Excellence in Education

by Chia Na Vang

The 2023 finalists for the Excellence in Education award are Ms. Moua, Mrs. Bigger, Mrs. Seay, Mrs. Bangerter, and Ms. Orgill. The award event has been a tradition for many years here at Fresno High School. Nominees are anonymously nominated by colleagues and interviewed downtown. They are categorized by five categories: classified, teachers, downtown staff, and admin/management.

Ms. Moua is one of the counselors here at Fresno High School. To her, being nominated for the Excellence in Education award is “a great honor.” A hope of hers is for students to learn from her guidance and to be able to “generate a plan to propel them towards any path of their desire once they leave Fresno High, so they don’t feel lost joining the adult world.” She added, “I hope they are not afraid to try new things so they can discover who they are and what they can become. Our journey influences us into the person we are going to become.” Ms. Moua’s best quality is trying her best to be empathetic towards everyone. Ms. Moua loves spending time with her family and kids, and her hobbies include “traveling, shopping, trying new foods, and hiking.” When asked where she saw herself in 10 years, she replied, “I still plan to be in education and would love to continue working with young people. Young people are the future. Being able to help shape, influence them, or even contribute to their growth is an honor.”

Mrs. Bigger has been a math teacher at Fresno High School for 20 years. She is very passionate about Fresno High, for she would not change her job nor high school. When asked how she felt about being nominated for the Excellence in Education award, she replied, “I was quite surprised to be nominated for this award and super excited. I appreciate the colleague who took the time to nominate me and am grateful for this opportunity.” Mrs. Bigger likes growing herbs, vegetables, and flowers in her garden that she uses when cooking and decorating her home. She also likes to spend time with family. Every Saturday her family plays cards. Mrs. Bigger recalled that last Christmas, she saw her 97-year-old grandmother. Mrs. Bigger also enjoys reading and prefers the book over the movie adaptation. Fishing is another hobby of hers. Other than being good at math, Mrs. Bigger wants her students to excel in real world skills, such as communication, and to know that “math is all about money.”

Mrs. Seay is the head counselor here at Fresno High School. Her response to being nominated was surprised, humbled, and pleased because, “There are people that I think are more deserving that were nominated, but it feels good to be in that group.” As a counselor, Mrs. Seay wants students to feel “valued and that they have something to contribute to the world,” and wants to help them “discover something that they would enjoy doing.” Being approachable, patient, and friendly are Mrs. Seay’s best qualities. Besides baking cheesecakes and reading books, Mrs. Seay also enjoys hiking in nature, having a vegetable garden, and listening to music. In 10 years, Mrs. Seay sees herself “probably retired and hopefully spending a lot of time at the coast.”

Mrs. Bangeter, known to her students as Mama B, is the Leadership and Campus Culture Director at Fresno High School. She remembers being shocked and “very humbled,” when nominated for the Excellence in Education award. She explained, “I don’t like being in the spotlight. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I appreciate the thought.” When asked what she wanted her students to take away from her class, she said, “It’s not about what you can do for yourself. It’s about what you can do for others. Leave your world a better place than where you found it.” She added, “Not just Fresno High, but wherever they are.” Mama B’s best quality is that she really cares about “our students, their families, our staffs and their families.” She added, “What I find to be rewarding about the job are the relationships with students and staff and building connections.” She explained that good relationships make for lifelong friendships, and how she loves watching students grow. Mama B loves being a mother to her son. If she had time, she would love to take up yoga and ride horses. She also loves any activities that she can do with family. In 10 years, Mama B hopes to be “positively influencing students in any educational capacity.”

Ms. Orgill is the IB/MYP coordinator here at Fresno High, and her response to being nominated for the Excellence in Education award was a surprise. “It’s nice to be acknowledged, but it was shocking to me.” Ms. Orgill would want students to feel empowered and know their voice matters. She also wants them to know their ideas are important, worthy and she’d like for them to know how to communicate them. Lastly, she’d like students to feel like they can do anything and then do it. As a professional educator, Ms. Orgill’s best quality is “seeing the bigger picture, which helps with problem solving.” She described what’s most important to her, “As a human, being kind and compassionate especially with young people because I was a troubled kid, so I see it from a different lens.” Ms. Orgill’s hobbies include loving her dog named Blue, reading, doing yoga, and hiking. In 10 years, Ms. Orgill would still be working here at Fresno High with young people and being committed to her neighborhood. She also elaborates that as in “right here,” she doesn’t mean her current office location, but one near the front office.