Distinguished Service Award

The CATE Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding service to the profession of teaching English/language arts in California.

The nominee shall have been a CATE member for at least 15 years; shall have served in significant positions of leadership within CATE, both at the local council committee level and at the CATE Board level; shall have been recognized as a leader in English language arts education; and shall have made a substantial contribution to the improvement of the profession.

CATE Distinguished Service Award Recipients

In our profession, so much is required in order to be everything our students deserve. The demands are great; this is no career for the uncommitted. Teaching well takes diligence, knowledge, passion, energy, flexibility, and skill.

Occasionally we meet someone at a conference, on a committee or a college class, or, if we’re especially fortunate, on our own staff, who exemplifies that ideal sense of professionalism that is so easily recognizable. These leaders are our models and our guides, the men and women for whom our respect is earned, and with whom we have the common goal of providing the best opportunities for student achievement.

Each year CATE honors such a leader in the teaching of English/language arts with their highest recognition, the CATE Distinguished Service Award.

Recipients:

CATE’s MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD 2026
Michael Jago

2025 – Robert Chapman

2024 – Kim Flachmann

2023 – Michelle Berry

2022 – Angus Dunstan

2020* – Carol Jago

2019 – Susan Dillon

2018 – Kelly Gallagher

2017 – Bill Younglove

2016 – Jayne Marlink

2015 – Anne Fristrom

2014 – Jim Burke

2013 – Leo Ruth

2012 – Carleen Hemric

2011 – Kathleen Cecil

2010 – Carole LeCren

2009 – Anna J. Roseboro

2008 – Akiko Morimoto

2007 – Cheryl Joseph

2006 – Mary A. Barr

2005 – Lorraine Tracey

2004 – Vince Piro

2003 – Robin Luby

2002 – Jesse Perry

2001 – Judith Toll

2000 – Dianne Lucas

1999 – Bob Infantino

1998 – Leni Cook

1997 – Don Mayfield

1996 – Pat Cipriano

1995 – Dani Barton

1994 – Geroge Nemetz

1993 – Ken Lane

1992 – Nancy McHugh

1991 – James E. Day

1990 – Faye Louise Grindstaff

1989 – Marilyn Kahl

1988 – Alice Scofield

1987 – John Carter

1986 – Miles Myers

1985 – Kermeen Fristrom

1984 – Helen Lodge

*Special Lifetime Career Achievement Award