At the 6th Annual Project Lead the Way Engineering Summit in Riverside, Dublin High teacher Ms. Eugene Chou was named the State Teacher of the Year.

“I was very surprised,” she told The Dublin Shield, laughing. “They mispronounced my name, so I just sat there, not realizing they were calling me. All the other engineering teachers stared at me and told me, ‘Get up there!’”

“It was awesome to know I would be representing the community; the reason I was even able to do all these cool things at Dublin High School was because of the community’s support, from parents to industry partners and district admin.”

After 10 years of teaching at Dublin High, Ms. Chou has left an indelible mark on the school’s Engineering program. The founder and current coordinator of the DHS Engineering and Design Academy, she has also introduced the Mentor Program for juniors. The program pairs each student with industry professionals that they meet with once a month, giving them the opportunity to establish connections and explore personal and academic goals as well as career development.

Ms. Chou is much loved and admired by her students. It is clear through her daily actions that she has a passion for what she does and genuinely cares for their success and well-being.

“Ms. Chou is truly devoted to teaching kids about engineering,” remarked sophomore Noah Boursier, who is enrolled in her Principles of Engineering class. “She’s sacrificed many evenings and days outside the classroom to help with clubs like Gael Force Build and Gael Force Robotics.”

Junior Devin Mui agreed enthusiastically, “Ms. Chou’s teaching makes Digital Electronics the best class I have ever taken, period.”

“I want to thank Ms. Chou for bonding with us on a deeper level,” said junior Jaimie Jin. “Her passion for teaching and dedication for finding ways to improve the program for us is very inspiring.”

“We are thrilled to see Eugene receive this recognition,” Dublin High principal Maureen Byrne told Dublin Patch. “Through her dedication and vision, she has put Dublin High School’s Engineering program on the map. She has led the effort with a committed group of teachers to create a unique and amazing educational experience for Dublin students.”

In the past, Ms. Chou was also selected to receive the 2012 Alameda County Teacher of the Year Award. The award recognized teachers who “magically make the most of what they have with the limited resources available to them.”