Folsom Cordova’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, Debbie Andrus of Cordova High School, was among 16 standout teachers honored by the Sacramento County Office of Education during its annual awards banquet on Sept. 16.

Andrus, a 10th-grade Honors English teacher, yearbook advisor and department chair, joined the Folsom Cordova family in 2003, serving in a variety of positions and becoming a Mills Middle School teacher in 2007. She chose to try a new challenge and transferred to Cordova High School in 2014.

She is described by her colleagues as enthusiastic, exuberant, a Google queen, technology trainer, organizer, mentor, division leader, and department chair. She is also known as “the person who gets things done.”

In an essay describing her teaching philosophy, Andrus wrote: “My philosophy of teaching is simple: do the work,” she wrote. “Teachers who do the work embrace technology, differentiate lessons, facilitate discussions, lead by example and are forever giving of their time. They understand that the reward is not in a hefty paycheck, but positive change in the lives of real kids.

“By doing the work consistently now for 10 years, I feel I have shaped and transformed my students into better citizens of Rancho Cordova.”

The county awards program will be rebroadcast by the Sacramento Educational Cable Consortium on Oct 4, 6 and 8.