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Dorothy Dunnion Brophy College Preparatory

Dorothy Dunnion, a 32-year Valley resident, never thought of herself as a teacher. “I actually had sworn since childhood that I would never teach; I thought it would be boring,” she says. “However, since I decided to major in broadcast television [at Syracuse University], my parents insisted I simultaneously earn a teaching credential, which required I student teach. I walked into my first class on my first day, and I was hooked.” For Dunnion, who began teaching in 1968 in her home state of New York, next year will be her 20th year at Phoenix’s Brophy College Preparatory.
As an English teacher to sophomores and juniors, an American Literature teacher to juniors, and a humanities teacher to juniors and seniors, Dunnion says the most demanding part about her position is grading. “I would say it takes on average 25 minutes to critique and grade an essay, and I teach approximately 150 students who write seven or eight essays per year, plus rewrites,” she says. “However, I don’t know any other way to teach writing and critical thinking other than by doing it.”
Dunnion’s work at Brophy isn’t limited to the classroom; she also directs school plays and musicals as well as co-moderates one of its academic teams. “She is extremely enthusiast about the material but also as enthusiast about her care for her students,” says Bob Ryan, principal of Brophy College Preparatory.