By Madison Beveridge / Point Loma-OB Monthly / June 11, 2026
Noel Pomerleau of Point Loma High School, the San Diego Unified School District’s 2026 High School Teacher of the Year, teaches yoga, physical education and human body systems and has served in a variety of other roles, including coach, adviser and department chair.
Pomerleau, an educator for 14 years, has spent her entire career at Point Loma High.
“Students at this age often need the most support, and I love helping them understand how they learn best so they can move into the next phase of their lives with confidence,” she said.
The district annually honors award-winning teachers and other staff members at the “Stars in Education” event, which this year was May 20.
Pomerleau says the High School Teacher of the Year award is special to her because it sums up all she loves about her school.
“PLHS is a really special place where the majority of our staff hold advanced degrees and teachers create unique and interactive learning experiences for students that have a lasting impact,” she said.
Principal Dave Jaffe said Pomerleau’s award is a natural fit.
“If I were to have the opportunity to open another high school and hire the entire teaching staff, I would fill the positions with teachers like Noel,” he said. “She is not only an expert in the subjects she teaches, she serves as a mentor to so many students who view her as their trusted adult.”
Pomerleau’s care for and understanding of students is tangible, Jaffe said, and her dedication to PLHS is equally apparent.
“When I walk into her classroom, I am met with a very high level of positive energy, student engagement and level of student discourse,” Jaffe said. “As a colleague, she is a go-to person for staff seeking advice [and] ideas on how to best manage students, and is willing to take on any role she is asked as it relates to addressing student well-being. As a mentor, she is a voice for all of her students, but in particular she is an incredible asset and role model to the young women on campus.
“With the sense of safety she provides to the students she serves, PLHS is blessed to have her serve this community.”
Pomerleau is pursuing a doctorate in educational psychology and said she intends to continue creating a space where education and understanding go hand in hand.
“This award is the highlight of my career, outside of watching my students learn and grow, and I feel incredibly honored to be acknowledged for meaningful work in education,” she said. “Point Loma is an amazing school with incredible faculty and staff. I feel honored to work alongside such exceptional educators.”
