Alumni

Three GSE alumnae receive recognition for excellence in education

Jeannie Crumly Cole — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 21:51:13 +0000

Three GSE alumnae receive recognition for excellence in education

Jeannie Crumly Cole Mon, 08/18/2025 - 14:51

From left to right, the 2025 Alumni Excellence in Education honorees are Tina Cheuk, Laura Evans, and Heather Kirkpatrick. (photo credits: courtesy Tina Cheuk; Herve Philippe; courtesy Heather Kirkpatrick)

Alumni | Announcements | Awards

Tina Cheuk, Laura Evans, and Heather Kirkpatrick are the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Excellence in Education Award.

August 18, 2025

By Aimee Richer

As classrooms around the nation begin to come alive for the new academic year, the �� Graduate School of Education (GSE) celebrates the educators at the heart of it all. The annual Alumni Excellence in Education Award (AEEA) is the highest honor bestowed by the GSE in recognition of the extraordinary achievements of alumni who exemplify excellence in their work, embody the values of the GSE, and extend its impact far beyond the university.

This year’s AEEA honorees are Tina Cheuk, Laura Evans, and Heather Kirkpatrick. Through research, transformative teaching, and pioneering leadership, each distinguished honoree has made a lasting impact on the educational landscape.

“AEEA offers a chance to reflect on the collective impact that GSE alumni have had on education and the communities they serve,” Dean Dan Schwartz said. “For over a decade, we’ve had the opportunity to publicly recognize and celebrate alumni for achievements ranging from being exceptional teachers here in California to transforming entire school systems in faraway nations.”

Each year, award recipients are selected by a committee of GSE alumni, faculty, and the dean. The nomination and selection process has continually evolved over the years to ensure the awards are equitable, inclusive, and reflective of the broader alumni population.

Director of Alumni Relations Marly Solebello said the yearlong process of determining each year’s award winners is essential to the success of the program. “One of the reasons this award is so meaningful is that it is an award decided upon by their peers. Any graduate of the GSE can be nominated, and every nomination is thoroughly considered by our alumni and faculty who care deeply about this community and the work our alumni do in service to education.”

Moolani Napolitani, MA’06, chair of the nominating committee, has participated in the award process for 11 years. “I am honored to be counted among such accomplished professionals as part of the GSE community,” she said. “Bringing visibility to their work not only celebrates the award winners but also elevates the profession of education and all that’s possible as a career path.”

Tina Cheuk

Dr. Tina Cheuk, MA ’07, PhD ’19, is a tenured associate professor of elementary science education at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Her work focuses on expanding access to high-quality science and bilingual education, with a sharp focus on equity and student-parent success. She has advised the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, has contributed to the California State Literacy Plan, and serves on the advisory board for the California Alliance for Student Parent Success. Dr. Cheuk leads teacher preparation and research efforts that shape educational policy and practice nationwide.

“Since graduating from �� in 2019, Tina has emerged as a transformational leader whose advocacy and dedicated strategies have advanced practices and policy supporting student parents, an often invisible population,” said Ann Jaquith, GSE lecturer and director of the Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies master's program.

Laura Evans

Laura Evans, MA ’97, has spent over 25 years championing equitable mathematics instruction. Her teaching and coaching are rooted in the belief that all students deserve access to math as a meaningful, creative, and collaborative endeavor. Through her work with �� Teacher Education Program (STEP), the Knowles Teacher Initiative, and the San Mateo-Foster City School District, she has guided hundreds of educators in designing inclusive math experiences that inspire curiosity and confidence.

One of the newest AEEA nominating committee members, Vaibhavi Gala, MA '00, captured Laura’s impact well: “‘I can do math!’ These words are magical to hear, yet still too rare. Laura hasn't just helped students believe them in her classrooms; she's sparked a systemic shift through a range of powerful initiatives and programs, making math confidence a reality for thousands.”

Heather Kirkpatrick

Dr. Heather Kirkpatrick, PhD ’00, is the president and CEO of Alder Graduate School of Education. Heather began her career in service and teaching before helping to grow Aspire Public Schools from two to 40 schools, ultimately launching Alder GSE as a pioneering residency-based graduate program.

“I cannot overstate the importance of Heather's contribution to the field in creating a teacher preparation program that produces one of the highest number of teachers in California who are most likely to stay in teaching and excel in the classroom,” said Professor Susanna Loeb.

Celebrating the awardees

“When I think of the Alumni Excellence in Education Awards, it’s a little like graduation,” Schwartz said. “Graduation isn’t for the students; it’s for the parents. For the awardees of AEEA, it’s great, but the program is really for the rest of us—to be able to celebrate these amazing accomplishments.”

This year’s awardees will be celebrated at a ceremony on October 17, 2025, during ��’s reunion weekend.

AEEA is made possible by the generosity and vision of Angela Filo, ’93, and David Filo, MS ’90, and the philanthropic support of the Skyline Foundation and others.

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�� GSE’s POLS program celebrates 20 years of producing leaders in education

Olivia Peterkin — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:13:19 +0000

�� GSE’s POLS program celebrates 20 years of producing leaders in education

Olivia Peterkin Tue, 10/29/2024 - 13:13

Alumni | Education Policy | Impact

The Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies program was started in 2004 to fill a need for leaders in collaboration.

October 29, 2024

By Olivia Peterkin

When former �� Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Deborah Stipek worked with faculty to create a new master’s program back in 2004, the goal was to fill gaps in the training needed for emerging roles in education.

“In the olden days, if you wanted to be in education as a practitioner, you were either a teacher, a principal, or a district leader,” said Stipek, who is also the Judy Koch Professor of Education, emerita. “When we looked at the terrain of education at the time, the master’s-level positions were now very varied and diverse.

“You had all kinds of layers in the field of education that hadn’t been there before, at least not in large numbers,” she said. “Suddenly you had school reform organizations, state governments, charter schools, and other programs all looking for leaders with strong educational backgrounds.”

Their answer to supplying this growing demand? The GSE’s Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies (POLS) program, which started as a way to produce leaders who could collaborate across sectors for the betterment of education.

First led by founding faculty director and professor emeritus Debra Meyerson, along with associate professor emeritus Steve Davis, the program has gone on to produce more than 500 professionals working at the intersection of educational policy, organization, and leadership.

“We founded POLS because we thought it was important for there to be explicit programming for students at the GSE to focus not just on individual and organizational leadership, but also the policy efforts required to influence systemic change,” said Meyerson, who is now the co-founder and co-chair of Stroke Onward, a nonprofit that provides resources for stroke survivors and their families.

Ann Jaquith, POLS’ current director and a senior lecturer at the GSE. (Photo: Ryan Zhang)

The program has evolved over the years to include a project that gives students the opportunity to specialize in an interest, and create a community of graduates that network and support one another.

“I see the POLS program as one that’s about teaching students how to lead change in education and become the sorts of leaders the education field needs now,” said Ann Jaquith, POLS’ current director and a senior lecturer at the GSE.

“What’s really powerful about that is that everyone in the program shares this strong passion and commitment to do better for some group of people in the education field.”

This year POLS celebrates 20 years by looking back at the accomplishments of past graduates, and modernizing its vision to equip leaders of the future.

Creating systemic change

When Jodi Anderson, Jr., BA ‘21, MA ‘22, enrolled in the POLS program he was trying to figure out how to effect change that would impact entire organizations and institutions, like the United States education system.

“There’s a lot of discourse around the problems that affect the educational system, and you need that critique, but until you have a more nuanced understanding of how those systems interact with each other — from finance, to how school systems are set up, to how governments interact with those systems, who the key decision makers are — you can’t identify points of entry,” said Anderson, who is the co-founder of Rézme, an edtech platform that supports economic and social mobility for socio-economically disadvantaged citizens.

“POLS puts you into direct contact with the people who can pull levers,” Anderson said. “And our cohort consisted of people who were actual operators, people who had been in the school system.”

Anderson found that the program’s combination of knowledge, theory, and practical skills aided his cohort in discovering their best approaches to being changemakers.

“POLS students are very much about systemic change and are individuals driven to learn how systems work,” said Nereyda Salinas, who was POLS’ first staff program director, and is currently assistant dean for professional development at the GSE.

“It’s a really unique program because students take these history courses from a practical perspective to understand and appreciate the past, and avoid repeating the same mistakes, while being hopeful for the future,” she said.

Jodi Anderson, BA '21, MA '22, is the co-founder of Rézme, an edtech platform that supports economic and social mobility for socio-economically disadvantaged citizens. (Photo: Ryan Zhang)

A spirit of entrepreneurship and problem solving

In addition to the shared purpose of creating positive systemic change, the “L” in POLS often attracts students looking to start new businesses.

For Sean Mendy, MA ‘10, joining POLS meant finding a way to lead in a way that creates educational opportunities for under-resourced students.

“I grew up here in Silicon Valley and saw the amazing things that were happening, and also saw there were a lot of people who weren’t accessing the things that made this place special,” said Mendy, who is the founding partner of Westbound Equity Partners, an investment platform that invests in companies serving underrepresented consumers. “Some of the more talented people I knew floundered because they missed out on certain supports, and I became obsessed with addressing that.”

His firm, which he co-founded in 2019 with three other partners, including two �� Graduate School of Business alumni, commits 50% of net proceeds to causes that support opportunity gaps for underrepresented U.S. talent.

“I went to POLS thinking reform was the only path to addressing social issues, but learned about the role of nonprofits in this work and I zeroed in on addressing the racial wealth gap through venture capital,” Mendy said.

“I think what was special about POLS was the variety of people who want to effect change in education in different ways, whether that be through policymaking, school leadership, finance, or starting a business.”

The multidisciplinary program is focused through the POLS project, a requirement that allows students to work with organizations and nonprofits to address a specific issue in education that connects with what they plan to do after graduation.

“We consider difficult, multi-faceted problems that lack a single, simple answer,” said Jaquith, who’s led the program since 2021. “Using conceptual lenses from multiple disciplines, POLS graduates understand complicated educational challenges more completely and ask important questions.”

Former GSE Dean Deborah Stipek says POLS students have created a "pretty deep and broad network of people in various fields.”

A global network of leaders

Graduates of the program have gone on to fill an array of roles, including those in consulting, business, finance, higher education, government, and policy, among others.

“The POLS graduates take care of each other, because there’s a strong sense of affiliation with the program,” Stipek said. “So many POLS graduates have been hired by previous graduates because they’ve created this pretty deep and broad network of people in various fields.”

Each year POLS students develop strong relationships within their cohort and connections to educational leaders and alumni, a tradition Jaquith plans to develop moving forward.

“Every year I meet some POLS graduates who are cooler than the years before,” Mendy said. “It’s great to know there are people who care about education, but are committed to being leaders across industries and approaching the issue from many different angles.”

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Debra Meyerson , Deborah Stipek , Ann Jaquith

�� GSE commemorates 10th year of Alumni Excellence in Education Award

Olivia Peterkin — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:41:56 +0000

�� GSE commemorates 10th year of Alumni Excellence in Education Award

Olivia Peterkin Tue, 07/23/2024 - 11:41

From left to right, the AEEA 2024 honorees are Rachel Lotan, Ana Miguel, Matthew Kelly and Marisol Castillo.

Alumni | Announcements | Awards

Rachel Lotan, Ana Miguel, Matthew Kelly and Marisol Castillo will be awarded this year for their exemplary leadership in education.

July 31, 2024

By Olivia Peterkin

When Bernardo Naranjo, PhD ’02, received �� Graduate School of Education’s (GSE) Alumni Excellence in Education Award (AEEA) in 2018 he’d been more than a decade into directing Proyecto Educativo, an organization that designs and implements strategies to improve public school systems in Latin America.

One of 35 honorees to be named since the first cohort was announced in 2014, he said the award emphasized to him “the powerful message” that educators matter, reinforcing his sense of purpose.

“Receiving the award has been a highlight of my career and a catalyst for a renewed focus,” Naranjo said. “It serves as a constant reminder that our goal goes well beyond improving indicators and test scores, we’re to improve lives.”

In addition to lauding those who have demonstrated their dedication to education and learning, the award also seeks to inspire those pursuing careers in education, says Fadia Desmond, MA ’95, one of the award committee's longest-serving chairs.

“Prospective GSE students may see how their path through graduate school and into the field can be impactful to communities near and far,” said Desmond, who is currently the president and CEO of St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento. “Our award winners set an example of the immense opportunities within education and inspire future career paths.”

Now in its 10th year, four new GSE alumni are being acknowledged for their commitment to equitable classrooms, teaching, education policy, and math education:

Rachel Lotan, MA ’81, MA ’83, and PhD ’85, Professor (teaching), �� Teacher Education Program (STEP) Director Emerita, �� University and director of the Program for Complex Instruction at ��
Ana Miguel, MA ’12, Teacher at Desert Mirage High School, Coachella Valley Unified School District
Matthew Kelly, MA ’15, PhD ’18, Assistant Professor, University of Washington
Marisol Castillo, ’03, MA ’04, English teacher at E.L. Haynes School in Washington, D.C.

“Every year, I am wowed by our alumni. They exemplify all that’s possible in education and show true commitment and dedication to the students they serve,” said Dan Schwartz, dean of the GSE. “I’m very proud of these exceptional educators.”

Honorees over the past decade have included principals, researchers and teachers of all subjects.

Salina Gray, PhD ’14, was an honoree in 2021, and says the award gave her a second wind coming out of the pandemic.

“Rarely have I seen viral stories about how hard teachers work to support, encourage and inspire students,” said Gray, PhD ’14, a middle school science teacher in Riverside, California. “The fact that ��, a world renowned, prestigious university celebrates educators shows that education is indeed among the most significant and valuable professions.”

Marisol Castillo

Castillo, MA ’04, has been working in high school classrooms teaching English and humanities for 21 years.

“Words fall short in attempting to encapsulate the impact a teacher like Marisol Castillo has had on my academic development and personal journey,” said Darlyn Portillo Mejia, one of her previous students at E.L. Haynes. “Her dedication and devotion to teaching are beyond the classroom; she aspires to not only educate students but also to shape individuals.”

Matthew Kelly

Kelly, PhD ’18, is an assistant professor at the University of Washington, a recent transition after leveraging his knowledge of history and policy analysis to work as an expert witness in a civil rights case challenging the use of state education funding formulas in Pennsylvania.

“As a scholar who recognizes the value and significance of public scholarship, I am incredibly proud to know Dr. Kelly,” said Ericka Weathers, PhD ’18, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, where Kelly was an assistant professor. “Without a doubt, Dr. Kelly’s research and service to the state of Pennsylvania will positively change the lives and learning opportunities of millions of children for decades to come.”

Rachel Lotan

Lotan, MA ’81 and PhD ’85 — who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award this year — is a professor emerita of education, former director of STEP for 15 years, and the current director of the Program for Complex Instruction at ��.

“[Lotan] has been an inspiration to hundreds of educators and has had an impact on thousands of students worldwide,” said Nancy Lobell, a staff member with the STEP program. “I was blessed to work with Rachel for the 14 years that our time at STEP overlapped, and I consider her to be the greatest teacher of the many mentors I have had.”

Lotan is only the fifth honoree in the history of AEEA to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, which highlights those who have spent remarkable effort and time to changemaking through education.

“Our STEP alumni are passionate teacher-leaders shaping and improving lives and opportunities for young people, their families, and communities through excellence in teaching,” said GSE Professor and STEP Faculty Director Ira Lit, who represents the program on the AEEA committee.

“Seeing the wide array of ways our collective community is shaping educational advance and enhancing opportunity for those who need it most makes the AEEA event truly special and meaningful, and I look forward to it every year.”

Ana Miguel

Miguel, MA ’12, is a teacher of 12 years who returned to her home in Coachella Valley after graduating from STEP. During her time as a teacher, she’s taught hundreds of students to fall in love with math, and launched a new course that combines statistics and social justice.

“When I think of the kind of powerful leaders we need in this world, I think Ana is a perfect example,” said Rochelle Gutiérrez, BA ’90, professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. “She is thoughtful, humble, and leading in education through her everyday actions.”

Celebrating success

“By sharing these stories, this recognition promotes a broader understanding of what impactful education looks like in various contexts,” said former GSE lecturer and 2016 honoree Piya Sorcar, MA ’06, PhD ’09, founder and CEO of TeachAids.

“It encourages a culture of continuous improvement and lifelong learning among educators, which is vital for the advancement of the field.”

Each year, winners of the awards are chosen by a panel that includes GSE alumni, faculty and the dean. Recipients also receive an honorarium made possible through the generosity and vision of Angela, ’93, and David Filo, MS ’90, and the Skyline Foundation.

Rebecca Altamirano, MA ’01, one of AEEA’s founding committee members, says that many GSE graduates devote their lives to changing the status quo, something the award helps recognize and celebrate.

“I am proud to be part of an effort that raises awareness of unsung heroes lifting up vulnerable communities and policy makers tackling the toughest educational problems,” said Altamirano, who is also an author and entrepreneur.

This year’s awardees will be celebrated at a ceremony during �� Reunion on Oct. 25.

Learn more about how recipients are selected and read up on past alumni awarded for their excellence in education.

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Rachel Lotan , Dan Schwartz , Piya Sorcar , Ira Lit

Lifelong learning: �� GSE student collects her master’s degree after 80 years in education

Olivia Peterkin — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:38:18 +0000

Lifelong learning: �� GSE student collects her master’s degree after 80 years in education

Olivia Peterkin Sun, 06/16/2024 - 19:38

Virginia Hislop beams at the GSE's 2024 commencement ceremony after accepting her master of arts in education on Sunday, June 16. (Photo: Charles Russo)

Alumni | Campus Life | Impact

Virginia Hislop receives a master’s degree in the 2024 diploma ceremony at the age of 105.

June 16, 2024

By Olivia Peterkin

It’s been a minute since Virginia “Ginger” Hislop was a student at �� Graduate School of Education (GSE).

When she started at the GSE in 1936 — then the �� University School of Education — her plan was to get her bachelor’s of education, which she did in 1940, and obtain her master’s of education so she could teach, which she started directly after.

The goal: to help grow and provide opportunities for young minds by following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who taught in Kansas before the Civil War, and her Aunt Nora, who was the principal of a school in West Los Angeles, and pursue the field of education.

However, just after completing her coursework and just before turning in her final thesis, her then-boyfriend George Hislop AB ’41, a GSE student in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), got called in to serve during World War II, prompting the pair to get married and Virginia Hislop to leave campus before graduating.

“I thought it was one of the things I could pick up along the way if I needed it and I always enjoyed studying, so that wasn’t really a great concern to me — and getting married was,” said Hislop, who was born in Palo Alto and resides in Yakima, Washington.

Now, 83 years after leaving campus and living in service to learning, Hislop returned to �� to finish what she started and receive her graduate degree.

“A fierce advocate for equity and the opportunity to learn … today we are proud to confer the master of arts in education to our 105 year-old graduate,” GSE Dean Daniel Schwartz said in a speech at the beginning of the GSE’s commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 16.

Virginia Hislop (right) accepts her diploma for her master of arts in education at the GSE’s 2024 commencement ceremony from Dean Dan Schwartz. She collects her degree after more than 80 years doing education work in schools and on school boards in Yakima, Washington. (Photo: Charles Russo)

Family ties to ��

In many ways, Hislop’s work in education after leaving �� began with her children.

When her daughter Anne started first grade in Washington, Hislop advocated on her behalf so that she could take advanced English, rather than a home economics course being suggested by the school.

“I felt that she could learn to cook at home and it was more important that she learn more academic skills at school,” said Hislop, whose daughter Anne Hislop Jensen MA ’68 and son-in-law Doug Jensen, MA ’68, also graduated from the GSE.

After that first encounter, Hislop was moved to join the school board to have more of a say in what children were being taught, to help set them up for success.

“I felt that all the kids should have an opportunity to develop their potential as best they could, and that everybody should have a crack at higher education if they wanted,” said Hislop, who stayed on the school board for 13 years before moving her involvement to the city, county and state level in Washington state.

Some of her roles included chairing the Yakima School Board of Directors; becoming a founding member of the board of directors for Yakima Community College, and helping to start Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington, where she served on the board for 20 years.

“I’ve been doing this work for years and it’s nice to be recognized with this degree,” she said.

Leadership and longevity in learning

Nowadays, Hislop spends most of her time doing community work, reading, socializing and working in her garden — a routine she says has kept her sharp.

“The biggest lesson I’ve taken from her is that you never really stop learning,” said Doug Jensen, “She’s a voracious reader, and at 105 she’s still actively moving and shaking. No moss grows under her feet.”

Looking back on her career, Hislop credits her time at �� and the things she’s learned from community partners along the way for her ability to impact students.

“I think I did good things for our local school system and I helped broaden it out,” she said. “For me, this degree is an appreciation of the many years I’ve put in working for the schools in the Yakima area and on different boards.”

At the GSE Diploma ceremony, Schwartz concurred, saying Hislop “led a life of tremendous educational accomplishment.” Her fellow graduates and their families gave her a standing ovation.

When Hislop rose from her seat, donned in cap and gown, to walk across the stage and receive her master’s hood, the applause roared once again. She greeted Schwartz on stage and was handed her diploma. She smiled for the cameras. Her grandkids and great-grandkids waved and cheered.

“My goodness,” Hislop said. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Dan Schwartz

Three �� GSE alumni awarded Knowles Fellowships for 2023

Olivia Peterkin — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 23:20:15 +0000

Three �� GSE alumni awarded Knowles Fellowships for 2023

Olivia Peterkin Mon, 12/11/2023 - 15:20

Knowles 2023 fellows and STEP graduates (left to right) Kelly Ho, Justin Park, and Kelsey Wong. (Photos: Andrea Cipriani Mecchi)

Alumni | Awards | Teaching

More than 86 alumni from the GSE’s STEP program have been awarded the teaching fellowships since the program’s inception in 2002.

December 11, 2023

By Olivia Peterkin

Three �� Graduate School of Education (GSE) alumni were among 27 early-career high school teachers selected as Knowles Teaching Fellows this year.

The prestigious honor includes five years of support from the Knowles Teacher Initiative in the form of mentoring, leadership development opportunities, stipends, and grants for teaching materials. The fellowship is valued at $150,000 per teacher, according to the teaching initiative.

More than 80 graduates of the �� Teacher Education Program (STEP), or nearly 17 percent of all fellows, have won Knowles Fellowships since its inception in 2002.

“The Knowles Teacher Initiative makes a meaningful impact by supporting the professional development of exceptional science and math educators and building a community of practice and support to sustain and nurture them,” said Ira William Lit, professor of education and faculty director of STEP.

“We are deeply proud that so many STEP alums have been recognized as Knowles Fellows over the years,” he said. “It’s a reflection of their excellence, a commitment to serving communities who need them, and the quality of their preparation at ��.”

The following �� graduates were selected as 2023 Knowles Teaching Fellows:

Kelly Ho began her first year of teaching biology at Milpitas High School during the 2023-24 academic year. She earned a BS in biology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2021 and an MA in education from �� in 2023.

Justin Park began his first year of teaching mathematics at San Francisco International High School during the 2023-24 academic year. He earned a BS in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2022 and an MA in education from �� in 2023.

Kelsey Wong began her first year of teaching mathematics at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego during the 2023-24 academic year. She earned a BS in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018 and an MA in education from �� in 2023.

For more about the fellows and the program, visit the Knowles Teacher Initiative website. Applications for 2024 Knowles Teaching Fellowships are now open.

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Ira Lit

Three �� GSE alumni receive recognition for contributions to educational excellence

Olivia Peterkin — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 22:39:26 +0000

Three �� GSE alumni receive recognition for contributions to educational excellence

Olivia Peterkin Fri, 07/28/2023 - 15:39

The 2023 Alumni Excellence in Education Award recipients are (from left to right) Marciano Gutierrez, MA '06; Su Jin Jez, MA '06; and Joi Spencer, MA '99.

Alumni | Announcements | Awards

Marciano Gutierrez, Su Jin Jez, and Joi A. Spencer are the recipients of the 2023 Alumni Excellence in Education Awards.

July 28, 2023

By Olivia Peterkin

Preparing the next generation of education leaders and scholars to make a difference in the world is a central component of the �� Graduate School of Education (GSE) experience. And for the past nine years, the GSE has recognized this pursuit with the Alumni Excellence in Education Award.

This year, three GSE alumni are being acknowledged for their stewardship and innovation in education policy, leadership, and teaching.

Awards will be presented to the following three educators at the award ceremony on Oct. 20:

Marciano Gutierrez, MA ’06, Middle College academic advisor and instructor at Foothill College
Su Jin Jez, MA ’06 and PhD ’08, CEO of California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy
Joi A. Spencer, BA ’94 and MA ’99, Dean of the University of California Riverside School of Education

“I am thrilled to honor these three outstanding leaders in education,” said Dan Schwartz, dean of the GSE. “The work they are doing to create pathways to careers in education and beyond is truly inspiring.”

A generous spirit

Gutierrez, who graduated from the �� Teacher Education Program (STEP) in 2006, is an academic advisor and teacher of civics, economics and U.S. history at Foothill College’s Middle College program in Los Altos.

Prior to serving students at the nontraditional high school program, Gutierrez was an academic advisor and teacher at Alta Vista Continuation High School for 13 years, and was a national teaching ambassador fellow for the U.S. Department of Education. Marciano has also served in leadership and advisory roles with several organizations including the California Teachers Association, the National Education Association, the Hope Street Group and Edjoin.

“Marciano’s generous spirit, caring approach to others, and his giving personality permeate his personal and professional interactions, said Rachel Lotan, professor emerita and former director of STEP. “He embodies the best and most significant qualities of the teaching profession and is worthy of our recognition and gratitude.”

An advocate for justice

Jez, is the chief executive officer of California Competes, a nonprofit research and policy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for California residents by addressing issues in education.

Her interest in educational policy work that affects justice and fairness in education runs deep. The spark lit in high school.

Her illustrious career in education includes 11 years as an associate professor of public policy and administration at California State University, Sacramento; almost two years as director of the CSU Student Success Network, and membership on several volunteer boards including California Cradle-to-Career Data System, Tipping Point Community, and West Contra Costa Unified School District.

"What I see and experience in Su Jin's leadership is one that is future-oriented, catalyzing the integration of various benefit programs and sectors to support the modern student," said Tina Cheuk, MA '07 and PhD '19. "She is someone who recognizes that today’s postsecondary institutions serve diverse communities of learners with distinct needs."

A mentor to many

Spencer, who received her master’s degree in education from the GSE in 1999, is the first woman and person of color to lead as permanent dean of the University of California, Riverside School of Education.

Before helming UCR’s education school, Spencer spent 16 years as a professor of mathematics education at the University of San Diego, in addition to holding other roles at the university.

“I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Spencer on many initiatives designed to enhance

access, diversity, inclusion and equity in STEM, and I have watched her mentor college students, teachers and children,” said Perla Myers, executive director of the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, and math professor at the University of San Diego.

“She is exceptional and tireless in her advocacy, her impact on those around her is deep and evident in multidimensional ways, and she has had a profound effect on improving diversity and inclusiveness within the USD community and beyond.”

The big event

Awardees are also celebrated at a ceremony during reunion weekend, and this year’s event will be hosted on Friday, Oct. 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Educational Research at �� (CERAS). Learn more about how recipients are selected and read up on past alumni awarded for their excellence in education.

To register or find out more about the event, email Tiffany Ah Tye at ahtyet@stanford.edu.

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Dan Schwartz

�� GSE honors four alumni for excellence in education

Carrie Spector — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 20:28:26 +0000

�� GSE honors four alumni for excellence in education

Carrie Spector Wed, 08/24/2022 - 13:28

�� GSE 2022 Alumni Excellence in Education Award winners (L-R):Alison Cook-Sather, David Heinke, Marco Antonio Rodríguez Revoredo, and Ting Lan Sun

Alumni | Announcements | Awards

Alison Cook-Sather, David Heinke, Ting Lan Sun, and Marco Antonio Rodríguez Revoredo are recognized for their impact on teaching and learning.

September 9, 2022

Four alumni from ��’s Graduate School of Education are being recognized for their leadership and innovation in the field of education.

The 2022 Alumni Excellence in Education Awards will be presented to the following three individuals on Oct. 20:

Alison Cook-Sather, MA ’87, the Mary Katharine Woodworth Professor of Education at Bryn Mawr College
David Heinke, MA ’08, teacher and math department lead at Fremont High School
Ting Lan Sun, MA ’88, co-founder of Natomas Charter School and adjunct faculty and leadership coach at the Sacramento County Office of Education

The GSE is also honoring Marco Antonio Rodríguez Revoredo, MA ’75, a longtime advocate of the right to education for underserved children in Mexico, with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“All four of this year’s award recipients are transforming education in extraordinary ways,” said Daniel Schwartz, the I. James Quillen Dean and Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Educational Technology. “We’re proud to honor their leadership and commitment, and to celebrate the impact of their work.”

Since it was established in 2015, the Alumni Excellence in Education Award has recognized 28 GSE graduates whose research, teaching, leadership, and entrepreneurship has advanced education locally, nationally, and internationally.

A leading scholar on student voice and pedagogical partnership

Alison Cook-Sather, who earned her master’s degree from the �� Teacher Education Program (STEP), is an influential leader in the fields of student voice and pedagogical partnership, particularly as those support equity and inclusion in higher education. The Mary Katharine Woodworth Professor of Education at Bryn Mawr College, Cook-Sather also directs the Teaching and Learning Institute at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges.

She is recognized internationally for creating the Students as Learners and Teachers (SaLT) program, which places undergraduates in the paid position of pedagogical consultant to faculty. She has presented and published extensively on student voice and student-teacher partnerships, including the books Co-creating Equitable Teaching and Learning: Structuring Student Voice Into Higher Education and Promoting Equity and Justice Through Pedagogical Partnership.

“Learning with Dr. Cook-Sather is always a partnership: an exchange premised on respect and the belief that each person has something to teach to and learn from the other,” said Katherine A. Rowe, president of the College of William & Mary and a former faculty colleague of Cook-Sather’s at Bryn Mawr.

A mentor for a generation of math teachers

David Heinke, who also received his master’s degree from STEP, is being recognized for his innovation in mathematics teaching and for his commitment to mentorship in the field. As a teacher at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, Calif., he fosters a strong and supportive community in the classroom, building pathways for students to see and wrestle with mathematics in the world around them. As math department lead, he has worked to overhaul and develop new curricula, and he successfully advocated for lower student-teacher ratios as a contract stipulation, allowing algebra teachers to spend more time working directly with the school’s neediest math students.

Heinke is widely admired by his students and colleagues for his care and humor, and for his ability to meet students where they are and inspire them to achieve beyond their expectations. He has led efforts to ensure that all students have access to challenging content, including a successful initiative to de-track geometry classes. As a STEP Cooperating Teacher, he has helped mentor a generation of STEP candidates.

“David gave me such confidence in myself as a teacher that when something didn’t go perfectly in my classroom, I looked at it as a puzzle to be figured out, not as something that reflected badly on me as a teacher or as a person,” said Tara Palomares, MA ’12, who worked with Heinke as her cooperating teacher while she was a student in the STEP program. “Teaching is wonderfully challenging and with it comes many emotions, but because of David, I was able to see every challenge as something to tackle.”

“In everything he does, his passion for education shines through,” said Romi Elyashar, a former high school student of Heinke’s. “It is obvious to all of his students how much he cares about them, and how much he wants them to succeed.”

A versatile leader in education

Ting Lan Sun, who earned her master’s degree from STEP as well, is being recognized for her pioneering work in the charter school movement. The co-founder and former executive director of Natomas Charter School in Sacramento, Calif., Sun now serves as adjunct faculty and leadership coach at the Sacramento County Office of Education.

Sun is known for extraordinary versatility in applying her knowledge of teaching and school operations to state policy design to better serve the state’s diverse public school students. She has influenced California schools through decades of public service, including in her roles as past chair of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and as a former member of the California State Board of Education.

“Her breadth of knowledge and experience in education is unsurpassed,” said former California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., who has called upon Sun for her expertise in his role as founder and chair of a public charter school in Oakland, Calif. “She is as comfortable wrestling with education theory and policy as she is managing practical and technical day-to-day school operations. This is remarkable.”

An advocate for an ‘invisible’ population

Marco Antonio Rodríguez Revoredo, who received his master’s degree from the �� International Development Education Center (SIDEC), is being recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work to create educational opportunities for underserved populations in Mexico.

In 1969, Rodríguez Revoredo organized a high school and new curriculum for young people with limited schooling, whose graduates have gone on to notable achievements in college. In Veracruz, he initiated and helped develop the Telebaccalaureate Program, making it possible for young people in rural communities to get a high school education; the program was later extended to other states in Mexico. As founding director of the Television Channel of Hidalgo, he promoted the production of programs in indigenous languages that were developed with community members’ participation.

Rodríguez Revoredo currently coordinates Alfabetizar a Sordos (ALAS), or Teaching Literacy to the Deaf, a digital platform he created with support from the Universidad Veracruzana to facilitate literacy instruction for members of the deaf community in Latin America. In Mexico, “the deaf children are invisible,” said Carlos Ornelas, a professor of education and communications at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City. “There are special education schools that teach sign language … but children do not learn to read and write in these programs.” With the ALAS platform, he said, the deaf “may finally become a fully participating member of their community.”

Awards ceremony

The award recipients are selected by a panel that includes GSE alumni, faculty, and the dean. Awardees receive an honorarium made possible through the generosity and vision of Angela, ’93, and David Filo, MS ’90, and the Yellow Chair Foundation.

The recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony on campus Oct. 20 during Reunion Homecoming Weekend.

Learn more about and register for this year’s award reception and other reunion events.

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At ��, an unlikely collaboration prepares leaders in the business of education

Carrie Spector — Sun, 08 May 2022 20:27:50 +0000

At ��, an unlikely collaboration prepares leaders in the business of education

Carrie Spector Sun, 05/08/2022 - 13:27

Michael Kirst (right) launched the �� GSE's MA/MBA program in 1969 and directed it for more than 30 years. Here he talks with students at a Fall 2021 reception to welcome the program's new cohort. (Photo: Steve Castillo)

Alumni | Faculty and Programs

Two cultures align in an unusual master’s program that has evolved over half a century.

May 16, 2022

By Carrie Spector

Lynn Liao had always been drawn to a career in public service, but when she graduated from college, she wasn’t quite sure where to focus. So she did what countless new grads do: She took a job in management consulting.

That’s when she met Julien Phillips, an entrepreneur and longtime partner at the firm where she worked. A �� undergrad and business school alum, Phillips had recently co-founded a nonprofit to support educational improvement efforts in low-performing public schools.

Liao had never had a particular interest in working in education, but suddenly she saw a place for herself in the field. Intrigued by the possibility of helping school districts become more effective organizations, she decided to go back to grad school, searching for a program that would combine leadership and organizational studies with a focus on the education sector. But “it was hard to find that particular combination in a single program,” said Liao.

She finally found it at ��, where – through an innovative collaboration between the Graduate School of Education (GSE) and Graduate School of Business (GSB) – she was able to earn both her MBA and a master’s in education in 2000. Now chief of staff at Rocketship Public Schools, a nonprofit network of elementary charter schools in low-income communities, Liao also found peers and mentors as she began a career in educational leadership.

It’s been more than 50 years since ��’s education and business schools first came together to establish a joint master’s degree, one that takes no longer than the usual two-year MBA program but grants both an MA and an MBA. The program – which has students taking a full course load at both the GSB and the GSE, plus a summer internship or other independent study – has evolved over the decades as both fields have transformed.

“The story of this program is really one of persistence and change,” said Michael Kirst, a professor emeritus at the GSE and former professor (by courtesy) at the GSB, who oversaw the launch of the program in 1969 and went on to direct it for more than 30 years. “It took a lot of will on the part of the two schools to make it happen in the first place – and to make changes as the field morphed, and as students’ interests evolved. And it’s still flourishing.”

‘Not a lot of affinity’

Launching the program in 1969 required a collaboration of a sort that’s exceedingly rare to this day, Kirst said.

“There’s typically not a lot of affinity and interaction between education and business schools,” he said. “Ed schools often have reservations about business and its profit-making motives, and business schools have reservations about the quality of education schools. There haven’t traditionally been very close ties between the two, and generally that’s still the case.”

Kirst has had a long and distinguished career in education policy: Since 1975 he’s served four terms as president of the California Board of Education, making him the longest-serving appointee in the history of that role. He also cofounded Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), a nonpartisan research center housed at ��, in 1982.

When he was starting his career, Kirst never imagined that he’d find himself at ��, launching a graduate program or anything else. He’d headed straight to Washington, D.C., after earning his doctorate in 1964, with every intention of leaving academia behind.

In D.C. he held a series of positions in federal policymaking, including roles at the U.S. Department of Education and a U.S. Senate subcommittee – until his boss, Senator Joseph S. Clark of Pennsylvania, was defeated in the 1968 election.

“I was 29,” said Kirst, “I had a wife and two kids, and I had two weeks to clean out my desk.” He was recruited by Henry Thomas James, then dean of the GSE, to join the school’s faculty as an assistant professor. “So I moved to California – temporarily, I hoped,” said Kirst. “I thought, I’ll just come here and wait it out until things change in D.C.”

His arrival at �� coincided with the appointment of a new dean at the GSB: Arjay Miller, who’d left his post as president of Ford Motor Company to head up the business school. Miller’s experience during the Detroit riots shaped his vision for management education, and one of his first ambitions as dean was to launch a public management program at the GSB, aiming to balance corporate interests with social responsibility and better prepare students for civic leadership.

For the GSB, a stronger connection with the education school “fit into where they were going,” said Kirst. “And building a program with the business school really expanded what we were able to provide on our own.”

Combining business acumen with education’s technical core

With both schools on board, the joint degree program launched in 1969, and Kirst secured funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the Ford Foundation to provide full scholarships for applicants who enrolled. Initially a master’s in educational administration (MEA), the program was designed mainly to prepare high-level administrators at large urban school systems and universities. But it was soon changed to an MA/MBA, a more recognizable set of credentials that became increasingly attractive as business opportunities in the education sector swelled.

Charter schools, foundations, venture capital firms, educational start-ups – “all of a sudden, the market really opened up,” said Kirst. “If [employers] could get someone with an MBA and an MA in education, that was gold.” Through the program, aspiring leaders in the education space could develop both business acumen and a firm grasp of the components of teaching and learning, the technical core of education.

A 1995 graduate of the program, Van Ton-Quinlivan was appointed vice chancellor of workforce and economic development at California Community Colleges by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011 and now serves as CEO of Futuro Health, a nonprofit education initiative training the next generation of health care workers.

“The business and education worlds are distinct but interconnected, and living in both allowed me to see there are solutions that aren’t unique to either sector,” she said. “If you’re going to be working to reshape education, you need to be able to bridge these two worlds.”

Culture clash

The convergence of students from two schools with somewhat dissimilar cultures often sparked provocative classroom discussions, said Kirst.

“It’s no secret that ed schools are typically left of center, and business schools are generally not,” he said. “The business classes got more of a left-wing flavor from our students.”

To Kim Jacobson, MA/MBA ’99, the contrast reflected more of a bias than an ideology. “Coming from the educator side of things, you definitely had students who didn’t trust the business-minded people,” said Jacobson, who worked as an elementary school teacher in Compton, Calif., before enrolling in the program. She now leads strategy, marketing, and business development for firms working in education. “On the business school side, [going into education] felt more like a novelty – either a passion that people appreciated, or a risky business decision.”

Despite any philosophical differences, students sought out further ways to connect over their interests. They founded a club called Partnerships for Education in the 1990s, organizing guest speakers, a research conference and other joint activities – a club that’s still going strong today. (Renamed the GSB Education Club in 2006, it is led jointly by students from both schools.) “It was a real bottom-up movement, such an impressive and vibrant group,” Kirst recalled. “I was really taken by how much energy they had.”

More joint ventures

Some 20 years ago, seeing the value of uniting the two disciplines on campus, the Spencer Foundation, a major funder of education research, set out to establish joint professorships in business and education at several prominent universities. But few applied, Kirst said.

“One thing I’ve always experienced at �� is a culture of collaboration among different schools and departments,” said GSE Professor Emerita Deborah Stipek, who joined the GSE as dean in 2001 and served until 2014. “I think that’s one of the reasons why �� could do this, where not many other universities would – even if they tried, and most didn’t try.”

Still, approving the candidate “was really tricky,” Stipek said. “It took some time for the two schools to agree on the person who could hold that chair.” The first to meet with both schools’ approval was Anthony Bryk, who held it until 2008, when he left �� to become president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The chair now belongs to Geoffrey Cohen, the James G. March Professorship of Organizational Studies in Education and Business.

The two schools have since partnered on other programs, including �� EdLEADers, a professional certificate program for K-12 district administrators, and the �� Educational Leaders Initiative, with a focus on professional development programming for community college leaders. The GSE has also developed a number of initiatives to build stronger connections between its education scholars and industry, including an industry affiliates program and the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, which brings an entrepreneurial leader to campus for a year at a time to mentor the GSE community on social impact and business strategy.

The MA/MBA – informally dubbed “mamba” – was the first of three joint degrees now offered at the GSE. (After Kirst ended his tenure as faculty director in 2002, he was succeeded in the role by Myra Strober, who was both a professor of education at the GSE and a professor of economics, by courtesy, at the GSB; she was followed by Debra Meyerson, then an associate professor of organizational behavior at the GSE.)

Today education master’s candidates can also concurrently earn a JD from �� Law School or a master’s in public policy (MPP) from the School of Humanities and Sciences. (The GSB, too, offers a JD/MBA and an MPP/MBA, as well as joint degrees with computer science, electrical engineering, and environment and resources.) The MA/MBA is the GSE’s largest joint degree program, with some 20 students on average enrolling each year.

Some have already worked directly in education when they enroll, but many, like Lynn Liao, come with other backgrounds, said Geoffrey Cox, director of the MA/MBA program at the GSE.

“Some have done consulting. Many come from families where maybe a parent was an educator, and they grew up with a passion about it,” he said. “They have a strong commitment to improve education, and they see market-oriented approaches as being part of the mix.”

The following gallery of �� MA/MBA alumni highlights some of the many paths that graduates have taken since completing the two-year program.

Eduardo Briceño, MA/MBA ’07, CEO and cofounder of Mindset Works, which translates academic research into products and services that nurture learning beliefs and habits (Photo: Allison Briceño, MA ’06)

Ossa Fisher, MA/MBA ’04, president and COO of Istation, an edtech provider for K-12 schools

Everett Harper, MA/MBA ’99, cofounder and CEO of Truss, a software company, and author of the book Move to the Edge, Declare It Center

Sandy Herz, ’93, president of Sobrato Philanthropies, which focuses on advancing English learners in California as one of its three core areas of funding

Amit Patel, MA/MBA ‘14, managing director at Owl Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on edtech companies, and founder of Personal Academic Trainers, an afterschool tutoring company

Jim Shelton, MA/MBA ’93, chief investment and impact officer at Blue Meridian partners, and former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and head of the education division of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (Photo from �� GSE Cubberley Lecture in 2018: Ryan Zhang)

Kelly Sortino, MA/MBA ’08, head of school at Crystal Springs Uplands Schools, a college preparatory school in the San Francisco Bay Area (Photo: Brian Klemm)

Von Tan-Quinlivan, MA/MBA’95, CEO of Futuro Health, host of the podcast WorkforceRx, and former executive vice chancellor of California Community Colleges (Photo: Courtesy of A Human Atlas)

Daniel Uribe, MA/MBA ’21, principal at the VélezReyes+ Philanthropic Platform and cofounder of Mentors4U Colombia, a nonprofit career development mentorship program for college students

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After a year of virtual learning, local kids and new teachers benefit from a collaboration between �� and the Sunnyvale School District

Carrie Spector — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:44:33 +0000

After a year of virtual learning, local kids and new teachers benefit from a collaboration between �� and the Sunnyvale School District

Carrie Spector Tue, 08/24/2021 - 06:44

Through a partnership between �� and the Sunnyvale School District, Aminata Kalokoh-Odeh (standing at right) was able to have the in-person classroom experience she missed during the pandemic before beginning her teaching job this fall. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

Alumni | K-12 | Teaching

A summer school program draws newly credentialed teachers from the �� Teacher Education Program to help address the effects of the pandemic.

August 24, 2021

By Carrie Spector

Aminata Kalokoh-Odeh learned a massive amount about teaching elementary school during her year in the �� Teacher Education Program (STEP), from best practices for teaching different subject areas to how to work with the strengths and needs of a diverse group of students.

Still, her time in the program didn’t quite go as planned. Students in the Graduate School of Education (GSE) master’s program ordinarily spend several days a week alongside a veteran teacher at a local school, sharing the day-to-day experience of running a class. And last year was no ordinary year.

“It was a great program, but the whole year, we were online,” said Kalokoh-Odeh, MA ’21, who graduated in June without setting foot in a physical classroom. (Some STEP students were able to work in person at their school placement for some period of time, depending on the school’s circumstances, while others were exclusively remote throughout the year.)

When Kalokoh-Odeh learned that STEP was partnering with the Sunnyvale School District (SSD) on a summer school program this year for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, she jumped at the chance to participate.

She went on to spend much of her summer break at Lakewood Elementary School in Sunnyvale, getting the classroom time she missed while school doors were closed during the pandemic.

“This was really important for me because I wanted to have that in-person [time], creating community with the students, working on my classroom management style,” said Kalokoh-Odeh, who will be teaching eighth grade at Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School this fall. “I didn’t want to go into a full-time teaching position without that experience.”

The summer program was one of eight projects led by �� faculty that received funding this year from the university’s Office of Community Engagement, in collaboration with the Bill Lane Center for the American West in the School of Humanities and Sciences, to work with community-based organizations and local government agencies to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ��-SSD collaboration not only provided extra support to students in the district after a year of mostly remote learning, it also gave 13 newly minted STEP graduates a preview of what they’ll face in the classroom when schools return more fully to in-person learning. The grant supported the graduates’ summer salaries, making it possible for them to participate.

“The last year and a half has been a really challenging one for us and for our school partners,” said Ira Lit, MA ’90, PhD ’04, a professor at the GSE and faculty director of STEP. “We’re really excited that we had the opportunity to help support the school district, and to give our graduates – who are now credentialed California teachers – some of that in-person experience to build their confidence for the teaching jobs they’re starting this fall.”

An emphasis on well-being

The Sunnyvale School District is one of many in the San Francisco Bay Area that STEP has worked with over the years on field placements to help prepare teacher candidates for their first year on the job. But this summer’s collaboration was different, bringing new graduates on site after a tumultuous year.

The collaboration was especially welcome as the district expanded its summer school program, responding to a mandate (and supplemental government funding) to accommodate more students. Some 700 elementary and middle school students were enrolled in Sunnyvale’s summer school program this year, about twice that of previous years.

“There’s been a huge emphasis this summer in particular on social-emotional well-being, establishing positive connections and re-establishing school as school,” said Chin Chin Chiu, an SSD summer school principal, who works for the district as a behavior intervention services coordinator during the year.

Students are re-learning the norms of classroom life: “How do I come into school? What is my routine in terms of how I transition into the classroom or transition out, or do my independent work or participate in group work, even things like playing at recess – all of those things we’ve had to re-teach,” said Chiu.

Passion projects

One new feature of the summer school session designed to ease kids’ re-entry into school life was what SSD administrators called “passion projects,” chosen by each teacher based on their individual interests.

At Lakewood Elementary, where Kalokoh-Odeh was paired this summer with veteran teacher Karen Garcia, their class of rising fifth-graders spent time each day tending a lush vegetable garden in the school courtyard and taking part in classroom activities focused on nutrition and agriculture.

Drawing on her own background in theater, Kalokoh-Odeh took on a project with the class to write a play about the 1965-70 Delano Grape Strike, a labor strike to protest the treatment of predominantly Filipino farmworkers.

“When she told me she was interested, I assumed she would write it and the kids would perform it,” said Garcia. “But they wrote it together. She completely blew my mind. I have no theater arts background whatsoever, so watching her help the kids find their author’s voice has been really inspiring.”

For Garcia, who has taught at SSD for more than 20 years, the experience reinforced one of her favorite aspects of partnering with new and prospective teachers: the chance to learn from the skills and perspective they bring to her classroom. “It’s wonderful, being able to welcome in new teachers who have different experiences or new ideas on the cutting edge of their practices,” she said. “It invigorates you as a veteran teacher, to keep your own professional journey going as well.”

Learn more about ��’s collaboration with communities in the region through the Office of Community Engagement, as well as other collaborations between �� Graduate School of Education and community partners.

Recent graduates from the �� Teacher Education Program (STEP) worked this summer in the classroom at local schools, including Lakewood Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

When Aminata Kalokoh-Odeh learned that STEP was partnering with the Sunnyvale School District on a summer school program this year, she jumped at the chance to participate. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

To help ease the re-entry into school life, Lakewood students participated in “passion projects” such as tending a vegetable garden in the school courtyard. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

Students grew a wide variety of vegetables and herbs in Lakewood Elementary’s garden. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

Classroom activities focused on nutrition and agriculture incorporated herbs and vegetables from the school garden. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

Drawing on her own background in theater, Kalokoh-Odeh took on a project with the class to write a play about the 1965-70 Delano Grape Strike. (Photo: Andrew Brodhead)

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Faculty mentioned in this article: Ira Lit

Three �� graduates honored with Alumni Excellence in Education Award

Brooke Donald Gorlick — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 00:27:43 +0000

Three �� graduates honored with Alumni Excellence in Education Award

Brooke Donald … Thu, 08/05/2021 - 17:27

�� GSE 2021 Alumni Excellence in Education Award winners (L-R): Salina Gray, Christine Yeh, and Rebecca Zeigler Mano

Alumni | Awards | Impact

The 2021 award highlights careers that have transformed teaching, expanded access to college, and deepened understanding.

August 5, 2021

By Brooke Donald

Three alumni from �� Graduate School of Education are being recognized for advancing learning in marginalized and disadvantaged communities through research, teaching, and improving access to education.

The 2021 Alumni Excellence in Education Awards will be presented to the following individuals in a celebration on October 24.

Salina Gray, PhD ’14, 7th and 8th grade science teacher, Mountain View Middle School, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Christine Yeh, PhD ’96, Professor, Department of Counseling Psychology, University of San Francisco
Rebecca Zeigler Mano, MA ’92, Founder and Director, Education Matters and USAP Community School, Harare, Zimbabwe

“Salina, Christine, and Rebecca have shown creativity, humanity, and empathy in the work they do to improve learning and opportunity, whether in local classrooms in the U.S. or halfway around the world,” said Daniel Schwartz, the I. James Quillen Dean and Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Educational Technology. “These exceptional leaders are helping those who need it most, and having a large impact. They represent the GSE at its finest.”

Since it was established in 2015, the Alumni Excellence in Education Award has recognized 24 GSE graduates whose research, teaching, writing, policymaking, entrepreneurship and/or leadership has advanced education locally, nationally, and internationally.

Teaching to transform and heal

Gray, who received her doctorate in Curriculum Studies and Science Education, is known as a gifted science educator whose practice honors her students' life experiences. With fellow GSE alumna Alexis Patterson, PhD ’15, she developed (W)holistic Science Pedagogy, an equitable science framework aimed at engaging marginalized students in STEM coursework.

Said Felicia Darling, PhD '16, “In her position as a classroom teacher, Salina demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive, cutting-edge educational practices.”

Gray is also a certified yoga teacher who brings those lessons of wellness, mental health, and physical care into her teaching. She is a leader in resilience training and trauma-informed practices, speaking at venues for pre-service and in-service teachers and professors around the world.

“Dr. Gray is truly a revolutionary teacher and educator of educators. Her teaching embodies the essence of love— and transformative and just science instruction,” Patterson said. Her “commitment to teaching and her students supersedes the classroom. She is constantly increasing her pedagogical and content knowledge.”

Finding evidence-based solutions

Yeh, who earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology, is recognized for profound scientific contributions to the development and evaluation of school- and community-based programs for historically excluded communities.

Her interdisciplinary approach to educational scholarship has generated a career award from the National Institute of Mental Health, a Spencer grant, and a Fulbright Senior Research Scientist Fellowship.

“Dr. Yeh is a scholar activist who has used her research skills to promote and advocate for equitable conditions for historically targeted communities,” said her USF colleague Professor Noah Borrero, PhD ‘06.

Her drive to teach and learn from others and her tireless commitment to mentorship have influenced a generation of scholars and social justice advocates.

Expanding access

Zeigler Mano, who received graduate degrees in International Development Education and the �� Teacher Education Program, works with high-achieving, low income students in Zimbabwe supporting a pathway to a college education through her organization, Education Matters.

She founded the United Student Achievers Program (USAP) in Zimbabwe, which has served more than 500 students over 20 years. Students in USAP, which expanded to 12 countries on four continents, have become doctors, academics, tech entrepreneurs, agriculture economists, non-profit leaders, banking professionals, molecular biologists, business owners, and computer scientists. One USAP alum, Dr. Tatenda Shopera, worked on the team that developed the Pfizer COVID vaccine.

“Rebecca is a bold and tireless visionary who has made it her life’s mission to provide educational opportunities to high achieving, low-income Zimbabwean students who are committed to making a positive impact on their communities, country, continent, and world,” said her former GSE classmate Mary Rauner, MA '92, '94, PhD '98.

Awards ceremony

Each year, winners of the Alumni Excellence in Education Award are chosen by a panel that includes GSE alumni, faculty and the dean. Recipients also receive an honorarium made possible through the generosity and vision of Angela, ’93, and David Filo, MS ’90, and the Yellow Chair Foundation.

The winners also are typically feted at an awards ceremony during reunion. After a virtual event during 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the GSE plans to host the awards ceremony in 2021 on campus with all �� and Santa Clara County COVID guidelines in place.

Find out more about the award nomination criteria and see profiles of past recipients.

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Three GSE alumnae receive recognition for excellence in education

Tina Cheuk

Laura Evans

Heather Kirkpatrick

Celebrating the awardees

������������ GSE’s POLS program celebrates 20 years of producing leaders in education

Creating systemic change

A spirit of entrepreneurship and problem solving

A global network of leaders

������������ GSE commemorates 10th year of Alumni Excellence in Education Award

Marisol Castillo

Matthew Kelly

Rachel Lotan

Ana Miguel

Celebrating success

Lifelong learning: ������������ GSE student collects her master’s degree after 80 years in education

Family ties to ������������

Leadership and longevity in learning

Three ������������ GSE alumni awarded Knowles Fellowships for 2023

Three ������������ GSE alumni receive recognition for contributions to educational excellence

A generous spirit

An advocate for justice

A mentor to many

The big event

������������ GSE honors four alumni for excellence in education

At ������������, an unlikely collaboration prepares leaders in the business of education

After a year of virtual learning, local kids and new teachers benefit from a collaboration between ������������ and the Sunnyvale School District

Three ������������ graduates honored with Alumni Excellence in Education Award

�� GSE’s POLS program celebrates 20 years of producing leaders in education

�� GSE commemorates 10th year of Alumni Excellence in Education Award

Lifelong learning: �� GSE student collects her master’s degree after 80 years in education

Family ties to ��

Three �� GSE alumni awarded Knowles Fellowships for 2023

Three �� GSE alumni receive recognition for contributions to educational excellence

�� GSE honors four alumni for excellence in education

At ��, an unlikely collaboration prepares leaders in the business of education

After a year of virtual learning, local kids and new teachers benefit from a collaboration between �� and the Sunnyvale School District

Three �� graduates honored with Alumni Excellence in Education Award