June 1, 2023, San Jose, CA: George C. Payne Elementary School Principal Katie Berg, was selected as one of ten educators to receive the Dr. Harry Edwards “Follow Your Bliss Award” through the San Francisco 49ers Foundation and the Micron Foundation. Honored at an award ceremony on May 18, 2023 at Levi’s Stadium, Katie received a $2,000 stipend for in-classroom materials and resources.

Nominated by Payne Kindergarten Teacher Sheighlin MacAskill, Katie was among the award winners selected for her superlative achievement in education, honoring those who lead our future generation with purpose, passion, dedication, and love despite uncertainties and any hurdles they may face. Sheighlin shared in her nomination:

“Katie’s focus on social emotional learning is just one of the many tangible ways that I believe she is looking to impact future generations. Starting and maintaining these important conversations with students as young as Kindergarten about their feelings will help them be more well rounded people later in life who can work through their challenges and feelings in safe and healthy ways…This work is important to her and it is clear through her school-wide initiatives and projects in this area, like the restorative conversations she has implemented this year. The fact that she understands and supports all of us in having SEL be a core topic and something we should be touching on every day is remarkable.” 

“Our principals at Moreland are among the best in the area,” shared Superintendent Dr. Clover Codd. “Their dedication and vision for our schools and their school community can be seen in the incredible teacher commitment, student engagement, and community support. I am thrilled that Katie Berg is being recognized for the remarkable work she is doing at Payne.”

The Follow Your Bliss Award program was created in 2017 honoring educators across the San Francisco Bay Area who lead the future generation with purpose, passion, productive potential, and love. The award's namesake stems from the first step in Dr. Edwards' Blueprint for Academic Achievement and Success: "Follow Your Bliss - Explore and consider paths that might lead not just to achieving a career interest but to realizing your calling – the educational option and emphasis that for you lies at the confluence of talent, passion, productive potential, and opportunity."