MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A teacher in the North Valley has been named the Elementary Educator of the Year in the State of California.  Shawna Petrosian has been teaching in Madera Unified for 30 years and has taught at Nishimoto Elementary School since it opened in 2005.  "I do a lot of cooperative activities where the kids work together. They have to problem solve and they're actually teaching each other, which is pretty amazing to see," said Petrosian.  Growing up with two parents who were also teachers, Petrosian always knew one day she would become a teacher too.  This year, Petrosian was nominated for Teacher of the Year representing Region 7 in California, which spans from Kern County to Merced. And this past weekend, Petrosian was honored as California's Elementary Educator of the Year.  Principal Erin Falke says nominating Petrosian was an easy choice because she has some of the highest achievements in the district, with over 80 percent of her students showing proficiency in math and reading.  Petrosian is also a literacy coach and holds several leadership roles. But is the way she challenges students in the classroom that sets her apart.  "For example, if we're doing math, and I give them a first-grade standard and they have mastered that standard, they'll say, can you give us something harder? Can you give us some math? And then I'll maybe give them something that they might see in second grade or maybe third grade," said Petrosian.  Those challenges encourage her students to be independent thinkers, while also fostering teamwork and a classroom that is noisy in the best way. "There's nothing more exciting as a principal when you walk in and you see kids so excited about what they're doing and begging the teacher for a challenge, wanting something harder, wanting something more," said Falke.  This is the second consecutive year the California League of Educators has recognized a teacher from Madera Unified as the State Elementary School Educator of the Year.  "Well, it symbolizes to me the hard work we do here in Madera Unified. Teachers don't do it alone. I have an amazing team of first-grade teachers here that I work with," said Petrosian. "We plan together, we work with all the kids. These are not just my kids, they are everyone's kids." Petrosian says her number one piece of advice to other teachers is to truly know their students, be compassionate, build a relationship, and love them, in return, they’ll want to do their best for them. ...read more read less