Lettering in inspiration

Ingrid Ohanian urges her students to find inspiration in everyday things. The fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Newport Coast Elementary School has her class keep notebooks ? known as “writer’s toolboxes” ? in which young authors pore through magazines and other sources and copy down similes, metaphors, alliteration and other devices.

This year, Ohanian inspired one of her students to write something else ? although she didn’t know about it until a letter arrived in the mail. On Thursday, Ohanian received the Orange County Department of Education’s Outstanding Contributions to Education Award. A student nominated her for the prize.

At the department’s board meeting Thursday morning, county Supt. Bill Habermehl presented Ohanian with a certificate and pin while a pair of her students, siblings Philip and Marissa Brower, supplied trophies.

“I’m grateful to be honored because there are so many teachers who are remarkable out there, who love what they’re doing, and no one recognizes them,” said Ohanian, who teaches the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program at Newport Coast.

In January, Philip, a sixth-grader, sent a letter to Newport-Mesa district Supt. Robert Barbot asking that Ohanian be nominated for teacher of the year. Soon after, Philip’s mother forwarded the letter to Habermehl, who contacted Newport Coast Elementary to check facts. Ultimately, Ohanian made the short list of local educators honored by the county this month.

In his letter, Philip, 11, described Ohanian as a patient, creative teacher who never raised her voice and told personal anecdotes to liven classroom lessons. At one point, he praised her for putting him in advanced math “instead of torturing me with the sixth-grade curriculum.”

Philip was less verbose during the ceremony, but when asked to make a comment, he declared, “Mrs. Ohanian is the best teacher we’ve ever had.”

Afterward, he said Ohanian’s classroom exercises had made him a better writer ? not just the toolbox, but also the “quick write” sessions in which the teacher reads a story and then has students write a poem about it. Marissa, a fifth-grader who shares a combined class with her brother, also complimented Ohanian for her ability to control a large group of students.

“She counts 1-2-3, and if by the third one they don’t be quiet, she has them put their heads down,” said Marissa, 10.

The Orange County Department of Education hands out the Outstanding Contributions awards six times a year. Any group or individual involved in local education may be nominated, with nominations lasting for one year. Spokeswoman Janice Trop said it was a rarity for a student to submit a teacher’s name.

Susan Astarita, Newport-Mesa’s assistant superintendent of elementary education, said she was pleased by the recognition for Ohanian, who has taught at Newport Coast for five years.

“Ingrid is an outstanding teacher,” Astarita said. “She does wonderful things for the children at Newport Coast Elementary.”

In attempting to honor their favorite instructor, the Browers sent Philip’s letter to one other person: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Marissa said the family got a response ? but not a very personal one.

“It said, ‘Thank you for voting,’ ” she said, laughing. dpt-24-ohanian-dl-CPhotoInfoLQ1P94LN20060324iwm1iiknDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Newport Coast Elementary teacher Ingrid Ohanian receives honors from students Marissa and Phillip Brower.