After more than two decades of service, Burroughs Teacher Bob Hope has been honored as the Sierra Sands Unified School District High School Teacher of the Year. As he prepares to retire at the end of this school year, the Burroughs High School community celebrates a teacher whose impact has shaped the campus and inspired generations of students.
Since 2001, Mr. Hope has taught Special Day Class (SDC), English, METS, and AVID, while also serving as a football coach, Link Crew leader, and senior class advisor. His influence reaches far beyond academics—he’s known for his enthusiasm, compassion, and willingness to support students in every way possible.
“Mr. Hope is a beacon of hope (pun fully intended) for our students and our staff. His cheerful smile and encouraging attitude are contagious, which is why he was the perfect person to lead Link Crew these past few years!” said one of the many nominations he received. Others pointed out how he goes above and beyond to support students, especially those who need extra help.
“The kindness and integrity that Mr. Hope brings to the classroom is refreshing and incredibly nurturing,” wrote another nominator. “We entrust some of our most vulnerable students to Mr. Hope because of this, and there are many over the years who found a new love for learning because of his compassion and grace.”
As Mr. Hope retires, his colleagues are finding it hard to imagine Burroughs without him.
“Bob will be impossible to replace at BHS,” said his fellow AVID teacher and Senior Class Advisor Ernestina Palerm Wilson. “His reach and vast influence in every corner at BHS is timeless and everlasting. He has left his mark on me, decades of students and colleagues, and on the greater Ridgecrest community.”
She, like others, praised his ability to connect with students.
“He greets every kid with a handshake and a smile when he sees them, regardless if they are walking into his classroom, a quick hello on the quad, or at the grocery store. He’s like Gatsby — his is ‘one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.'”
English Department Chair Susie Burgess was quick to sing his praises.
“One of my favorite images of Bob is one he submitted to the Blockbuster, ” said Burgess. “It’s of him as a powderpuff cheerleader during high school in San Diego. Decades later, he is still recognizable in that photo — the energy, the enthusiasm, the “all-in” attitude that brings out the best in those around him. Given how many years Bob has put into teaching, one might expect him to be cynical at this point. Yet Bob still exudes positivity and a
strong belief in our educational mission. That, I believe, is his legacy, and I am grateful for having had him in my department and in my corner for these many years.”
English teacher Rosemary Gilbert referenced Bob’s time as a football coach when she reflected on his strengths as a teacher and person.
“Poor as I am as a sports aficionado, it would be fitting to make a football reference for this former BHS football coach, teacher, Powder Puff advisor, senior class advisor, multicultural club advisor, and die-hard football fan,” said Gilbert. “Bob plays all roles on the field: quarterback, referee, offense, defense. But if he’s a running back, you know what Bob will do? At the last minute, he’s going to toss that ball that’s tucked tightly in the crook
of his arm — he’s going to toss it to a teammate, a student, a fellow teacher, and it will be that student or that colleague who will make the touchdown. He’s that kind of human.
After his retirement, he plans to stay in Ridgecrest and further travel with family.
Mr. Hope’s legacy is defined not just by the subjects he taught, but by the lives he touched. His career at Burroughs has been built on kindness, encouragement, and relentless dedication—making him a truly deserving Teacher of the Year.
