Teachers Honored by Milpitas Rotary

Do our teachers get enough recognition? Milpitas Rotarians don't think so. Milpitas Unified School District educators were honored with Leo B. Murphy Awards at a luncheon meeting on June 20.

Acting President Denny Weisgerber, assisted by Interim Superintendent Barbara Young, presented recognitions to nine teachers in attendance, including from Russell Middle School.

Schoeller, who teaches English, will have his picture and a bio included on the Leo B. Murphy Award Teacher of the Year plaque at the Milpitas Library.

Other educators recognized those who were selected by their peers earlier this year on various campus and district departments. They included:

• Dee Sopor, first grade, Burnett Elementary
• Patrice Schwartz, fourth grade, Curtner Elementary
• Virginia Uyesugi, fifth grade, Pomeroy Elementary 
• Linda Rodriquez, science, Randall Elementary 
• Candida Graves*, third grade, Rose Elementary
• John Charlesworth,  science, Zanker Elementary
• Angelica Mendoza, GED Adult Education 
• Carolyn Robinson, Substance Abuse Correction

• Louise Lopez, social science, Rancho Middle School 
• Raquel Villalobos, preschool 
• Christine Eugenio, first and second grades, Sinnott School
• Debbie Nauseda, RSP Spangler Elementary 
• Alicia Padilla, first and second grades Weller Elementary 
• Susan Demmert, English, Milpitas High
• Letta Meyer, chemistry, Milpitas High 
• Annie Nguyen, mathematics, Milpitas High 
• Dan Atwell, English, Calaveras Hills Continuation High School
• Steve Smith*, student services

Milpitas Unified had nine teachers retire this year: Margaret Bielski and Susan Demmert of Milpitas High; Charlene Bogas of Rose Child Development Center; Marianne Dugoni of Student Services; Kathy Galde of Randall Elementary; Candida Graves* and Sally Whitehead of Rose Elementary; Mary Schinnerer of Spangler Elementary, Steve Smith* of Student Services.

Leo B. Murphy was the first principal of Milpitas Unified's then-Samuel Ayer High School and a Rotarian.