Saratoga High School art and ceramics teacher Leah Aguayo, also known as Mrs. A., is this year's recipient of the "Teacher of the Year" award from the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District.

"I'm very honored, overwhelmed and very appreciative of this honor," she said. "I've been 'Mrs. A' for 22 or 23 years here, and I do care as much about the staff as my students."

Aguayo, who lives in Boulder Creek, was distinguished along with 30 other recipients of this award from throughout the county at the 35th annual teacher recognition awards ceremony on the evening of Sept. 20 at the San José Repertory Theatre.

"She gives her students the opportunity to use their hands creating works of art and to escape the daily pressures of academia at this school," said Stephen McCue, who teaches drawing and painting at Saratoga High. "She handles the 3-D, and I handle the 2-D."

As she practiced making a ceramic pumpkin, junior Paige Henry agreed that Aguayo's class is the only stress-free class on her schedule, and she loves the low-key learning environment.

"I tell them, leave your backpacks at the door," Aguayo said.

Paige, in her second year in Aguayo's class, said she's learned more than just about how to create beautiful art from Aguayo. She's taken away a lot of life lessons, too.

"I tell them it's my job to make you think," Aguayo said.

Plus, Mrs. A's Famous Salsa Buena, which can be purchased at places such as Gene's Fine Foods and the Los Gatos Farmer's Market, and her delicious quesadillas are just a few of the extra perks of her classroom. Aguayo has expanded her love of cooking and making salsa into a side business, on top of teaching.

"I really look up to her," said senior Lin Shen, who has been taking Aguayo's classes for three years. "She's more casual and her class is a lot more hands-on. She goes around to every student. She is one of my favorite teachers at the school."

Aguayo's newly remodeled classroom is constantly in motion. There are students washing off their wheels with oversized sponges and others busy crafting practice pieces of pottery before the pieces are sent to the kiln for firing.

"It's the magic of the clay," she said. "In my opinion, children are not given the opportunity to work with their hands enough."

Aguayo also teaches her students about maturity, dressing appropriately, cleaning up after themselves and how to be accountable in the independent-learning atmosphere.

"It's a constant battle with cleanup and getting them to be responsible," she said.

At the awards ceremony, Aguayo said she was supported by her friends, family and co-workers. It's an award teachers are lucky to receive once, if at all. Many students and families in the community have been touched by Aguayo's unique teaching techniques over the years.

"I felt like I had won the Academy Award of teaching. It was so elegant, fancy and official," she said. "I felt like I was a beauty pageant winner. I rarely get dressed up. It was something very different for me."