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		January 2026

Happy New Year, GSE Alumni!

I hope everyone is settling into the routine of the new year — whether you’re returning to work, recuperating from travel or catching your breath after the holiday family extravaganza. At the GSE, our faculty, staff, and students are finding their rhythm once again. After a fair amount of rain in the Bay Area, the sun has emerged, reminding us why we love living in the Golden State. Regardless of the view outside your window — be it rain, shine, or snow — there’s a wealth of opportunity in store for us in the coming months.

With the start of the new year, I hope you have your sights set on submitting a nomination for one of our illustrious alums for the Alumni Excellence in Education Award. To help inspire you, our very own Alumni Award Nominating Committee member, Rebecca Padnos Altamirano, MA '01, shares tips on writing nominations below. If you have never attended the award ceremony, her commitment and passion for the awards is palpable, and will spark your own desire to recognize our incredible alumni. Completed nominations are due by April 3, 2026, but you can submit your intent to nominate here.

This spring, the GSE has a number of opportunities for alumni. For all the LDTers out there, the LDT Energizer is THE place to connect and to turn your aspirations into reality. The GSE is on the road again, hosting alumni receptions during Open Minds DC, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in LA, and the EdTech ASU+GSV in San Diego. In partnership with the Stanford Black Alumni Summit, we look forward to welcoming GSE alumni to campus for a reception in May, creating opportunities to connect with faculty and students.

If you have suggestions for programming you’d like to see in the future, connect with me at marlys@stanford.edu. Be sure to join the Education Alumni & Careers LinkedIn Group to connect with other GSE alumni.

Warm regards,
Marly

Marly Solebello
She/Her/Hers

Director, Alumni Relations
(650) 497-1557 | marlys@stanford.edu
485 Lasuen Mall | Stanford, CA 94305-3009

Alumni Corner

This month’s alumni spotlight is

Rebecca Padnos Altamirano, MA '01 (STEP)

Rebecca builds systems that expand access to opportunity across education, technology, and policy. She is the founder of Tangelo Technologies, where she leads digital transformation projects for mission-driven organizations and partners including Intel, Intuit, and LeanIn. Earlier, she helped launch East Palo Alto Academy as a founding teacher and administrator, coauthored Be the Change with Linda Darling-Hammond, and has since advised education-focused initiatives while also helping establish the Stanford GSE Alumni Excellence in Education Awards.

Read her tips for anyone thinking about nominating an alum for this year’s Alumni Excellence in Education Award here.

December's Connector posed the following Game Changer:

Q: In what years were the LDT Energizers held?

A: LDT Energizers were held in 2019, 2014, and 2013. Click the links to learn more about past events.

Measles Outbreak Led to Outsized Jump in Student Absences, Stanford Research Finds.

A new study shows that school absences from a major outbreak in Texas were 10 times higher than expected for the number of reported cases.

Stanford AI Experts Predict What Will Happen in 2026.

The era of AI evangelism is giving way to evaluation. Stanford faculty see a coming year defined by rigor, transparency, and a long-overdue focus on actual utility over speculative promise.

Letting students fidget can boost creativity, Stanford-led research finds

A new study finds that giving middle schoolers the freedom to move in their seats enhances creativity without diminishing their ability to pay attention or remember information.

Professional learning opportunities

January 22 & 23, 2026 | In-Person

Youcubed Mathematics Leadership Summit

Come to a youcubed workshop that will share resources and pedagogical practices for anyone organizing out-of-school mathematics learning for K–6 students or to supplement district curricula with conceptual mathematics. Find out more →

January 28 | Virtual

Raising Well-Balanced Teens & Tweens

Today’s teens face intense academic, social, and extracurricular demands. Even caring adults can unintentionally add pressure that contributes to stress, disengagement, or burnout. This workshop helps families reframe success, support balance, and strengthen connection with their tweens and teens. We’ll share research-based tools to reduce stress, encourage intrinsic motivation, and promote healthy development through adolescence. Find out more →

February 4, 1 PM | Virtual

Statewide Briefing on Getting Down to Facts III by Stanford and PACE

The Stanford SCALE Initiative and Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) invite you to join us for a virtual statewide education partner briefing on the next phase of the Getting Down to Facts III project. Your leadership and perspective are essential as we work to connect rigorous research with the realities facing California’s students, families, and schools. Register Here →

February 26, 12 - 1 PM | GSE, Raikes Building, 4th Floor: Longview

Education, Religion, and the Supreme Court

Join Bernadette Meyler and Jim Sonne at the GSE for a conversation on religion and education in light of recent Supreme Court decisions. Learn More & Register Here →

News, stories, and updates

School’s In Podcast with co-hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope, ’88, PhD ’99: Education’s ethical challenges: Navigating complexity in community with Professor Meira Levinson as she explores how decisions in education — whether big or small — are deeply value-laden and inherently ethical. | Listen Here →

Engage with the GSE

February 24, 6 - 8 PM | GSE Campus

Career Pathways Dinner

GSE alumni meet with current students to share their unique career trajectories. Alumni interested in participating may reach out to Marly Solebello at marlys@stanford.edu.

March 14, 9 - 2 PM | GSE Campus

LDT Energizer

Dream a little with LDTers with rapid-fire ideas, design sprints, and “I wonder” conversations. Join us for a vibrant one-day gathering designed to ignite innovation in education!

Open to all LDT alumni and students.

RSVP

March 20 | Washington DC

GSE Alumni Reception at Open Minds DC

The GSE will be in Washington, D.C., to host our alumni reception the night before Stanford Open Minds DC!

Reconnect with your GSE alumni community, and enjoy apps and drinks on us!

RSVP

Save the Date

February 20–21: LSTD 25th Anniversary Conference. Learn more.

March 27, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Stanford Global and Comparative Education Connections Faculty & Alumni Showcase. Learn more.

April 10: GSE AERA Reception in LA. Invitation to come.

April 13: Happy Hour at ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego. Invitation to come.

May 1, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m: GSE Alumni Reception at the Black Alumni Summit. Learn more.

GSE Game Changer

Each month, we’re shaking things up with a fun challenge where your attention to detail, knowledge, and competitive spirit can win you exclusive GSE swag! Whether it's trivia, puzzles, or scavenger hunts, this is your chance to snag some awesome prizes. Get ready to play, have fun, and make a game-changing move! Don't miss out—it's the ultimate way to wrap up the newsletter each month.

January's Game Changer

This month, Alumni Award Committee member, Rebecca Padnos Altamirano, MA '01 (STEP), shares tips for writing award nominations. Name one of these tips.

Submit your responses via email by Friday, January 30, for a chance to win exclusive GSE swag! Those who answer correctly will be entered into a raffle, with one winner drawn each month.

Stanford Graduate School of Education

485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-3096

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