Catherine Borek’s drama class working on a scene.
Credit: Courtesy of Catherine Borek
Catherine Borek first came to Compton’s Dominguez High School intending to spend a few years with Teach for America before becoming a professor. That was 29 years ago. Hired to teach AP English literature, the newbie teacher quickly jumped into the fray as a drama teacher as well.
A theater kid back in high school, she knew instinctively she needed to bring classical texts to life for her students by lifting the words off the page and into the spotlight. The experience has changed her life and the lives of many of her students.
“You find yourself when you’re up on that stage,” said Borek, a tireless educator who was named a California Teacher of the Year in 2023.
Alas, there was no stage, no rehearsal space and no fundraising. All she had going for her was chutzpah. The cash-strapped school had not put on a play…
