Around Oakley: Helping children learn to read is Snider's passion

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Reading didn't come easy for Joy Snider when she was young. By the time she graduated high school she was only able to read at a sixth-grade level. That didn't stop her from becoming one of Oakley's finest teachers. This year she has even been awarded the Oakley Elementary School District's highest honor as Teacher of the Year.
A lot has happened since her high school days. In college she had decided to study business even though that wasn't what she really wanted to do. It wasn't until she had met someone at college who helped her that she realized, like so many people, she was not a visual reader.
"I was able to learn to read better by using the phonics method," Snider said.
Then the rest, as they say, is history.
Working her way through college at a preschool, she knew she loved being with kids. What better way to work with them then as a teacher? She soon changed her major to teaching, Not long after receiving her degree, she began teaching a second- and third-grade combination class in Bakersfield.
During her career -- which 24 years ago brought her to Gehringer Elementary School -- Snider has concentrated on working with children who have reading problems.
"I was one of those children, so I understand where they are coming from," Snider said. "It makes it easier to teach them reading and coping skills."
For the first 17 years at Gehringer, Snider taught first grade. Then forthree years she worked with third-graders. She also worked a couple of years at the school reading facility and then moved back to the classroom this year to teach second grade.
Snider thinks that part of the reason why she was chosen as the elementary district's Teacher of the Year is because she is generally seen as the school's "go-to" girl. Teachers and the administration often come to her when they need questions answered. She said that over the years she has been involved in many programs throughout the school system as well as at the school.
"My favorite is creative writing," she said. "Make them love it now and they will love it forever."
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Another Oakley teacher was also named Teacher of the Year, this time with the Liberty High School District. Freedom High School's athletic director, tennis coach and English teacher Steve Amaro.
Amaro also started his college education considering a degree in business, but quickly changed to a teaching career when he was encouraged by one of his professors.
Amaro is working on his doctoral degree in educational leadership.
He began at Freedom in 1998. When he isn't teaching English, which he loves, he is working as head of the athletic department on the Freedom campus. He started as an assistant coach of the girls tennis team when he first started teaching at Freedom and moved up from there.
In an interview with the East County Times last month, Amaro said that "Any graduate from here can go out and change the world. I am lucky to have this job and have a chance to make a difference with these students."

Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.