Jeff Javier – Teacher of the Year
Jeff Javier is in his fourth year teaching fifth-grade at Rolando Elementary, the latest school in a 25-year teaching career. Prior to Rolando, he taught at Spring Valley Academy after starting his teaching career at Kempton Academy, also in Spring Valley.
Looking back, he credits his family’s Filipino nanny for inspiring his path to teaching. “She took care of all the kids in my family, and because she lived with us, I was able to see them grow and learn before my eyes – from babies crawling, to walking, talking, and starting to make sense of their world,” he recalls. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever, and I have her to thank for it. She still lives with my mom today.”
After graduating from high school, Javier attended Mesa College and then San Diego State, before pursuing education as a profession. “I had amazing teachers at middle and high school, and that combined with witnessing the babies in my family grow up brought me to teaching,” he says.
He loves teaching fifth grade, he laughs, because “I can talk to the kids, and have fun with them while still taking care of business. I try my jokes and new material on them, and some throw it right back at me!”
Javier’s Teacher of the Year recognition was kept carefully under wraps until he was honored in front of school admin, students, his wife, and other VIPS, during a surprise ceremony. “I’m incredibly thankful and appreciative to receive this honor,” he says.
When asked what keeps him motivated after teaching only fifth and sixth grade for 25 years, he laughs. “I get new clientele every year, so it’s never boring! And the influence in that – to know that there are so many young people over the years that might remember something I’ve taught that’s helped them – that’s what keeps me going.”
He also stresses that it’s not all about academics: “I’m not just teaching. Many times, my role is about me being a trustworthy adult that students can talk to when they have a problem. I’ve learned to know when someone is not doing well, and to be there to listen and help them solve whatever their challenge is.”
Jean Bilbrey – Classified Employee of the Year
Jean Bilbrey is a Behavioral Intervention Specialist and is being honored as the district’s Classified Employee of the Year for 2025.
Bilbrey and her team work across all grade levels in the district and specialize in helping where behavior is interfering with a student’s ability to access the curriculum or be successful in social environments.
Within LMSV, there are three tiers of support: Tier One and Two include social workers, psychologists, etc., while Bilbrey and her team are considered Tier Three supports. “Once a campus has done everything they can using the other tier supports and the child is still struggling or having issues, that’s when they call us,” she explains.
“We go in and observe the environment, track any kind of pattern, and identify what is causing the child to struggle. We then work with a team to develop a plan, train the team to implement it, and tweak it as we go.”
Bilbrey covers a variety of student challenges, from those struggling with academics to helping with transitions from the car to campus due to separation anxiety.
Her journey to her current role began after initially gaining a credential in Special Education. “I was then blessed to be a stay-at-home mom for 15 years and joined LMSV four years ago as an SAI para at Sweetwater Springs,” she says. As she gained further training, she realized the behavior department was where she wanted to focus.
“There’s a lot of misunderstanding about behavior. All of it is a form of communication – saying that this need isn’t being met; ‘I don’t feel safe; I don’t trust this environment.’ Each one, from the small to the big, is communicating a need that isn’t being met.
“It is our job to step back, look at the situation as a whole, and find out where that child’s need isn’t being met. Then we work out how to support them moving forward.”
Bilbrey says her passion is not only supporting these students, but also educating the staff. “If I can educate ten staff, then they can help 100 more kids than I’ll ever be able to reach.”
Her team threw her a surprise party to reveal her LMSV Classified Employee win. “Yes, it is a great personal honor, but anytime I get recognized, I also get to shine a light on our team as a whole, and this award has given me the opportunity,” she smiles.
Her true motivation lies in those she helps. “When a kiddo finally understands their schoolwork because they’re no longer coming from a place of fear, or a child that didn’t go to school for months, who, after working with our team, is now going to school every day, being successful and making friends. Those are the moments.”
