3 SCV TEACHERS AMONG TOP EDUCATORS.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS  Staff Writer

UNIVERSAL CITY -- Three teachers from the Santa Clarita Valley were honored Friday as some of Los Angeles County's top educators.

John B. DeLamos from Castaic Union School District, Laura Arrowsmith from the William S. Hart Union High School District and Dawna Countryman from the Saugus Union School District were among the 16 teachers chosen to represent the county's best educators and vie for the title of County Teacher of the Year.

During an awards ceremony at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City on Friday, Los Angeles County Superintendent Darline P. Robles announced the county finalists, whom she described as the ``best of the best.''

The ``Sweet 16'' were chosen from a pool of 67 teachers representing the county's school districts, out of 80,000 teachers countywide. Teachers were chosen based on their demonstrating ``outstanding classroom practices, positive accomplishments, and passionate dedication,'' county officials stated. The finalists were announced among family and friends. They continued their celebration during a luncheon that honored all the teachers recognized.

De Lamos, an eighth-grade science teacher at Castaic Middle School, has been teaching for 17 years and has worked in the Castaic district for 12 years.

De Lamos summed up his experience as ``humbling and exciting.'' The busy teacher is not only a practicing chiropractor, but he heads the honor society on his campus and is the chief of his son's Indian Guides tribe.

``Every day is fun and new,'' De Lamos said.

Countryman, who now works in the Lancaster District, has been teaching for 18 years. While she was honored by the recognition, she was still worried about her students. ``They gave me a standing ovation yesterday, but they were also upset that we wouldn't have our morning dance on Funky Friday,'' the fifth-grade teacher said.

Arrowsmith, who has been a teacher for 17 years, said her ultimate reward comes when she watches students take what she taught, and make it their own. ``I love it when one of my kids tells me they answered the final `Jeopardy' question,'' she said. ``That is the absolute tops.''

The 16 county finalists will compete in the statewide competition this fall, and could have a chance to compete in the national contest in the spring.

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(1 -- 3) The three local nominees for the county's top educators are, from left, John B. DeLamos, Dawna Countryman and Laura Arrowsmith, who were honored with 13 other county teachers at a Friday luncheon.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer