Nancy Thompson Harris Award
Nancy Thompson Harris Award for Excellence in Teaching Literature
The Nancy Thompson Harris Award for Excellence in Teaching Literature was established in 1997 to honor an Albuquerque Public School teacher demonstrating a love for, and quality in, teaching high school language arts.
The award honors Nancy Thompson Harris who passed away after a battle with breast cancer. Nancy was a Senior and Honor’s English teacher at Sandia High School for twenty-seven years. The award honors Nancy’s life long love of literature and her dedication to teaching.
The 2010 nomination deadline was Thursday, January 28. Nominations are no longer being accepted.
In 2009, the $2,500 cash award was presented to:
Daniella Scott West Mesa High School Nominated by: Assistant Principal Sheri Jett, 2009 student Wesley Emmanuel and English Department Chair Paul Bernier
Past recipients of this award:
2008 - Valorie Rigby La Cueva High School Nominated by: Teacher and English department Co-chair Pat Graff and English teacher Albert Cota
2007 - Lauren McDougall, Eldorado High School Nominated by teacher Dorene Kahl, counselor Pam Evans & student Diego Matek
2006 - Martha Bedeaux, La Cueva High School Nominated by teacher/English Department Co-Chair Pat Graff, teacher Marilyn Winkler and student Rachel Veroff
2005 - Charles D. Domina, Jr., Del Norte High School Nominated by teacher Judith Garner, English Dept Chair Christine Beverly, and student Dawn Feit
2004 - Elizabeth Parris, Albquerque High School Nominated by Principal Linda Sink, teacher Karen Treibel, and student Gabriel Fries-Briggs
2003 - Judith S. Garner, Del Norte High School Nominated by teachers Christine Beverly and Charles Domina, and student Emmaly Wiederholt
2002 - Terry Cole, Albuquerque High School
Nominated by teacher Eric Strauss, and students Denise Parra and Joseph Martinez 
2001 - Lucia Amundson-Welch, Cibola High School Nominated by principal Linda Sink, teacher Joanne Pinkella, and student Matthew Jones 
2000 - Carol Nuzum, Manzano High School Nominated by teacher Cary Tyler, and students Amaris Espinoza and Shanda Hill 
1999 - Amy Homicz, Manzano High School Nominated by teacher Deborah Firstenburg, and students Carlee Ashley and Jacqueline Ortega
1998 - Rachel 'Jo' Colvard, Highland High School Nominated by teachers Judith Woods and Patricia Tarry-Stevens, and students Michelle Norton and Robert Gardner

April 2009 Reception


