Don Bott

Don Bott has been an educator since 1985. For almost all of those years, he has taught high school English and advised campus publications. Since 2019 he has served as the school’s instructional coach, assisting all teachers but focusing especially on those who are at the beginning of their career. He has held various leadership roles, including department chair and WASC coordinator. He has embraced technology, serving as a district tech mentor on multiple occasions. He has earned many honors over the years, including San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year and National Journalism Teacher of the Year. He has taught at summer workshops and institutes and presented at conferences and on professional development days, covering a wide range of topics. As a teacher, he is particularly proud of his ability to highlight student voices. As a coach, he has worked hard to build a campus culture that promotes belonging. His former students have gone on to succeed. His colleagues have remained, creating an island where teacher shortages are not the problem they are elsewhere. Bott published his second book in 2025, “40 Years, 40 Stories: Lessons for Educators in their First or Final Year or Anytime in Between.” Sales and reviews of the book have been excellent. My passions include optimism, positivity, and belief in students.