
Spitzer said that when he applied for the annual competition, one of the impetus for doing so was that it would showcase his students and the school. “It's not just a victory for me personally, it's a victory for my students, the school, district and Edwards.” “It means that I've accomplished something, and my students have accomplished something tremendous,” Spitzer said. The word senior has been used in the English language since the mid-14th century to describe an older person or a person of authority, but it wasn’t used to indicate fourth-year students until the 17th century.What does English, literature and leadership have in common? Those are some of the courses that the 2021 Kern County Teacher of the Year winner, Jason Spitzer, teaches at Desert Junior-Senior High School on Edwards Air Force Base, California. This is when students are considered upperclassmen and should begin thinking about post-secondary options.


The designation of junior dates way back to the 13th century, where it was first used to describe someone younger than another. The typical age for this grade is 15 to 16 years of age. Usage of the word sophomore dates to the 1650s where it was used to describe university students who were in their second year of study. You might take offense to being considered a “wise fool” but remember: as a teenager, you still have a lot to learn and that’s okay! It is believed that the word sophomore was derived from two Greek terms: Sophos, meaning “wise,” and Moros meaning “foolish”.

Most teenagers start the 9th grade at 14 years of age, turning 15 before the end of the year. Today, it’s used to denote students entering their first year of high school. Originally meaning “newcomer” or “novice, the word freshman dates to the mid-16th century. High School Years in Order Year One: Freshman (9th Grade).
