This month, Napa native Rebecca Mieliwocki was selected as Educator of the Year by Region 8 of the California League of Middle Schools.

Mieliwocki currently teaches seventh grade at Luther Burbank Middle School in the Burbank Unified School District. She was one of 10 nominees and was awarded the title because of her exemplary teaching methods that go beyond the classroom.

"Mrs. Mieliwocki is the penultimate professional wrapped up beautifully in a package tied with compassion, humor and an undying passion for the education of middle school students," wrote Mieliwocki's Principal Patrick Perkins, in a nominating letter.

Mieliwocki comes from a family of teachers. Her parents are both retired teachers from the Napa Valley Unified School District. Her father, Bill Lipschultz, taught at Vintage High School and her mother, Sue Lipschultz, taught at Vichy Elementary.

Mieliwocki said that during her childhood she was always "in a classroom, somewhere at some point."

She attended schools in the NVUSD and graduated from Vintage High School in 1986.

Before going into teaching, Mieliwocki had other plans for her career, which included being an architect and lawyer.

"I was going to be a lawyer ... instead of convicting the guilty, I ended up working with the innocent," said Mieliwocki.

Mieliwocki began her teaching career with elementary students, but once returning to the profession after leaving a couple years, she found herself teaching middle school students.

"The first seventh-grader I met I loved, and I loved teaching middle schoolers ever since," she said.

Mieliwocki's teaching philosophy emphasizes communication skills, interaction between parents and their students, and being interactive with the community and world.

"My head is buried in (my students') lives, not textbooks," said Mieliwocki. "It's just about blowing out the four walls of the classroom."

Mieliwocki often hosts field trips that involve family members, and even hosts a "family writing night," where students and parents learn together.

Mieliwocki was presented with her award Dec. 9 in Encino. The California League of Middle Schools is a professional association that writes curriculum and governs the best practices for teaching.

Mieliwocki will now be a presenter for the association and will join the league's panel. Part of her recognition involves attending a literacy conference in Maui. Her future plans are to continue being an educator, whether it be for middle schoolers or teaching teachers.

"I'm in no hurry to do anything (other) than spend all the rest of my days with (my students)," said Mieliwocki.