On March 26, Maddie Hutchinson was named Mira Costa teacher of the year as well as MBUSD teacher of the year. She will now continue to go on and represent MBUSD in the Los Angeles County Office of Education teacher of the year competition.
After attending Mira Costa High School as a student, Hutchinson, known to her students as Hutch, was inspired to become an educator. She looked up to teachers such as Mr. Westerburg, Ms. Vaughn, and she knew that being a teacher was her passion. According to Hutch, these ed
“When I was finishing college and trying to figure out what to do with my life, I found myself thinking about high school and how important these people were in shaping me,” said Hutch. “I just remember thinking, I want to do that for other people.”
2025 marks Hutch’s tenth year as a teacher at Costa and she is a cornerstone of the Costa community. Hutch is a 9th and 10th grade English teacher, the Link Crew Advisor, Comedy Sportz Team advisor, assistant director for fall plays and spring musicals, and an abundance of committees such as the Ethnic Studies committee.
“It’s really important to make connections with your colleagues and to get involved in something you love to do on campus,” said Hutch. “Link Crew, Comedy Sportz, and these things that I’m a part of outside of my paycheck are the things that keep my job really really fun, fulfilling, and exciting.”
To keep her students engaged and comfortable, she often makes her lessons fun by creating simulations or doing group work. Hutch goes above and beyond to not just teach her students the lesson, but to have them love to learn.
“I try to get my students to walk in the shoes of the characters, and I also try to bring in art projects along with reading and writing projects,” said Hutch. “I also try to give them as much of a say, whether it’s choosing what prompt or book they want to read, I find the more choices they have the more engaged they are.”
Taking risks in the classroom is Hutch’s main teaching philosophy, and she lets each student take risks in their own way. Whether it’s raising their hand or choosing a prompt out of their comfort zone, she encourages her students to take these risks and supports them every step of the way.
“The more students lean into the idea that they can do something that seems difficult and hard and still overcome it, the better they become as human beings,” Hutch said. “I think that’s crucial.”
Apart from being an extraordinary staff member, Hutch is a safe space for every student at Costa. She aims to make every student feel included and equal by accommodating to each student’s learning style, which is one of the many qualities that make her an outstanding teacher.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the students,” said Hutch. “It’s about making sure there is equitable education so even during difficult times, finding the motivation to push through is key.”
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