Dorothy Wright Teaching Awards

The Dorothy Wright Outstanding Teaching Awards were established in 1987 as a memorial to a former member of the Department of English who distinguished herself for her commitment to teacher education. Professor Wright taught at San Jose State for 30 years before retiring in 1987.

What gives the award its unique character is that its recipients are nominated by former students. To identify worthy candidates, the English Department circulates questionnaires in its freshman composition courses, asking students to identify those teachers who best prepared them for their college writing courses. Hundreds of the questionnaires are collected and tabulated; then the award recipients are honored in a campus ceremony attended by the English Department faculty, students, and other members of the university community.

The English Department at San Jose University considers it a privilege to sponsor the Dorothy Wright Awards, not only because many of its recipients are former graduates of its program, but because the program allows it to make the acquaintance of many of the most inspiring members of the area's educational community. The success of the English Department's own program rests upon the dedication and idealism of the area's English teachers. The Dorothy Wright Awards, therefore, honor not only the recipients but all teachers engaged in our common enterprise.

2018 DOROTHY WRIGHT AWARD WINNERS

  • Kandy Aldana, Liberty High School, Brentwood
  • Kira Allen, James Lick High School
  • Michelle Balmeo, Monta Vista High School
  • Allyson Banack, Independence High School
  • Brian Buttacavoli, Making Waves Academy, Richmond
  • Michelle Cat, Christopher High School, Gilroy
  • John Creger, American High School, Fremont
  • Justin DeMartini, American High School, Fremont
  • Sylvia Dyal, Gunderson High School
  • Brian Eagleson, Archbishop Mitty High School
  • Leilani Esguerra, Independence High School
  • Teresa Filice, Cupertino High School
  • Linda Flournoy, Accel Middle College
  • Sarah Fontana, Live Oak High School, Morgan Hill
  • Shawna Forteamo, Oak Grove High School
  • Vanessa Frank, Silver Creek High School
  • Elisa Frozena, Castro Valley High School
  • Harriet Garcia, Independence High School
  • Paula Haaser, Live Oak High School, Morgan Hill
  • Courtney Hayes, Lincoln High School
  • Mike Henry, Bellarmine College Preparatory
  • Eileen Horan, Mercy High School, Burlingame
  • Claire Kolling, Lincoln High School
  • Cathron Logan, Andrew Hill High School
  • Chris MacDougall, Dublin High School, Dublin 
  • Audrey Makris, Leland High School
  • Derek Padilla, , El Camino High School, South San Francisco
  • Lisa Painchaud, Evergreen Valley High School
  • Erik Pangelinan, San Jose High School
  • Sarah Robinson, Evergreen Valley High School
  • Mark Rodocker, Irvington High School, Fremont
  • Michael Roman, Santa Teresa High School
  • Sanjit Roy, Milpitas High School
  • Matthew Russell, Impact Academy of Arts and Technology, Hayward
  • Teresa Savin, Phillip and Sala Burton High School, San Francisco
  • Thomas Seaton, James Logan High School, Union City
  • Babak Shahrivar, Piedmont Hills High School
  • Lisa Simpson, Carlmont High School, Belmont
  • Jeff Speckles, Washington High School, Fremont
  • Rachel Stanek, Overfelt High School
  • Richard Sylvester, Abraham Lincoln High School, San Francisco
  • Ashleigh Tighe, Westmont High School
  • Mike Tinoco, Yerba Buena High School
  • Charles West, Evergreen Valley High School
  • Susan Wilson, Homestead High School
  • Mike Winsatt, Andrew Hill High School

2016 DOROTHY WRIGHT AWARD WINNERS

  • Ludy Aguada, William C. Overfelt High School
  • Derrick Allums, Kipp King Collegiate High School
  • Michael Andres, Willow Glen High School
  • Allyson Banack, Independence High School
  • Lillian Bogovich, Milpitas High School
  • Michelle Bowman, Pioneer High School
  • Martin Brandt, Independence High School
  • Jennifer Clem, Pioneer High School
  • Leslie Conrotto, Yerba Buena High School
  • Emily DeVoe, Sequoia High School
  • Jeremiah Ellison, Independence High School
  • Haley Fauth, Washington High School
  • Jason Friend, Saratoga High School
  • Melanie Gomez, Del Mar High School
  • Jessica Gregory, Lincoln High School
  • Rosella Guttadauro, Wilcox High School 
  • Jason Guven, Andrew P. Hill High School
  • Michael Henry, Bellarmine College Preparatory
  • Tara Holcomb, James Lick High School
  • Mark Holston, Mount Pleasant High School
  • Laramie Holtzclaw, Monte Vista Christian High School
  • Kaitlin Jenkins, Santa Teresa High School
  • Danielle Kestenbaum, Oakland School for the Arts
  • Katy Knight, Stockton Collegiate International Schools
  • Teagen Leonhart, Terra Linda High School
  • Joe Lovato, Mount Pleasant High School
  • Jeremy Lum, Bellarmine College Preparatory
  • Monique Machado, Cupertino High School
  • Katie Newray, Silver Creek High School
  • Erik Pangelinan, San Jose High School
  • Sevana Panosian, El Camino High School, S. SF
  • Andrew Rodriguez, Salinas High School
  • Kerry Rose, Cosumnes Oaks High School
  • Sanjit Roy, Milpitas High School
  • Todd Seal, Silver Creek High School
  • Babak Shahrivar, Piedmont Hills High School
  • CarleyStavis, Cupertino High School
  • Lise Strom, Lincoln High School
  • Tom Tomczak, George Washington High School, SF
  • Denise Tranfaglia, Silver Creek High School
  • Manuel Vasquez, Yerba Buena High School
  • John Warren, Independence High School
  • Mike White, Leigh High School
  • Michael Wilson, Santa Clara High School 

2015 DOROTHY WRIGHT AWARD WINNERS

  • Andrew Christian, Abraham Lincoln High School
  • Maralina Milazzo, Cupertino Middle School High School
  • John Creger, American High School
  • Justin De Martini, American High School
  • Alexander Diep, Andrew P. Hill High School
  • Allison Parker, Andrew P. Hill High School
  • Athena Kautsch, Casa Grande High School
  • Daren Wilkerson, Castro Valley High School
  • Patricia Budd, Christopher High School
  • Robyn Canga, De La Salle High School
  • Jessica Kerber, Encinal High School
  • Bo Cheli, Evergreen Valley High School
  • Amy Gibson, Fremont High School
  • Ethan Stocks, Gilroy High School
  • David Tieche, Gunderson High School
  • Liz Daniell, Independence High School
  • Leilani Esguerra, Independence High School
  • Kira Allen, Jame Lick High School
  • Michael Foster, James Logan High School
  • Rochelle Fast, Lathrop High School
  • Bernadette Ogbeide, Lathrop High School
  • Juddson Taube, Latino Preparatory Academy
  • Rich Ajlouny, Leland High School
  • Jennifer Moffit, Lowell High School
  • Josh Miller, Lynbrook High School
  • Eileen Horan, Mercy High School
  • Paula Chenoweth, Milpitas High School
  • Frank Ruskus, Monta Vista High School
  • Sheryl Vega, North Salinas High School
  • Lisa Gallien, Oak Grove High School
  • Gary Bettencourt, Pacheco High School
  • Peggy Lee, Piedmont Hills High School
  • Patrick Schleeter, San Benito High School
  • Nels Johnson, San Mateo High School
  • Anna Thomas, Santa Teresa High School
  • Dave Kenigsburg, Santa Teresa High School
  • Todd Seal, Silver Creek High School
  • Sandra Trotch, University Preparatory Academy
  • Sharon Anderson Jones, Washington High School
  • Andy Evans, Westmont High School