State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that Daniel Jocz, a 2016 California Teacher of the Year from Los Angeles County, has been selected as one of four finalists nationwide for the 2016 National Teacher of the Year award.

“Daniel is a dedicated, passionate, and innovative educator who incorporates popular culture and music in the teaching of history and social studies in a way that engages his students, and makes the subjects more accessible while still being rigorous,” Torlakson said. “I am so pleased that Daniel is a finalist for this award. He is clearly one of the best teachers in the country.”

In October, Jocz was named one of five California Teachers of the Year and selected as a finalist by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the United States.

via Finalist for National Teacher of the Year – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education).