SACRAMENTO, Calif — ABC10, in partnership with SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Sacramento State’s College of Education, is proud to announce Diane Maldonado as Teacher of the Month for November 2024. Maldonado is a special education math teacher at Folsom Middle School of Folsom Cordova Unified School District. In place for 20+ years, Teacher of the Month is one of ABC10’s signature community enrichment initiatives designed to highlight local teachers making a difference in the lives of their students and families.
Maldonado began working for public schools in 1991 as a payroll accountant and human resources recruiter, but moved to classroom teaching in 2004. She's now been teaching special education for 20 years.
When asked to share advice for the future teachers of America, Maldonado said, "I would love future teachers to know this is by far the most rewarding and important job ever. You will have hard days, you may feel overwhelmed at first, but you will also receive daily 'highs' with students. Our students need us to be their cheerleaders."
As part of being recognized as Teacher of the Month, Maldonado will receive $1,000 from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and will be eligible for the title of ABC10’s Esquire IMAX Teacher of the Year – that includes a $5,000 prize – which will be announced at a special awards ceremony in 2025.
ABC10’s Teacher of the Month program was showcased during the 2023 Sacramento Business Journal's Corporate Citizenship Awards in which the station received an award in the Corporate Champion for Education category.
To nominate a local teacher in the greater Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto area for an upcoming Teacher of the Month, please visit abc10.com/teacherofthemonth