24 Sep Antioch, Pittsburg Women Named Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year
Jennifer Martinez, left, of Pittsburg High School and Nicole Vicknair of Bidwell High School are the 2024-25 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year. (Courtesy of Contra Costa County Office of Education)
By Michael J. Fitzgerald
Jennifer Martinez of Pittsburg High School from the Pittsburg Unified School District and Nicole Vicknair of Bidwell High School from Antioch Unified School District have been named the 2024-25 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year.
The announcement came at the 52nd Annual “Teachers of the Year Celebration,” held at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Sept. 19.
Both advance to the California State Teachers of the Year competition. Winners of that are expected to be announced in October.
The celebration was supported by Travis Credit Union, along with Chevron, Lesher Community Foundation, and Martinez Refinery Company. In total, 22 teachers from 17 Contra Costa school districts, Contra Costa Community College District, and Contra Costa County Office of Education were honored.
“Jennifer Martinez and Nicole Vicknair are examples of the dedication, passion, and innovative spirit that make Contra Costa County educators some of the best in the state,” Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said in a Sept. 19 press release. “Their commitment to fostering creativity, building meaningful connections with students, and inspiring a love for learning truly sets them apart. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see them represent our county at the state level.”
Martinez, a Pittsburg High alum and graduate of the University of the Pacific, discovered her passion for music at an early age. Growing up in a musically inclined family — her parents met in band class and even competed for band chairs — Martinez’s love for music was deeply rooted. In 2006, Martinez returned to Pittsburg High to lead the band program.
Over 18 years she transformed it into a thriving program with more than 250 members, establishing three marching bands, four jazz bands, and four wind ensembles, officials said.
“I avoid the expectation that they all conform to the same mold,” Martinez said. “It’s important not to lose sight of the meaning behind our work, to have the courage to find different approaches, and to remember that the kindness we display is what students will remember most.”
Under her leadership, the Pittsburg High School Marching Show Band has earned numerous accolades and performed on stages around the world, including New York, London, Rome and Spain. In 2010, she founded the Pittsburg Band Showcase, an annual event now attracting more than 2,000 spectators.
Vicknair is a graduate of Los Medanos Community College, Chico State University and Cal State East Bay. She has made her mark at Bidwell Continuation High School in Antioch, officials say. Over the past three years, she has discovered her true calling at Bidwell, where she has profoundly affected both students and school culture.
“By instilling a sense of trust, treating them as adults, and making learning enjoyable, I strive to reshape their perspectives on education,” Vicknair said.
Vicknair teaches 11th and 12th grade English and serves as Bidwell’s Western Association of Schools and Colleges site coordinator, overseeing the school’s accreditation process. She also is a professional development lead, new teacher mentor and literacy coach.
Martinez and Vicknair were selected from four finalists announced earlier this year. The others were Kristy Candelaria of John Baldwin Elementary of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and Michelle Goode of Del Rey Elementary from the Orinda Union Elementary School District.
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