For the sixth year in a row, the Adventist Alumni Awards Foundation has selected a Monterey Bay Academy teacher to showcase the excellence of Adventist education. Tim Zytkoskee, MBA's social studies teacher, is one of 10 extraordinary North American teachers to be honored with the Teacher of Excellence award this year.

Zytkoskee's love for God and teenagers, passion for teaching and pursuit of excellence exemplify what makes Adventist education special. "He does what teachers are supposed to do," says Principal Tim Kubrock. "He spends hours each day preparing his lessons. He is available to students and is a wonderful spiritual mentor." Zytkoskee regularly shares his personal testimony and faith with students.

Zytkoskee has been teaching in Seventh-day Adventist schools since his first job at Adventist school in Caldwell, Idaho, in 1979. Since then, he has taught at the elementary and high school levels in eight different schools and served as principal at three of them. He first taught at MBA from 1994 to 1997, and both of his children graduated from the school during that time. He returned to MBA in 2005 and quickly resumed his status as a student favorite. At the end of the year, the students selected him for the coveted "Faculty of the Year" award.

"I love teaching history every day," says Zytkoskee, who is still passionate after 27 years as an Adventist teacher and school administrator. "Teenagers energize me," he adds. Outside the classroom, he contributes his time to the A.S.B., athletic department, touring musical groups and Sabbath church services.

The AAF will give Zytkoskee his $1,000 Teacher of Excellence award at their annual celebration in Scottsdale, Ariz., this month. Elementary and secondary teachers are nominated for the award by their schools and respective conference offices of education. Award-winning teachers are noted for being exemplary educators and role models, and consistently demonstrating passion for excellence, commitment to Christ and love for students.

Previous MBA Teachers of Excellence award winners include: Donna Baerg, math teacher; Bob and Betty Baerg, now retired after 38 years at the academy; Kubrock, former history teacher and now school principal; and Steve Walls, English teacher for 40 years.

"These types of awards are very gratifying on a personal level," says Zytkoskee. "But they don't happen in a vacuum. This is as much an accomplishment for MBA and our administration as it is for me personally."

"MBA is special because the Holy Spirit walks our halls. He's invited to everything we do," adds Kubrock. "We're committed to the core to Adventist education. This is God's system and God's design."

For more information about Monterey Bay Academy, attend Academy Days March 16 and 17, or go to www.montereybayacademy.org or contact Jason Mustard at info@montereybayacademy.org or 831-728-1481, ext. 1221.