Tuddao: Teacher Who Refused to Let Them Fail
Manteca High School Math teacher Judith Tuddao works at her desk in room V209 on October 23, 2025. (Alexis Leal/The Tower)
By ALEXIS LEAL
The Tower
MANTECA–The difference between a diploma and despair at Manteca is often found in room V209, where math teacher Mrs. Tuddao offers critical after-hours lifeline, helping seniors at risk of not graduating earn the credits that they need.
"What drives me is knowing that everyone has their own niche, something they will truly excel at” Manteca High Math Teacher Judith Tuddao states “I believe my purpose as an educator is to help students discover that, build on their strengths, and see their worth."
Mrs. Tuddao's dedication is fueled by a profound belief in the unique potential and inherent worth of every student she teaches.
“What drives me to support my students is the joy of seeing them discover their strengths and grow into capable, caring individuals,” said Tuddao “I’m passionate about helping each one realize their potential and believe in themselves.”
For her, the role of an educator goes far beyond instructing math; it is about cultivating hope and building character by helping students discover their individual strengths and realize they are capable of success. This philosophy is the reason she willingly sacrifices her own personal time, including nights and weekends, to run extra credit-recovery classes. Her goal is to see students overcome their personal doubts, shed the notion that they are not good enough, and find genuine pride and confidence in walking across the graduation stage.
Manteca High School Math teacher Judith Tuddao smiles while gathering her papers in room V209 on September 4th, 2025. (Alexis Leal/The Tower)
For six years, Manteca High math teacher Mrs. Tuddao has worked hard to help seniors who are missing credits graduate. Her dedication means she helps students every day, before and after school. She opens her classroom early, at 7:15 a.m., for a zero-period to help students with homework and test practice.
“I am available to support them,” said Tuddao “whether that means clarifying instructions, teaching note-taking strategies, guiding test prep, or helping them develop effective study habits.”
She also teaches extra classes at the district office two days a week. To do all this, she must give up her own personal time, nights, and weekends. She makes these sacrifices to be sure every senior gets the final help they need to earn their diploma.
Mrs. Tuddao's dedication extends far past the students she helps graduate; she is also a deeply supportive and valuable member of the Manteca High staff. Coworker and friend Teresa Sicat describes her as an extremely caring, perseverant, and hardworking person who is a loyal presence both in and outside the classroom, even attending the same church. This strong character means that when Mrs. Tuddao sets a goal, she consistently and energetically pursues it, which is clear in the late nights and early mornings she commits to her credit recovery program. Her willingness to go above and beyond also helps her colleagues.
“I think she is very, she really works well with all the staff.” States her colleague of 18 years Math Teacher Teresa Sicat “What I really admire about her is if there are staff who are out or sick, she's very willing to give up her breath and cover a class, and I think that's very helpful.”
Mrs. Tuddao is readily willing to cover a class for any coworker who is out or sick, making her an indispensable and highly admired resource within the school community.
Mrs. Tuddao's sacrifice of personal time and rest ensures that at-risk seniors at Manteca High do not just earn credits, they gain the confidence to believe in their own success. Thanks to her relentless dedication, a pathway to the high school diploma is secured, allowing students to get rid of the idea that they are not good enough and proudly step into their future.