JOHN WHEELER NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Among the hundreds of teachers employed in the Palos Verdes Unified School District (PVPUSD), Peninsula’s Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology teacher John Wheeler was named one of 10 honorees of Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Rotary Educator of the Year.

Wheeler has been a teacher since 1980 and has been teaching at Peninsula since 1998. He started off as a world history and psychology teacher and then became an AP Psychology teacher in 2001. Many students consider Wheeler their favorite teacher because he turns his academics into an amalgam of education and entertainment. Students walk into his class daily with anticipation for what fun activity Wheeler has in store for them.

AP Physics 1 and C teacher Mark Greenberg wrote the recommendation letter used to nominate Wheeler for the award. The two have been very close friends ever since Greenberg started teaching at Peninsula in 2010.

“When I think of what makes a great educator, I think of Wheeler, and I was really surprised that his name has not appeared on [past] Educator of the Year lists,” Greenberg said. “He is a mentor to me, and I have learned [from him] that teaching is not always about the subject we are teaching, but [also] about the [students] in the classroom.”

Principal Mitzi Cress also expressed her gratitude for Wheeler’s positive contribution to Peninsula and wholeheartedly agrees that he deserves this recognition. She also believes that Wheeler has earned much respect as well as popularity amongst the students.

“[Many students] want Wheeler to talk about them at the California Scholarship Federation banquet, and many students want to ride with him in the physics boat competition,” Cress said. “He is a rare human being who is one hundred percent passionate about what he does, and he makes a [positive impact] on students in a class that [students are not required] to take.”

Wheeler is also very active on campus. He participates in ComedySportz and games before pep rallies and attends various athletic games. He is a comedic character and likes to bond with the students by dancing, wearing costumes and cracking jokes.

Senior Bella Moreno took Wheeler’s AP Psychology class as a sophomore and is currently his Teacher’s Assistant (TA) for the second time. Their three-year history together has solidified not only their relationship, but their inside jokes as well.

“Wheeler genuinely cares about his students and does little things to show it,” Moreno said. “For example, during AP review testing, he coordinated his shirt colors to match the review tests that he gave us. I have learned [from Wheeler] that as long as you have a passion for something and a positive outlook, you can [make] anything [enjoyable].”