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

When Bernardo Naranjo, PhD ’02, received Stanford 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), Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) Director Emerita, Stanford University and director of the Program for Complex Instruction at Stanford
• 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 Stanford, 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 Stanford.

“[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 Stanford Reunion on Oct. 25.

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