H.B. instructor ‘humbled’ by award

Teacher Greg McFall of Huntington Beach recently was named one of five Orange County Teachers of the Year.

A seventh- and eighth-grade history and social science teacher at Johnson Middle School in Westminster, McFall received the award May 10, when county and school district officials made a surprise visit to his classroom bearing gift cards to Staples, Target and for various “teacher supply stuff.” He also will receive $15,000 from the Heinz Foundation and Bill and Sue Gross at a banquet Nov. 2 at the Disneyland Resort Hotel.

“I always believed teachers can only be as good as what their students allow them to be,” McFall said. “I was lucky to have some kids that have challenged me in a number of ways to be my very best.”

McFall said he plans to use his award money to operate the student surf club he now runs every Wednesday down at the beach.

Though McFall said he was “humbled” by the honor, Principal Heidi DeBritton singled him out as one of the finest teachers she’s worked with.

“He’s phenomenal,” DeBritton said. “His dedication to instruction and to making sure his students understand the material and are successful are quite evident. I’m very excited and honored for Greg.”

McFall said he tries to emulate his teaching style after his mentor, Carl Hoist.

“My master teacher,” who taught at Fountain Valley High School, was “always somebody that the kids always trusted and admired and looked up to,” McFall said, and he tried to fashion his teaching to Hoist’s: high interaction with the kids and keeping a good sense of humor to keep perspective on the bigger picture.