Comanche native honored for service to education

aza in Pasadena, Calif. is now complete and welcomes onlookers around the clock.  Among those recognized with an engraved brick within the plaza is a professional educator from Comanche. 

Dr. Terry L. Moren, CHS Class of 1974 graduate, is an administrator and consultant for Los Angeles Unified Schools, UCLA, and National University. Dr. Moren was honored as a recipient of a brick to immortalize his 40 years of service to Los Angeles youth and educational programs. 

Moren actively served on the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood Board of Trustees; Hollywood Police Activities League (PAL) Board; Children’s Hospital of Hollywood American Heart Association  Board; Hollywood Council President 1998-2002; Hollywood Bowl Educational Programs Liaison; Unity Festival Chairperson; Hollywood Salute to YOUth” Founder/Chairperson; Hollywood Spelling Bee Founder/Sponsor; Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Tourism, Christmas Parade, Walk of Fame Committee Member;

Moren’s career as a teacher, principal, mentor, district administrator, counselor, consultant, programs coordinator, adjunct professor and community activist has been recognized with many accolades, including 1985 Lawton (Oklahoma) Teacher of the Year; Los Angeles Mayor’s 1986 Apple Award as outstanding new teacher within Los Angeles USD; University of Oklahoma Writing Fellow in 1984; UCLA Writing Fellow in 1992. Other  recognitions included  the Los Angeles County Music Center’s Bravo Teacher Award  in 1991 and 1993; 1996 Hollywood Educator of the Year; Year 2000 Man of Hollywood Award; 1994 Who Who’s Recognition Award by United Teachers Los Angeles; 1995 California Administrators Association’s Exemplary Leadership Award; elected 1998-2002 Hollywood Council President; 1999 Los Angeles County Star Volunteer of the Year Award; 2002 Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Award; 2016 Palisades Administrator of the Year; 2018 Key to the City of Los Angeles  recipient from Mayor and LA District 11;  received the covenant 2022 Bell Award from LAUSD Board of Education.

In 2023, former students, parents, staff, coworkers, and community leaders collectively nominated Moren to be recognized with a brick in the newly proposed Rose Bowl Plaza as part of the Centennial Celebration of the Rose Bowl. Pasadena’s Rose Bowl’s Brick Plaza, located outside of Gate A, under the iconic neon Rose Bowl entrance sign, was established  to allow distinguished sports players, concert artists, civic leaders, community leaders, philanthropists, and Rose Bowl contributors to be immortalized for their contributions to their respective fields, activities, contributions and communities. 

When Moren was a junior at Comanche High School, he authored an essay about a potential career entitled “Striving to make the best of every child even better.”  The brick honoring Dr. Moren reads “Make your best even better” notably fitting for the Rose Bowl mission and his work as a volunteer, community activist, and professional educator in the local schools and universities.