Vintage High School students love Mark Teeters, the school’s choral director. But now, Teeters — Napa County’s reigning Teacher of the Year — officially outshines dozens of educators statewide since winning the title of California Teacher of the Year for 2009.

Including Teeters, 60 California educators holding the title of Teacher of the Year in their counties were qualified to vie for the title.

One of just five California educators to receive the honor from the state Department of Education, Teeters said Thursday that winning the award caught him completely off-guard. But his students say you’d be hard-pressed to find a teacher more dedicated to his students, or one who can reach so many through music.

“I think his passion shows a lot when he’s teaching us. ... You come to love music more and he opens a whole new door to what music can do for everyone,” said Caylie Soon, a 16-year-old junior and Vintage choir officer.

Also choir officers, Alea Shurmantine, 16, and Jessica Brady, 17, said Teeters’ classes stand out for students because they represent a respite — a time out from everyday troubles when students can put their creative sides to work.

“Some kids look forward to going to their electives. ... But you could walk into (Teeters’ classroom) even if it was empty and still feel the good vibes,” Brady said.

Vintage Principal Eric Schneider — one of three local administrators who wrote letters of recommendation on Teeters’ behalf during the award selection process — said Teeters knows the key to earning students’ respect while also winning their affection.

“The thing that stands out with Mark is the sense of community that he builds in his classroom. I went and spoke with the kids today and I said, ‘The way you feel in this room is how I want you to feel in every classroom,’” he said. “When kids see an adult who’s real and who cares about them, there’s nothing they won’t do. ... To me, (Teeters) is a local hero. We want to give him this moment to shine and for the community to recognize what a treasure he is.”

Devon Hadsell, a Vintage senior and choir president, said Teeters respects his students’ individuality, getting to know each of them on a personal level while also encouraging them to get the most out of choir.

For his part, Teeters, a 1988 Vintage graduate himself, said although it is a great honor to receive the award, his focus remains on the students.

“I’ve always known that music and the arts play an important role in the success of my students but it’s not always easy to convince everyone else of that,” he said. “The students help me tell the story that it’s very important in this age of accountability. ... Music and arts can be the adhesive that holds everything together throughout our state.”

As a California Teacher of the Year semi-finalist, Teeters locally went up against Sandy Haroutunian, a special education teacher at Vintage, and Sherry Bosson, a third-grade teacher at Donaldson Way School, according to Seana Wagner, Napa County Office of Education curriculum coordinator.

Teeters, who secured a permanent teaching position at Vintage in 2000, will join the state’s four other California Teachers of the Year on Feb. 9 to be honored in Sacramento at an awards ceremony.