New round of teachers receive awards

Lyndon Kaneko, Staff Writer|April 14, 2023

With AP tests nearing, musical productions underway and much more, Diamond Bar High School’s second semester has proved an especially busy time for teachers and staff. But through all the chaos, high schools in the Walnut Valley Unified School District have still found a way to honor their staff.

Earlier this month, three teachers were announced as Teachers of the Year for their respective divisions: Lisa Arionus was selected for the Math, Science and Special Education Division. Mario Enriquez was chosen for the Health/PE, Social Science, Technology, Pathways and CTE/ROP group. English ELD, World Languages and Visual and Performing Arts departments nominated Jared Kaitz, who would then win the DBHS Teacher of the Year. 

Individual teachers in each group first selected nominees by filling out a nomination form with a reason behind choosing their candidate. The teachers would then vote on another form provided by the dean of their respective divisions in order to select a winner. 

“I think that I was nominated and voted for because I helped out the department by stepping up and teaching a new course that nobody else wanted to teach,” Arionas said via email. “I also make it a goal to work collaboratively with our Special Ed department to support our students.”

In addition to her nomination for DBHS Teacher of the Year, Arionas also earned National Board Certification for “Mathematics—Adolescence and Young Adulthood,” joining math teacher Dena Lordi in the 3% of teachers to earn such a classification. 

Enriquez, the second nominee for the Teacher of the Year award, has guided the Pathways Communications Academy ever since he began to work at DBHS in 2014. He is also an advisor for SkillsUSA, Brahma Cinematics and the Filipino American Association.

He serves as the Induction Mentor for DBHS and Walnut High School, while also overseeing a majority of digital recording productions involving drama, choir, commercial music and many extracurriculars. 

“Serving students has always been my main priority,” Enriquez said. “It stands out when you allow students to be seen as people first, no matter their background or the difficulties that they must overcome in and outside the classroom.” 

Of the three nominated for DBHS Teacher of the Year, Kaitz will represent DBHS in the running for the Walnut Valley Unified School District Teacher of the Year later this year. 

After graduating from DBHS in 2009, Kaitz has been an integral part of DBHS being given the exclusive rights for the “Frozen” musical, after applying for Disney’s “United States of Frozen: Love is an Open Door” competition.

Aside from the teacher awards, former assistant principal Elizabeth Chang is ending her three-year stint with DBHS as assistant principal and being promoted to the principal of Castle Rock.

“I believe that we have a world-class school because each teacher, GLC and staff member that I have come across has the goal of putting kids first and value access to academics, athletics, the arts and activities,” Chang said via email. “I am honored to be moving to Castle Rock and nurturing future Brahmas.”