September 14, 2007

CCOC graduate becomes CCOC teacher of the year

Life has come full circle for CCOC Medical Assisting Instructor Victoria Straubinger. Ten years ago, she graduated from CCOC’s Certified Nursing Assistant Program. Now she is MetroED’s 2007 teacher of the year.

CCOC’s room 203 holds many memories for Straubinger. She has the unique perspective of being both the student and teacher in the same room.

Victoria Straubinger

“It’s funny how life works,” Straubinger said. “I am so blessed to work and have attended CCOC. And to be named MetroED teacher of the year is truly a great honor.”

Straubinger began her teaching career at CCOC in 2003 as a substitute for the surgical technician program. When the Medical Assisting Instructor position opened, she immediately applied and in a very short time has made a huge impression on the students that she teaches and the staff that she works with.

“Victoria is a caring and nurturing teacher who always shows enthusiasm and warmth for her students,” CCOC Director John Fox said. “A part of teaching is engaging students to do their best work and to grow and Victoria provides an environment that encourages both.”

Straubinger will be honored at the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s 38th Annual Teacher Recognition Day on Sept. 24, at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell.

The effect Straubinger has had on her students can be seen in a stack of thank you cards and letters she has from former students. Many express how thankful they are to her for getting to know them and believe in them.
“It’s the greatest feeling to have so much influence on a young person’s life,” Straubinger said. “I just want my students to know that they are not just another face but that they are worth something and mean something to me.”

Before coming to CCOC, Straubinger worked as a surgical technician at Sereno Surgery Center and completed her surgical technician training at Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City. She also worked at San Jose Medical Center as a medical assistant after completing a medical assistant program before becoming an obstetrics-gynecology technician at Good Samaritan Hospital. She said that Good Samaritan Hospital required all O.B. technicians to have a CNA license. In order to obtain the license, she attended CCOC in the morning and worked in the afternoon/evening.

Then, in 1997, Straubinger became pregnant with her son, Sean Paul. It was then that she took a two-year break from working. To reenter the workforce, Straubinger took a part-time position as a surgical tech instructor at Trinity College before coming to CCOC.

She said that becoming a teacher was a choice she will never regret. “If you set the right tone with your students, they are going to love what they do in your class and you are going to love your job even more.”

The Blossom Valley resident is married to Karl and in addition to her son, Sean Paul, has an 18-year-old daughter Angelina, and two adult stepsons. The grandmother of five loves to travel with her family and has been to Germany and Switzerland. When not teaching, Straubinger relaxes by swimming, reading, attending her son’s soccer games or gardening.

CCOC, a unit of MetroED, provides career-technical education for high school students for 32 high schools: Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Milpitas Unified School District, San Jose Unified School District, and Santa Clara Unified School District.