05/21/2026
Congratulations to Evigard Daen for being selected as this year’s Teacher of the Year for the San Ysidro School District! The teacher’s journey into education was strongly shaped by his 16 years as a Taekwondo instructor, which began in 1994 when he started teaching at Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy in Paradise Hills, a community in southeast San Diego. Having trained there since the age of eight, he stepped into the instructor role as a high school sophomore with no prior teaching experience, yet quickly developed valuable skills in classroom management, leadership, and student motivation. As a black belt, he served as a positive role model and helped hundreds of students achieve their goals, discovering a deep passion for guiding young people. He earned his Liberal Studies degree from San Diego State University in 2003 and later completed his Master’s in Education at University of Phoenix in 2011 after retiring from martial arts instruction to pursue student teaching. In addition to his martial arts background, his large and supportive family further inspired his career path, as he was often encouraged by relatives and friends who recognized his natural ability to work with children. Together, his teaching experience, leadership development, and strong family support system played a vital role in shaping him into a dedicated and resilient educator committed to helping students succeed.
Our Teacher of the Year has worked for the San Ysidro School District for more than 9 years. He became an SYSD employee in 2011 as a Substitute Teacher and then became a permanent Teacher in 2016. Mr. Daen has taught at Willow and Ocean View Hills. He currently teaches 1 grade at Ocean View Hills.
