10/01/2026
We are proud to announce our 2026 October Teacher of the Month (TOTM) Lisa Greenlinger from Garden Grove Elementary.
Lisa consistently demonstrates an outstanding dedication to her 4th grade students through her innovative instructional practices, strong relationships with families, and unwavering commitment to student success. Lisa creates a classroom environment where all students are valued, challenged, and supported. She provides multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency and mastery of concepts, recognizing that students learn in different ways and at different paces. Through differentiated instruction and ongoing assessment, she ensures that every student has access to meaningful learning experiences and opportunities to succeed. Beyond her daily classroom responsibilities, Lisa willingly embraces new challenges that enrich the educational experience for her students.
The Teacher of the Month Program highlights educators across the Simi Valley Unified School District who demonstrate outstanding performance and make meaningful contributions to their students and schools.
Each month, honorees are celebrated with tokens of appreciation from generous community partners, including Grand Canyon University, Harley’s Bowl, Iverson Construction, Kleintob Supercuts, Logix Federal Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Simi Valley YMCA, Eric Little with State Farm Insurance, Ventura County Credit Union, and the Walt Fuller Foundation. Local dignitaries also present personalized certificates of recognition, reinforcing the strong bond between schools and the broader community.
“Together, we send a clear message that the business community supports and values the dedication of our teachers,” said Ryan Fowler, Board President of the Simi Valley Education Foundation.
Since its founding in 1989, the Simi Valley Education Foundation has invested more than $2.5 million into Simi Valley public schools through innovative classroom grants, school-wide projects, department enhancements, and scholarships for graduating seniors.
For more information about the Teacher of the Month program, please contact Cindy Jacoby at (877) SIMI-KID or visit svef.org.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Pictured from the left at Garden Grove Elementary from the left are: Nicholas Gutierrez, from the YMCA; Dr. Hani Youssef, SVUSD Superintendent; Eric Little, State Farm Insurance; Dawn Smollen, SVUSD Board President; Tarja Little, SVEF Board Member; Lisa Greenlinger; Principal Tim Bednar; Ryan Fowler, SVEF Board President; Michael Flores, Logix Federal Credit Union; Lori Neiman; SVUSD Director of Elementary Education; Sue Roth, SVEF Board Member; Vidhya Ganesh, SVEF Board Member; and Mike Kort, Representative for Supervisor Janice Parvin.
