Celebrating STEP Alumni and Advancing the Future of Teacher Education
This Teacher Appreciation Week, we celebrate not just the teachers who inspire students every day but also the ripple effect they create long after the bell rings.
Every fall, a new group of aspiring teachers enters the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) with the same question on their minds: How can I make a difference for my students?
For seven decades, STEP has provided more than just an answer. It has created a multiplier effect—educators who not only teach but who go on to mentor new teachers, lead schools, shape policy, and build learning communities far beyond their own classrooms. From their first day at STEP to decades into their careers, alumni carry forward a shared commitment: ensuring every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
That multiplier effect begins immediately. Members of the STEP Class of 2023, including Kelly Ho, Justin Park, and Kelsey Wong, were each awarded the prestigious Knowles Fellowship, recognizing their potential to inspire the next generation of scientists and mathematicians. They join over 100 STEP alumni—nearly 20% of all Knowles Fellows nationwide—who are equipping students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for future success.
And the ripple continues. Career math teacher David Heinke (’08) now mentors STEP student teachers, reinforcing the program’s renowned research-practice partnership. Other alumni, like Marciano Gutierrez (’06) and Ting Lan Sun (’88), have expanded their impact to alternative education, charter school leadership, and state policy. Marciano, honored by the GSE’s Alumni Excellence in Education Award (AEEA) in 2023, now guides high school students seeking alternatives to traditional environments, while Ting Lan co-founded one of California’s first charter schools, which now serves nearly 2,000 students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade.
STEP’s multiplier effect isn’t confined to the United States. Alumna Rebecca Zeigler Mano (’92) brought her passion for educational opportunity to Zimbabwe, first at the U.S. embassy and later as the founder of a nonprofit and pre-college residential school. Her work has empowered students to access higher education and return to strengthen their communities.
Classroom teaching remains the foundation, but it’s not the only path. STEP graduates leverage their expertise to lead, innovate, and mentor, fueling systemic change. Channa Pitt (’03) co-founded and led a charter school in post-Katrina New Orleans and now supports 13 districts and 52 charter schools as the assistant superintendent of educational services for the Sacramento County Office of Education,
This culture of long-term commitment is reflected in STEP’s alumni data. On average, 90% of graduates teach in public and charter schools, often in diverse and underserved communities. Remarkably, 80% remain in teaching after five years—nearly double the national retention rate—and 90% of alumni from the past decade still work in education.
“Stanford fosters a multiplier effect,” said GSE Dean Dan Schwartz, who began his career in the classroom. “Teachers become experts who teach other teachers, inform schools and systems, and drive research-based innovation that resonates across the educational landscape.”
At Stanford, we know that every learning journey begins with a great teacher. In sharing these stories about STEP alumni and how teacher education evolves in classrooms, schools, and communities around the world, we hope to inspire those working to advance learning and teaching to celebrate not only the teachers shaping students’ lives today but also those whose influence continues to multiply, creating opportunities for generations to come.
