Terri Gosen credits the parents and children who have taught her along the way with giving her the experience to create a nurturing, two-year kindergarten program for young students.

"Months of research and planning have resulted in a program (PEPP) which is truly a dream come true….This year, I have seen my "Peppers” blossom as they gain early knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will surely help them to be successful life-time learners,” said Terri.

Terri has been teaching for 16 years. She started her career in the Cajon Valley Union School District and came to Poway Unified in 1990. She taught at Westwood Elementary School where she worked with a colleague to start the Peer Helper program. At Garden Road, Terri has served as a grade-level chairman for both the kindergarten and special education teams. She is currently the co-coordinator for the English Language Learner program, and is working with several groups of academically at-risk first graders.

Terri graduated from the University of San Diego with a major in Diversified Liberal Arts and minors in Special Education and Spanish. She received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from University of San Diego.

After 28 years of teaching physical education, Larry Higgins says that his passion and enthusiasm for teaching continues to grow. Constantly looking for ways to increase student learning, last year Larry and a colleague wrote a new physical education component-based curriculum. Other schools across the state and nation are currently using the curriculum. This innovative program contains exercise science, rhythm and movement, aerobic fitness, and individual lifetime activities. Students are given experiences in cooperative learning, team building, and personal challenge.

"Coach Higgins pushes everyone to do their best. When someone is struggling he will say,"Come on you can do it!" Basically he is an all around good guy. He is nice but strict, fun, and pushes you to do your best." (from a successful P.E. student despite dealing with cerebral palsy)

Larry received his Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University and his Master of Arts in Education from United States International University. He began his teaching career at Patrick Henry High School and came to Twin Peaks Middle School in 1973. Larry was the Poway High School Athletic Director from 1993-1998.

"I can’t read." "You can’t make me, I’m dumb." "I’m not going to read.” This is a typical day at the beginning of the school year in Mary Jo’s high school classroom.

To Mary Jo, "convincing high school students who believe they cannot read that they can," is her greatest accomplishment. For the past four of her seventeen years of teaching, she has coached struggling readers.

Mary Jo is especially proud of the team of Mt. Carmel High School teachers who work together on the Literacy Council to review research on reading and present strategies to the staff. Last spring Mary Jo asked for volunteers to join a literacy study group. There are now 35 volunteer content area teachers, administrators, and parents on the council.

"I view myself as an apprentice to my students, creating an atmosphere where I serve them by modeling and sharing my thinking process with them. We are a team of learners." Mary Jo’s students participate in a cross-age reading program with Carmel Mountain Preschool and Sunset Hills Elementary School. They learn and model good reading strategies while reading and coaching preschool through third grade students.

Mary Jo received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Communications Theater Arts from Washington State University. She is a candidate for a Master of Arts Degree in Literacy, Reading Specialist from California State University, San Marcos. She began her teaching career at Kent-Meridian High School in Kent, Washington and taught drama, journalism, and English in Tustin and Irvine, California before coming to Mt. Carmel eight years ago.

Mary Jo was named San Diego County Journalism Teacher of the Year in 1994. She is currently a Poway Reading Instruction Education (PRIDE) Leader and English Tutor Coordinator at Mt. Carmel High School