Follow Your Bliss

As a third generation educator, Christina believes every child deserves to be seen, valued, and empowered. Along with being a leader for inclusive instructions, Christina serves as a mentor teacher, School Site Council Representative, and district Math Curriculum Adoption Committee member. Christina plans to use her grant funds to continue to create pathways for access, representation and opportunities for her community.

Maureen believes a teacher can only inspire and educate when their students feel loved and cared for. With over 30 years of experience, Maureen starts every morning with her students saying "Hello" or "Good Morning" in different languages. Maureen also leads one of California's first Social Justice Academies at the Elementary school level. To win this award, Maureen hopes to shine a light on the positive impact Social Justice Academy can have on her community, the children and families.

Growing up in East San Jose to immigrant parents, Annie learned firsthand the impact dedicated mentors, teachers, and coaches can have on a young person's life. Those experiences have shaped how Annie leads both as an educator and as a coach for volleyball and flag football. Annie's deep love for her community continues to inspire her to bridge the gap for equity and create opportunities for the next generation.

Nina believes that learning is most meaningful when students experience belonging before achievement. Inspired by her mother who is a retired professor of multicultural nursing, Nina's classroom is designed to build community through empathy, confidence, lasting relationships, and the belief that they can positively impact the world around them. Through opportunities like Law Day, College & Career Day, Nina hopes to send a message to her students: you belong, your voice matters, and your future is full of possibilities.

Understanding teaching is not a one size fits all, Chrizia checks-in with her students and uses student data to tailor their learning for their success. As a first-generation Filipina-America, Chrizia strives to be the adult she needed growing up. Chrizia builds her classroom culture rooted in belonging and ensuring all her students that they have a place in the community. For Chrizia, it's about building relationships with her students, to make sure they are okay as a person first before teaching begins.

Coming from a long line of teachers, Tonichi was reluctant to follow this path but found his calling dedicated to empowering his students. Tonichi created Milpitas High School's first ethnic studies literature course. Tonichi connects his curriculum to our rich local history with the goal to ensure his students see their communities not as footnotes, but as the main character in the American story.

As the principal, Cindy remains committed to fostering positive school cultures, staff development, and ensuring every student has access to meaningful educational opportunities. For Cindy, it is more than a career, it's her passion and her calling. Cindy has received numerous awards including principal of the year, and her leadership is rooted in the values she learned growing up as the first in her family to attend a university. Cindy understands the value of exceptional mentors and continues to be one for not only students but fellow educators as well.

As the founder of the Steel Scholars program, Donny has created a space for student-athletes that go beyond sports. Donny's passion goes beyond academics; it's to create opportunities that help students build confidence, develop life skills, and see new possibilities for themselves. Donny has seen firsthand how one caring adult can make a lasting impact for students and strives to be the adult his students need. The same values he teaches in the classroom, he also teaches to his students athletes.

As a San Francisco Native growing up in the Mission District, Ariana has a unique understanding for the students she serves. Ariana is able to relate to her students to help them navigate challenges in and out of the classroom, and the importance of having someone who believes in your potential. For Ariana, it's more than showing up to school. Ariana wants her students to learn resilience, empathy, perseverance, and self-confidence. Seeing her students realize their full potential is what inspires her to continue to invest in the next generation.

Tone Moreno believes education goes beyond the classroom walls, he believes every interaction with a young person is an opportunity to inspire growth, curiosity, and resilience. Tone understands how education can open doors and has dedicated his career both as an educator and a community leader to open doors for the next generation. Tone will use the funds to create a multimedia learning space for young people with the hope they see themselves as leaders whose ideas and experiences matter.