School Standouts: Joseph Zeccola

Name: Joseph Zeccola

School: Sherman Oaks Center For Enriched Studies

Stats: 2018 LAUSD Teacher of the Year

Favorite Band/Artist: Billy Joel

Favorite Song: "Vienna" by Billy Joel

Favorite Food: Cavatelli (hand made Italian pasta)

Favorite Local Hangout: Little Dom's Deli or The Morrison

Favorite Movie: "The Godfather, Part II"

Favorite Teacher: Mr. Teigum (middle school and high school journalism teacher in Las Vegas)

First Job: Retail at Dillard's department store

When I Grow Up I Want To Be: Yvonne| Divans Hutchinson "Hutch," the best English teacher I have ever known

Favorite Subject In School: English

Last Book I Read Was: "The Kite Runner"

Favorite Superhero: Batman

Life Quote: "Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." From Batman Begins

I Most Admire: Howard Zinn, and my wife, Jaclyn (he is the reason I became a teacher, she is the reason I am the teacher I am today).

My Biggest Inspiration: My wife, my son, and my students. Every single day.

My Favorite Sports Team: The New York Yankees

My Favorite Sports Player: Don Mattingly

Favorite Saying: "While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free," -Eugene V. Debs.

Favorite Word: Metacognitive

If I Could Have Dinner With Anyone It Would Be: Sam Seder or Bernie Williams

Favorite TV Show: The West Wing

Favorite City: New York City

If I Wasn't A Teacher: I would be a television writer.