Within the doors of Boulder High, the motto “a place for everyone” is pleasantly evident in the attire choices of teachers, faculty and staff. Arguably, some of the best outfits one will see in a lifetime are at Boulder High, of all places! Besides the common formal dress wear, many teachers go above and beyond in their stylistic choices. Flowy skirts, plaid coats, boots, and neckties: fashion is clearly an integral aspect of Boulder High culture. However, the people showing off their style are not always the students. In addition to our fashionable student body, Boulder High has amassed a collection of splendidly dressed faculty.
Surprisingly, students have a keen eye for their teachers’ fashion choices, often finding inspiration and admiration in their educators’ styles. Take Mr. Wright for example: the stylish Senior Literature teacher and seasoned Owl newspaper advisor brings his best self to school every day. He believes that “teaching and learning should be taken seriously and [that one’s] professional attire hopefully presents that notion to [the] students.” Mr. Wright further explains his belief that dressing appropriately denotes a certain level of respect for the academic environment and everyone involved. Mr. Wright’s aesthetic can be described as “dark academia.” This is characterized by its blend of sophistication and elegance, which is rooted in a strong appreciation for the intrinsic value of knowledge. Upon surveying students about who, in their opinion, is the best dressed, we found that many appreciate the attention, detail and effort that Mr. Wright puts into his everyday attire. Felice Borden ‘27 explains her respect for Mr. Wright, “he has a different outfit, color coordinated, thoughtful and very put together.” From his spiffy v-neck cardigans and bowtie Fridays, it is without a doubt that Mr. Wright is one of the best dressed at Boulder High.
There are many other teachers alongside Mr. Wright that fall into the fashionable category. Students can always trust that the AP US History and AP Art History teacher Mr. Salazar will wear stupendous shirts. A popular outfit was his koi fish shirt, dress pants and blue New Balances.
Another notable teacher is none other than Ms. Spray. The AP World History teacher and sponsor for Boulder High’s model UN club was enthusiastically mentioned by Ainsley Dye ‘25, who claimed “Ms. Spray is just iconic in her bright yellow cardigans.” Ask any student who has braved the AP World History class and they will say that in addition to Ms. Spray’s wholehearted dedication to the subject and her students, her attire is something to appreciate even if one has to present a tough textbook question that day.
Another teacher that was mentioned was Mr. Obika. The math teacher’s legendary lab coat is an ironic aspect of his attire, as he is not a science teacher, “but it works well for him and it’s cool to see the new patches and things that make their way onto the coat,” say Kara Dougherty ‘26 and Yar Chol ‘26. Who knew that a lab coat could turn a man into something of an icon?
Unfortunately, the paper would not have a space to feature every teacher that deserves to be highlighted, so here are the last two that were repeatedly mentioned by students: Math teacher Ms. Speckl was enthusiastically brought up by Melody Hodges ‘25. She liked how “Ms. Speckl is always color coordinated and by far has the best skirt collection.” Last but certainly not least, Juliana Ianetta ‘26 said, “Mr. O’Block is always put together with his fancy pants, button-down shirts (especially the dark purple one) and cool ties.”
It is clear that Boulder High teachers’ attire is not just an aesthetic, but it creates a culture of professionalism, creativity, and respect within the school. Teachers’ personal styles not only express themselves but also contribute to the vibrant school environment that encourages engagement and learning. It’s the small details–like a well-chosen bowtie or a bright yellow cardigan–that can make one smile during the school day. Who knew that Boulder High is not just a center of educators but also fashionistas?
