2026 Educator Awardees

 

C-STEM Teacher of the Year

Smiling woman with curly hair in floral blouse, gray studio headshot

Java Rhodes

Sheldon High School

Elk Grove USD

Smiling woman with glasses and long brown hair in floral blouse, light background

Casey Brenenstall

Alder Middle School

Fontana USD

 

Portrait photograph of a smiling man in glasses, white shirt and patterned tie, blurred bookshelf

Peter Fortuna

Duncan Polytechnical High School

Fresno USD

 

Headshot of smiling woman with braided curly hair, purple background

Kaylah Salinas

Fresno High School

Fresno USD

 

Head-and-shoulders portrait of smiling man with glasses, white shirt and black tie

Phi-Bao Tran

Valley Robotics Academy (MS & HS)

Lodi USD

 

Starr Wong

Starr Wong

Hillview Crest Coding and Robotics Magnet School

New Haven USD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Angel

McPherson Magnet School

Orange USD

 

Headshot photo of smiling woman with long light brown hair and mauve top

Perla Ramos

McPherson Magnet School

Orange USD

 

Studio portrait photograph, smiling young woman with long dark hair wearing a white top

 

Anallely Sotelo

Jordan Academy of Language & Computer Science

Orange USD

 

Smiling man in plaid shirt, photographed against gray backdrop with maroon top and bottom bars

Bruce Tuttle

El Modena High School

Orange USD

 

C-STEM Excellence in Service Award

 

 

Smiling man taking a selfie on a sunny beach with blue sky and sand

Ricardo Recinos 

Teacher on Special Assignment, Technology

Hacienda La Puente USD

 

Professional headshot of a smiling woman with long curly brown hair, gray background

Candy Coffey

Support Teacher, Palm Avenue ES

San Bernardino City USD

 
Headshot portrait of an older man with gray hair, glasses, navy shirt, subtle smile

Michael Rowley

Program Facilitator, Palm Avenue ES

San Bernardino City USD

 

 

 

 

 

C-STEM Administrator of the Year

 

 
Smiling man with dark hair and beard in black floral 'Dodgers' shirt, purple blurred background

Robert Schwandt

Assistant Principal

Arizona MS

Alvord USD

 
Professional headshot of a smiling bald man wearing glasses, navy suit and red patterned tie.

David P. Vujovich, Ed.D.

Principal

Valley Robotics Academy K-12 & Independence School K-12

Lodi USD

 
Studio headshot of smiling Black woman with curly hair, light blazer, chain necklace

Janice N. Gordon, Ph.D.

Principal

Palm Avenue ES

San Bernardino City USD

 

 

 

C-STEM Lifetime Achievement Award

 
Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with dark hair outdoors

Mary Nicely

Deputy Superintendent, Information and Technology

California Department of Education