"It has been an incredible journey," said Mary Jo. "The prescription for this malady is to instill a love of reading in my students and motivate them to become life-long readers, thinkers, and learners."

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.

Mt. Carmel High School Principal, Joan Stewart, said, "A great teacher inspires everyone. Mary Jo inspires her kids. She inspires the Mt. Carmel staff as a leader of literacy, and she inspires me!"

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, the same year her Mt. Carmel newspaper staff took second in the nation. Mary Jo is currently a Poway Reading Instruction Education (PRIDE) Leader and English Tutor Coordinator at Mt. Carmel High School. "I am grateful to live in a nation where we do not have to be afraid to learn, or be afraid to teach," said Mary Jo.

This year three Poway Unified Teachers of the year qualified to be part of San Diego County's annual "Salute to Teachers." Terri Gosen, Poway's Extended Primary Program teacher at Garden Road Elementary School, and Larry Higgins, physical education teacher at Twin Peaks Middle School joined Mary Jo as three of the 37 district Teachers of the year.

Television Replay Dates for "A Salute to Teachers" "Cox Presents A Salute to Teachers" will be replayed in its entirety on the following dates:

Channel 4 San Diego on Cox and Time Warner Cable
Channel 3 on Adelphia Communications