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MEDIA CONTACT:
James Rowland
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UCR School of Education
(917) 843-8861
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SOE Announces 2025 Alumni Excellence Awards in Education

Four alumni of the UC Riverside School of Education (SOE) were honored on Tuesday,
May 6 at the second annual Alumni Excellence Awards in Education. The awards were
established to recognize outstanding alumni who, in alignment with the mission of the
SOE, are committed to advancing equitable systems and practices. The awards, hosted
by Dean Joi A. Spencer, were held at the UCR Alumni and Visitors Center and sponsored
by Schools First Credit Union.

The 2025 award winners are:
 

Hsin-Yu Teresa Hsu-Contreras, M.Ed. ‘18

Graduate Program Alumna

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 worked as an instructor in the
Intensive English Program at the University of California, Riverside, University
Extension. This experience allowed 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, M.Ed. ‘21

School Administration/Leadership

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.
 

Aurora Plancarte, M.Ed. ‘20

Faculty at K–12 School

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 master’s 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, M.Ed. ‘17

Faculty at K–12 School

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.

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About UCR School of Education

The University of California, Riverside School of Education, or SOE, is a nationally
recognized school in a public research university that leverages its broad range of
expertise to develop impactful partnerships, collaborations, and evidence-based
resources fundamental for teaching, learning, and student success. Located in a region
rich in racial and linguistic diversity, yet challenged by economic and social inequities,
SOE serves a diverse student population, much of which is comprised of students of
color, low-income students, and first-generation college students. The SOE mission is to
advance equitable educational systems and practices which are driven by core values
of equity, evidence, excellence, community, critical thinking, and compassion.

education.ucr.edu