Teresa Hsu-Contreras is a dedicated community development and ESL specialist with a Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of California, Riverside School of Education. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating a culturally welcoming environment by intentionally integrating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) to support students' emotional well-being and social growth alongside their academic progress. The foundation of Teresa's dedication to education lies in her own challenging time as a student in Taiwan. Within a rigid, test-focused system that didn't prepare students who were creative thinkers, she faced bullying. This experience of systemic inadequacy fueled her to proactively pursue Early Childhood Education in the vocational track, defying societal biases and igniting a lifelong dedication to inclusive educational practices. Teresa is the Academic and Outreach Director at the Human Migration Institute and has served the local newcomer and refugee communities for the past eight years. She coordinates the Community ESL Program, designs curricula, and has served over 300 beneficiaries. Recognizing the needs of these populations, Teresa prioritizes integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies into classroom management and instructional practices. She has also presented at the TESOL International Convention for years, emphasizing SEL and acculturation in education, and promoting learners' rights for issues related to refugees, adult education, and K-12 education. Returning to her alma mater professionally, Teresa also works as an instructor in the Intensive English Program at the University of California, Riverside, University Extension. This experience allows her to directly support international students in achieving their English language goals and facilitate their transition to academic and professional life in the United States. Teresa recognizes the importance of intercultural connection and seeks opportunities for her students to connect with domestic peers on the main campus. She believes in the power of mentorship to build mutual understanding and challenge biases. Teresa is deeply grateful to be selected as a recipient of the School of Education Alumni Excellence Award in Education. This recognition profoundly affirms Teresa's dedication and inspires her ongoing commitment to excellence in the field.

Thomas Cortez is a proud alumnus of the University of California, Riverside, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education, Society, and Human Development. He went on to complete his Master’s in Educational Counseling at the University of Southern California. Thomas is currently an academic counselor serving students across multiple California community colleges, including El Camino College, College of the Desert, and Mt. San Antonio College. His work focuses on equity-minded counseling practices, transfer success, and holistic student support within EOPS, CalWORKs, and Transfer programs. As a first-generation college graduate and former community college student himself, Thomas is deeply committed to uplifting historically underrepresented students and creating pathways for educational and personal transformation.

For Aurora Plancarte, teaching at Central Middle School is a vocation fueled by a profound love and respect for each student. Serving the Riverside Unified School District for 12 years, Aurora's journey began in 2013 as an AVID tutor while pursuing undergraduate studies at UCR. Mentoring high school students throughout their academic careers ignited a passion that led them to add an Education minor alongside their political science major.

In 2020, Aurora earned a Masters in Education and a social science teaching credential from UCR. Before securing a teaching position, they gained valuable experience through substitute work, ELPAC proctoring, and assisting in an elementary classroom.

Since 2021, Aurora has been inspiring students at Central Middle School, teaching World History and AVID Excel with a deep commitment to meeting the diverse needs of their learners. Driven by a desire to ensure every student feels seen, valued, and empowered, Aurora established the school's first GSA, partnering with TruEvolution to provide students with vital resources and community connections. This year, their dedication to cultural representation shone through their partnership with UCR SOE for the Hispanic Heritage Month Book Drive, gifting representative books to each of their students.

Dedicated to culturally responsive teaching, Aurora approaches their daily practice with a caring and compassionate spirit, instantly putting students at ease. They firmly believe in treating each student with dignity, respect, and responsibility, understanding that by honoring the inherent humanity within them, the greatest positive impact can be made on their lives. Aurora's dedication extends beyond the curriculum, aiming to cultivate not just knowledgeable students, but confident and compassionate individuals.

Eduardo Valencia is a two-time alumnus of the University of California, Riverside (UCR). He attended UCR from 2010 to 2014, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a concentration in Linguistics and a minor in Education. He later returned to UCR in 2016–2017 to complete a Master’s in Education concurrently with a Teaching Credential in Spanish.

After completing the Teaching Credential program, Eduardo began his education career at San Bernardino City Unified School District in 2017. He is currently completing his eighth year of teaching Spanish, having taught courses for nonnative speakers, native speakers, and Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Level 4. During this time, he earned a promotion to Program Specialist–Demonstration Teacher. In this role, his classroom remains open year-round for teachers, student-teachers, and stakeholders to observe instructional practices. Additionally, he serves as a Teacher Induction Program Mentor for new teachers entering the profession and as a Coach for practicing educators.

In 2019, Eduardo had the opportunity to travel to China, where he taught English to fifth graders during a summer camp experience. Alongside his work in K-12 education, Eduardo began his career at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) in 2020. At CSUSB, he teaches two courses in the Teaching Credential Program: Classroom Management and Methods of Teaching a World Language. In this capacity, he works closely with aspiring teachers to develop effective classroom management strategies and pedagogical methods for teaching world languages, including Spanish, French, German, American Sign Language, and others. Students in the Teaching Credential Program also have the opportunity to work alongside him as student-teachers.