Mrs. Patricia Hee Gachett

Patricia Hee Gachett, a member of the Iolani Class of 1986, has won Teacher of the Year honors in California.

After fourteen years of teaching at every elementary grade level in the Los Nietos School District, Mrs. Gachett was named the district's 2003-04 Teacher of the Year.

She is the daughter of Bob and Amy Hee of Kaneohe and actually received the good news while she was here visiting her family with her husband Derrick, a former USC football player and their two children, Kiana, 8, and Tyler, 6.

Her Principal at Nelson Elementary School where Mrs. Gachett teaches kindergarten said, "Her classroom is one of the neatest places to go in and watch because a lot of learning takes place.She has good rapport with her students and parents."

Mrs. Gachett attended Iolani for three years participating in the Spanish, photography and Key clubs and was a member of the bowling team and stage band.

Gachett named Los Nietos' Teacher of the Year
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WHITTIER -- Back in her college days at USC, when Pat Gachett was considering her major, her first consideration was: where could she make the most money?

She took a couple of business courses, only to find out they "weren't for me,' she said.

"Then I thought, if I'm going to be working for the rest of my life, I want to enjoy what I'm doing,' said Gachett, 36, who is now a kindergarten teacher at Nelson Elementary School in West Whittier.

"I think it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.I think a good teacher can impact the kids, especially in the upper grades, in the decisions they make or in their love for learning.'

Now, after 14 years teaching in every elementary grade level in the Los Nietos School District, Gachett has received the highest recognition from her colleagues and administrators as the district's 2003-04 Teacher of the Year.

"It's just a nice honor that they think so highly of me,' she said."I think there are a lot of other people that deserve the honor as well, but it's always nice to be recognized for the work that you do and to feel appreciated.'

Gachett got the unexpected news of the honor while vacationing in Hawaii last summer.
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Gachett graduated from USC in 1990 with a degree in general studies and the intention to seek her administrative credential.But after a few years in the classroom, she realized she would miss the students too much.

Even Hananel admitted to being stumped by a math puzzle during a class led by kindergarten teacher Pat Gachett.