A Riverside County high school teacher was named one of the state’s five 2025 teachers of the year.

Robert Mauger, a high school career and technical education transportation automotive teacher at Corona High School in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, was chosen from teachers across the state.

He is the only state winner from the Inland Empire.

The Teachers of the Year program started in 1972 and is given by the California Department of Education. The award, announced Tuesday, Oct. 8, by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, goes to outstanding teachers and aims to inspire new teachers to enter the profession. Winners serve as ambassadors and represent the state for the year.

In a statement, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez called Mauger’s selection “a testament to the excellence of educators across Riverside County who continue to focus on providing outstanding opportunities for students in their classrooms while preparing them for their future.”

“His resourcefulness in securing industry-standard tools and equipment helps ensure that students have what they need to succeed, secure jobs, and overcome personal challenges,” Gomez said in a news release.

Mauger said in the release that he didn’t consider becoming a teacher until he volunteered at his daughter’s elementary school.

He described his teaching career as increasingly rewarding with each passing year — especially as more students shift from his classroom to their own careers. Mauger said his greatest satisfaction comes from witnessing the “aha” moments from students when they diagnose and fix issues under the hood of automobiles.

In May, Mauger was named one of Riverside County’s four teachers of the year for 2025.