H: Watching kids grow. Being part of them when they’re a freshman, and watching them sponge up everything that they can. It’s so cool to take a kid who comes with something and give them the tools  and guide them to where that something becomes everything. That everything can be ready for college, ready for life—my favorite part is to watch the transformation.

Patch: What's been most rewarding about this process? 

GW-H: We’re talking about legacies right now in class, and I think one of the biggest compliments you can have is people who want to continue the work that you’ve done.

The reason that I got recognized as Teacher of the Year is because of the kids. What they’re wiling to do and willing to trust, and willing to perform, with my lead and my suggestion is what is seen by the rest of the school.