Larry Teshara Retires

The Daily Journal has a nice piece on former BHS principal Larry Teshara's retirement

Larry Teshara, director of the San Mateo Adult School and former Burlingame High School principal, announced plans to retire at the end of the school year after 50 years of working in education across San Mateo County.

Looking back, Teshara, 73, attributed his longevity to a boundless passion for teaching and influencing the lives of young learners.

“My primary interest and career have been the same thing, and I consider that to be a blessing,” said Teshara, who came to the San Mateo Union High School District in 1972 as a 28-year-old counselor at Crestmoor High School in San Bruno after working as a teacher for five years in the San Bruno Park Elementary School District.

He transitioned from his counseling role to become the assistant principal at Aragon High School, before being named principal of Burlingame High School, where he stayed for 15 years.

With all of the recent turmoil at BHS emanating from the principal's office as noted here and here and here, it's pleasant to look back at a time when things were calmer at the school.

Comments

[KRN]

Larry Teshara was my counselor and Vice Principal as a student at Aragon High School. Larry extended trust and responsibility to students in order to develop leadership. Mr. T then hired and nurtured me as a teacher at Burlingame High School in 1990. As a high school principal, Mr. T's philosophy was to "hire the best reachers possible and deal with the personalities later." In that era, BHS flourished with academics, sports, spirit, and community. Most of the staff hired by Mr. T at BHS are now gone, but every leader to assume the helm of BHS will be compared to Mr. T.

Larry Teshara has left a significant footprint upon the high school and the community. Its time to give back. The community and school need place Teshara's name in a lasting and prominent place on the campus. The "Teshara Courtyard" would reflect Mr. T's connections with the students in a free and open environment where students were once allowed to learn and grow.. While I have been relegated back to Aragon to complete my own career, it was at Burlingame High School that Larry Teshara enabled me to become the teacher I wanted to be. Kevin Nelson

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I have had multiple encounters with Larry T.
Great and thoughtful Educator.
Good Luck Larry.

[Guido]

Mr T. is a Legend. BHS was in the halcyon days when he was in charge. He was a mentor to me 25 years ago and he put so many kids on the right path. Never had you, Mr. Nelson, but having innovative and exciting teachers was also a sign of those times. I hope BHS can be a shred of what it used to be when my kids go there.