On the Town: Educators honored at Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Assn. mixer

The Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Assn., composed of Burbank and John Burroughs High School faculty, students, administrators and family, both present and past, gathered this past week at their quarterly mixer to recognize four local educators of the Burbank Unified School District: Dave Thomson and Clyde Richards from Burbank High and Jill Sullivan and Mike Krose from Burroughs High.

These events, emceed by former Burroughs principal and current Burbank Unified administrator Emilo Urioste, serve a three-fold purpose: to give local educators the opportunity to mix and mingle in an informal setting, recognize Burbank educators for their past or continuing service to the community and to raise funds for scholarships for current high school seniors at both schools.

Chaired by Joanne Lento Miller, the association’s recognition mixers are made possible by the staging committee composed of Joyce Rudolph, Connie Barron Trimble, Kathy Engh Lawrence, Kathie Brown, Gil Tobon and Burbank school board member Roberta Reynolds.

Last week’s mixer saw Urioste point out highlights of the evening’s honorees followed by comments and memories from the assemblage.

During the event, Thomson, a current social science teacher in his 31st year of teaching, was lauded for the instrumental role he played in putting together the history for BHS’s centennial celebration. He also served in a leadership role in 2013 when the school prepared for its accreditation visit.

“Dave’s organization and leadership inspires his students to learn, think and contribute through the prism of learned history,” Urioste said.

Richards, a retired math teacher and tennis coach at Burbank High is renowned for cultivating a tennis dynasty. His teams advanced to the CIF Division quarterfinals 12 of 13 years, capturing 13 straight Foothill League crowns and he was inducted to the Burbank High Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

From Burroughs High, current English teacher Sullivan was recognized for her 36 years of service to the district. Beginning her career at Jordan Middle School in 1980, she moved in 1990 to Burroughs, where she has been a department chair and a longtime adviser to the school’s Odyssey of the Mind Club.

“Jill has instilled a love of language and the written word in countless students throughout her career,” Urioste said.

Rounding out the quartet of honorees, Krose, a retired Burroughs math teacher as well as a track and field coach, also served as a golf coach for 11 seasons and was instrumental in establishing the school’s girls’ golf team.

“Mike was a fixture at basketball games, where he worked the scoreboard for nearly two decades,” Urioste said. “He was inducted into the JBHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015, and is still a substitute teacher for the district.”

The alumni mixers — which usually are held at Once Upon A Page, 2527 Magnolia Blvd. — are open to all faculty, administrators, alumni, current students and families from both of Burbank’s public high schools.

For more information about the work of the association, to become a member, to offer support or to learn about the organization’s upcoming reunion gala, visit bhsjbhsalumni@gmail.com.

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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.