LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Michael Zeni, the agricultural mechanics teacher at Kelseyville High School, has been named the 2025 Lake County Teacher of the Year.

“Michael Zeni has transformed the student experience by blending academic rigor with real-world skills. His work-based learning program is not only innovative, it’s life-changing,” said Mike Jones, Principal of Kelseyville High School. “He has built powerful community partnerships that give students access to long-term professional success.”

Zeni received the honor on Friday, May 9, during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Surrounded by colleagues at Kelseyville High School, he was presented with the Teacher of the Year plaque and flowers in a surprise ceremony.

Zeni was selected as the Kelseyville Unified School District Teacher of the Year earlier this spring.

In April, he interviewed at the Lake County Office of Education alongside five other District Teachers of the Year.

Following this process, he was selected to represent Lake County in the California Teacher of the Year competition this fall.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg acknowledged the fantastic work of each Lake County teacher.

“Every teacher in Lake County plays a vital role in creating learning environments where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired. Their dedication, compassion, and perseverance make a lasting difference in the lives of young people,” Falkenberg said.

Other district teachers of the year include:

• Gena Obaza: Konocti Unified School District;
• Glenn “Milo” Meyer: Lakeport Unified School District;
• Heather Werner: Lucerne Elementary School District;
• Stepheny Johnson: Middletown Unified School District;
• Erin Wurm: Upper Lake Unified School District.

Michael Zeni has taught for 12 years, all of them with the Kelseyville Unified School District.

Zeni’s path to teaching was shaped by his own experiences in agricultural education and Future Farmers of America, where supportive mentors helped him build confidence and discover his purpose.

A pivotal moment during student teaching, when a comic book helped a student learn to read, solidified his understanding of how transformative education can be.

"What truly influenced me to be a teacher is being able to coach from the sidelines while my students become the awesome people that they thought they could never be," Zeni said.

His daily instruction blends technical training with creativity, purpose, and humor — whether through student-led shop projects, Lego welding safety demonstrations, or real-world simulations. Zeni fosters a classroom culture built on curiosity, relevance, and support, where students feel empowered to take ownership of their learning.

"Michael Zeni exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator. His dedication to student success goes far beyond the classroom. Whether he's staying after school to coach students in welding, mentoring new teachers, or connecting kids to real-world career opportunities, Mr. Zeni brings passion, precision, and heart to everything he does. We’re incredibly proud to have him represent Kelseyville High School as Lake County’s Teacher of the Year,” Jones said.

Members of the interview panel included: Jamie Buckner-Bridges, director of Teach Lake County; Jeni Ingram, Lake County Teacher of the Year 2024; Jan Peterson, retired teacher of 53 years; Jennifer Kelly, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year; Alan Siegel, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year; and Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

Lake County has had three California Teachers of the Year in the last 18 years. Erica Boomer from Upper Lake Unified School District was named a California Teacher of the Year 2019. Jennifer Kelly from the Middletown Unified School District received the honor in 2011, and Alan Siegel from Konocti Unified School District received the honor in 2005.

The Lake County Teacher of the Year program is administered through the Lake County Office of Education and the California Department of Education.

For more information about Michael Zeni and the Lake County District Teachers of the Year, please visit lakecoe.org/TOY.