2016 All-Star Teacher finalist George Rose

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George Rose
English, Student Government, Drama
Berkeley's Willard Middle School

Mr. Rose’s interest in teaching began in the mid 1970’s, when he started teaching poetry to elementary school students through the California Poets in the Schools program. He got his teaching credential with Cal’s Bay Area Writing Project in 1984, then went on to teach emotionally disturbed adolescents for eleven years before arriving at Willard in 1995, where he has been ever since. In Mr. Rose’s time at Willard he has taught 6th, 7th and 8th graders in math, science, English, history, drama, government, speech and debate, gardening, and cooking. He currently teaches 8th grade English, student government, and drama, and he is part of Willard’s Growing Leaders program, where students prepare home cooked meals for the public.

Mr. Rose believes strongly in the importance of student engagement and a supportive school culture, and he continues to develop and refine curricula that appeals to the students’ interests and keeps them involved and excited about learning. One example of Mr. Rose’s commitment to student centered learning is Willard’s drama program. 1995 Mr. Rose began converting an abandoned metal shop into a black box theater, and now, twenty years later, Willard’s Metal Shop Theater is the home to one of the most exciting middle school drama programs in the country, where nearly 100 middle school students write, direct, and produce original plays and musicals for sold out audiences throughout the school year. This is just one example of the many projects and programs Mr. Rose has developed at the school that inspire students to pursue excellence, and which serve to foster a strong sense of pride and accomplishment in Willard’s school community.

A fourth generation Berkeleyan, Mr. Rose is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where he also received his masters degree in educational psychology. He is the proud father of two Willard graduates, and he currently owns a home near Willard with his wife of thirty years, Carrie Blake. Mr. Rose is happy that he is in a position to give back to his community at least a small portion of what he has received.

If he is fortunate enough to win the All Star teacher award, Mr. Rose plans to use the $20,000 to complete Willard’s mosaic mural, a 7 year project scheduled for completion this summer. To see a drawing of the mural and to make a contribution, click here.

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