<p>PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Gentle Blythe, 415-241-6565 For Immediate Release </p><p>Balboa High teacher Eric Wilcox Receives Outstanding Teacher Award</p><p>June 18, 2014 (San Francisco) – Balboa High School English Teacher Eric Wilcox has received one of the five 2014 Carlston Family Foundation Outstanding Teachers of America Awards. </p><p>Carlston Family Foundation honorees are nominated by former students who are currently enrolled in or have graduated from a four year college or university. Students personally describe the reasons for the nomination, identifying characteristics of the teachers that make them effective, specific teaching techniques that increase interest and motivation of students, and the exact life changing impact of the teacher on his or her life. </p><p>Wilcox, who has been teaching English at Balboa High for 16 years, says the very first thing he does each school year is to set the tone in his classroom. “I try to meet every student where they are (academically, emotionally), and we begin to build a rapport.” From that, a sense of community builds among the students as well.</p><p>Wilcox, who believes that literature provides the most powerful forum in the curriculum for critical thinking, also sets high expectations for each student and of himself each day. </p><p>”After all, how can I expect their best effort if I am not giving them mine?”</p><p>Each teacher selected will receive a $15,000 cash award, and a grant of $5,000 for their school. </p><p>This year, the Foundation received more than a hundred nominations from throughout California. The evaluation process is extensive and involves interviews with many students, school principals, colleagues and finally the teachers who are nominated. </p><p>Wilcox joins 56 former winners and will become a formal member of the Carlston Family Foundation Board of Advisors and will participate in the annual educational symposium that focuses on addressing major issues facing education in California. This advisory group creates strategies for policy change in California, focuses on strategies for improving instruction in California high school classrooms and in California teacher preparation programs. </p><p>More information can be obtained at www.carlstonfamilyfoundation.com or by contacting Tim Allen at (949) 640-7840 or [email protected]. </p><p>##</p>