Alumni Recognized for Leadership in the Field
Download our Spring 2009 Alumni Newsletter
ALISON EEDS (BA ’04, Credential ’06, MA ‘07)
After just four years of teaching social science at Vacaville High School, Alison Eeds was selected as the 2009 Solano County Teacher of the Year. In addition to her tireless efforts and engaging personality, Eeds was hailed as “a wonderful example of that ‘next generation’ teacher who is infusing technology into the lesson delivery” by John Aycock, district superintendent of Vacaville Unified School District.
“I had such an amazing experience at UC Davis,” she said. “I know I wouldn’t be as successful as I am today without the preparation I received from this wonderful program.”
ROY ENGORON (BA ’62, MA ’65 Dramatic Art, Credential ‘66)
Roy Engoron, retired from West Sacramento’s River City High School, eagerly accepted a recent opportunity to help recruit prospective students for the School of Education. “I had a ball!” he said. “Meeting the students was very interesting, and it was great sharing my experiences with them. They’re so curious about what it’s like in a classroom.” A member of the School’s newly formed Alumni Council, Engoron enjoyed 37 years in a classroom and believes that “…teachers are born, not made. Teaching is a very noble profession.” His voice of experience is helping potential teachers make this important career choice.
SHANNON GUERRERO (PhD ’05)
Shannon Guerrero is assistant professor of mathematics education at Northern Arizona University (NAU). While pursuing her doctorate, Guerrero served as project director of the California Mathematics Education Technology Site (http://csmp.ucop.edu/cmp/ cmets/), a project of the UC-based California Math Project. She taught student teachers for a year in the School of Education after earning her PhD, then moved to her current tenure-track position at NAU in August 2006. She continues to focus on teaching teachers to successfully implement technology as part of their mathematics instruction via grade-level appropriate content instruction and analysis.
EMILY PRIETO (’02 BS, ’05 MA, ’07 PhD)
Emily Prieto is
director of the Latino Resource Center at Northern Illinois University, was featured in the spring 2008 issue of ADELANTE!, a newsletter created by the National Hispanic Science Network and the Summer Research Training Institute. In November 2008 Prieto was selected to participate in the Fulbright Specialist Program and will be traveling this summer to The University of Ibadan. Working with the Department of Religious Studies, she will collaborate with several of the senior lecturers to review the educational materials of Religious Studies and Sociology/Ethics. She will also collaborate on research focused on how community-based leaders in Nigeria affect or influence sexual behavior that may provide protective effects against HIV. While at UC Davis, Prieto won the Walker Award for Outstanding Academic Staff Adviser for 2005.
MARSHA SPECK (BA ’69, Credential ’70)
Marsha Speck is clinical professor of educational leadership and coordinator of the Master of Education in High School Leadership Program at Arizona State University. Recognized by the National Staff Development Council for her best-selling publication, Why Can’t We Get It Right? Designing High-Quality Professional Development for Standards-Based Schools, Speck was the former director of San Jose State University’s Master of Education in Urban High School Leadership Program for 10 years. She also has diverse experience as a high school teacher, high school principal, and assistant superintendent of instruction.
“UC Davis gave me a tremendous foundation to build on,” she said. “Now I see my leadership students making a difference in local high schools so their students can get the best education possible.”
KATHY WEATHERHOLT ENGLERT (BS ’76, Credential ’77)
Kathy Weatherholt Englert was named 2008 Teacher of the Year for the Moreland School District in San Jose. She is now a third-grade teacher and spent the last 31 years teaching grades second through sixth. She says she was greatly influenced to become a teacher by her maternal grandmother.