Two Cupertino Teachers are Barnes & Noble Favorites

The secret to becoming a 4th-grader’s favorite teacher is out: allow him to sit in a beanbag chair all day long, well, if it’s his birthday that is.

Sean Miller, a 4th-grader at St. Josephs of Cupertino actually had a lot of other reasons to nominate Tricia Heissenbuttel for the Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher contest, and he wrote them out in a winning essay, which won his favorite teacher a chance to move on to the regional competition.

Heissenbuttel was among three area teachers—two from Cupertino schools—who received recognition Monday for advancing in the bookstore’s annual contest.

Heissenbuttel, who teaches at St. Joseph of Cupertino won for the grades 1 to 5 category, and was joined by Mikki McMillion from Monta Vista High School who won in the grades 9 to 12 category. The third teacher, Richard Ngai from C&L School of Music in Fremont won in the grades 6 to 8 category, but was unable to attend.

The three students who nominated their favorite teachers read aloud their winning essays.

McMillion was nominated by who told the story of how McMillion bought and paid for Mahmood’s class books for the semester; a gesture that was just the beginning of a mutually respectful relationship.

McMillion lowered her head and listened intently, occasionally revealing wisps of emotion as Mahmood read her essay. Mahmood talked of the freedom provided in McMillion’s class and the nurturing spirit that drew her out of her “shyness.” Though no longer a student of McMillion, Mahmood says she makes it a “point to visit” knowing her classroom will always be open.

Buying the books for Mahmood was the foundation of their trust relationship, McMillion said later. She bought the books for Mahmood because she recognized the 17-year-old’s love of arts and language and wanted her to have her own copies of the books.

Students could submit nominations through written essays, poems or thank you letters to share how their favorite teacher has influenced their life.

Judging was based on “the compelling nature of the teacher’s qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation, and the quality of expression and writing,” according to Barnes & Noble. 

The three teachers move on to the regional contest level, and one teacher from the regional pool will go on to become Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year and will take home $5,000 and earn $5,000 for their school as well. Additionally, the winner will get five copies of the winning essay published in hardcover by Tikatok.com, a site where students can create and publish their own books, plus a $250 Tikatok gift card that will allow the teacher to publish select stories written by students in their class.

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