They Choose to Grow so Their Students Can Thrive
These are the teachers, coaches, and leaders who say “yes” to doing school differently. They create classrooms where students feel seen, challenged, and supported.
By choosing the AVID Certified Educator program, they took their practice to the next level and strengthened their leadership. Now, they’re helping build college‑ and career‑ready systems for all students and inspiring schoolwide success.
Celebrate the educators who have completed the Certified Educator journey and those currently in progress. Honor their achievements and join us in recognizing the impact they are making in their districts, schools, and communities.
Want to learn more about the journey or how to join a future class? Visit the Certified Educator webpage to explore the full program.
Hear from Tracie McMurray about how the AVID Certified Educator program reignited her passion for teaching and transformed her classroom.
Hear from Richard Pardo about how the diagnostic teaching and AVID strategies he learned in this program have enhanced his instructional effectiveness.
Hear from Sarah Neitz about how the AVID Certified Educator program is helping her create a positive and effective classroom environment.
Hear from Lisa McGuin how the AVID Certified Educator journey helped her shift from instinctive teaching to intentional instructional design.
Share Your Cheers
Help us celebrate these educators by posting a note of appreciation online. Whether you’re a colleague, school leader, student, or community member, your words make an impact. Use the hashtag #AVIDCertifiedEducator to share, congratulate, or inspire, and watch the celebrations grow as part of our community-wide recognition.
Certified Educator Graduates
Kristina Burke | Fairfax County Public Schools
Ahmaed Cephus | Dodea Europe Germany
Emily Day | Park Hill School District
Sarah Duval | Paradise Valley Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Reanna Elswick | DeKalb County School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Erin Flinn | Longview Public Schools
India Garms | Cleburne
Cynthia Hopkins | Corpus Christi Independent School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Justin Huddleston | Leander Independent School District
Nicole Jones | Boise Independent School District
Fanny Machado | Castro Valley Unified School District
Mikki Matautia | Poway Unified School District
Ashlee Miller-Berry | Niles Township High School District 219
Jessica Mondragon | Leander ISD | Connect on LinkedIn
Julie Onken | South Washington County Schools
Carol Patterson | Pasadena ISD
Cathy Sellars | Boise Independent School District
Courtney Shearer | Kuna School District
Shaye Sweet | Mesa Public Schools
Tenisha Wade | Clark County School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Elizabeth Winkelman | Fridley ISD #14 | Connect on LinkedIn
Cindy Wong | Mesa Public Schools
Meredith Work | Springfield School District
Allan Blank | Leander ISD
Brittany Conklin | Park Hill School District
Arleigh Crispin | Mesa Public Schools
Beth Franklin Kingston | Antelope Valley Union High School District
Garrett Griffin | Fontana Unified School District
Jacque Hazelwood | Sibley East Public Schools
Allison Heath | Richardson Independent School District
Jonathan Hersh | Pasadena Independent School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Tiffany Hilkey | Springfield School District 19
Laura Hopkins | California Pacific Charter Schools
Ashley Jones | Lee's Summit R-VII
Karise Karasiewicz | School District of Manatee County
M. Eliza Larkin | Dekalb County School District
Emily Latzka | Fridley ISD #14 | Connect on LinkedIn
Jose Lucero | Poway Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Zsuzsanna Matika | Robbinsdale Area Schools
Brianna Maxwell | Scottsdale Unified School District
Abigail Nowak | Clark County School District
Sara Pinchoff | Paradise Valley Unified School District
Genesis Ramirez | Mesa Public Schools
Danielle Reyes | Poway Unified School District
Jessica Schuette | Fridley ISD #14
Angie Stouffer | Washington County Public Schools
Lynsey Throwere | Humble Independent School District
Jennifer Thurston | Provo City School District
Damond Warren | Christina School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Yolonda White | Lee County School District
Christine Wilkin | Richardson ISD
Darrell John Ahue | Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Area
Sarah Bennek | Fridley ISD #14
Jakob Carrica | Albuquerque Public Schools
Taylor Conner | ABC Unified School District
Maria Diaz | Paradise Valley Unified School District
Laurel Dietz | Fridley ISD #14
Dana Doman | Lee County School District
Elizabeth Duncan | Leander ISD
Kristen Elkins | Duval County Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Bobbi Jo Grieb | Wichita Unified School District 259 | Connect on LinkedIn
Alaina Haley | Humble Independent School District | Connect on LinkedIn
KIm Haley | Humble Independent School District
Shelby Hamm | Fort Leavenworth Unified School District 207
Lawren Hill | Washington County Public Schools
Jamie Kawainui | Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Area
Gabriela Lopez | Fontana Unified School District
Jasmyne McCoy | Fort Worth
Thomas Phelps | ABC Unified School District
Ashley Pulido | Fontana Unified School District
Camille Rasmussen | Fridley
Kimberly Renfrow | Mesa Public Schools
Amanda Taylor | Kansas City Public SD 500
Shereatha Terry | Chatham County Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Megan Weatherford | Levy County School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Sherrell Wilson | Sheldon ISD
Theresa Tracy Wilson-Strandberg | Mt. Angel School District
Jessica Winget | Scottsdale Unified School District
Chase Anderson | Mesa Public Schools
Hermilo Arbuyes | Johnston Cuunty | Connect on LinkedIn
Betsy Armstrong | Brevard Public Schools
Sam Belsan | Wichita Unified School District 259
Christa Benfield | New York City Department of Education District 13 | Connect on LinkedIn
Bianca Carlos | Los Banos Unified
Kimberly Coleman | Pasadena ISD
Desiree Cooksey | Yuma Elementary School District One
Liz Dunsire | Everett Public Schools
Eric Dykes | Huntington Beach Union High School District
Ashley Farrens | Cascade School District
Jennifer Garretson | Wichita Unified School District 259
Jennifer Gloer | Hillsborough County Public Schools - Florida
Natasha Greene | Sheldon ISD
Brittney Greeno | Phoenix Union High School District
Caroline Hall | Clark County School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Christopher Houchins | Clark County School District
Kelsey Hull (Hayes) | Pinellas County Schools
Amanda Johnson | Spokane Public Schools
Jill Johnson | Kyrene Elementary School District
Rebekah Krenz | Oregon School District
Emily Laudal | Osseo Area Schools
Elizabeth Lawson-Rohner | Elk Grove Unfied School District
Vincent Pienaar | Lee County
Marybeth Richards | Washington County Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Kim Richardson | Phoenix Union High School District
Monica Robbins | Dixon Unified School District
Chenoa Rogers | Springfield School District 186
Kristina Roys-Mineishi | Elk Grove Unified School District
Mika Smith | Lubbock ISD
Jamie Thornhill | Weld RE-4 School District
Jacoba Vagnozzi | Glendora Unified School District
Trisha Vamosi | Manassas City Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Sarah West | Stockton Unified School District
Christina Wildman | Clark County School District
Meghan Wooten | Levy County School District
Erin Bauer | Mesa Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Cortney Bibeault | Clinton City Schools District
Kayla Borges-Vaz | Stockton Unified School District
Liz Bowman | Stockton Unified School District
Elizabeth Brown | Richardson Independent School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Rebecca Chapman | Douglas County School District RE-1 | Connect on LinkedIn
Ashley Cogburn | Woodburn School District
Michelle Dang-Pastore | Huntington Beach Union High School District
Florence Delfolie | Rim Of The World Unified
Melinda Fonseca | Mesquite ISD | Connect on LinkedIn
Shayann Goins | Clark County School District
Ashley Gruhlke | Fridley ISD #14 | Connect on LinkedIn
Chris Harmon | MSD Lawrence Township District
Jennifer Holmes | ABC Unified School District
Miriam Huerta | Paradise Valley Unified District
Jean Iwanyk | Baldivis Secondary College, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUS | Connect on LinkedIn
Sara Korotkow | Richardson Independent School District
Lisa Kunde | Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District
April Lee | Stockton Unified School District
Kara Leong | Castro Valley Unified School District
Ryan Murphy | Fontana USD | Connect on LinkedIn
Rachel Parrott | Keller Independent School District
Joey Pascal | Spokane Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Aimee Penn | Castro Valley Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Laura Queirolo | Eugene School District 4J
Rose Ramirez | Fort Worth ISD | Connect on LinkedIn
Kori Rogalinski | Jefferson County Public Schools
Kacie Roth | Lubbock ISD
Cecilia Shelton | Kyrene Elementary School District
Bridget Winkle | Irving Independent School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Debbie Wright Prashad | Lee County School District
Allissa Bagley | South Washington County
Whitney Bennett | Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District
Heather Brooks | Chatham County Schools
Abbigale Brown | Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District
Sarah Burgess | Edina Public Schools
Lacee Estes | Onslow
Victoria Evans | Prince George's County Public Schools
Shelbye Gaona | Ector County ISD
Kellie Goforth | Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Casie Granado | Ector County ISD
Angela Hall | Ogden City School District
Jennifer Linde | Antelope Valley Union High School District
Yesenia Lopez | Yuba City Unified School District
Salvador Magallon | Huntington Beach Union High School District
Sarah Mayhall | Humble ISD
Katrina McLeod | Lee's Summit R-VII
Dimitri Noplos | Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Rosa Ortiz | Yuba City Unified School District
Laurie Paige | Chatham County Schools
Rebecca Puente | Sunnyside School District
David Pulsipher | Conejo Valley Unified School District
Lia Radke | Cleveland Heights-University Heights
Tawnya Rivers | Columbia Public School District
Tikila Shakespeare | Duval County Public Schools
Tanya Waller | Tacoma Public Schools
Andrea Weikum | Bismarck Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Melanie Wilkerson | Clark County School District
Meghan Anderson | Danville CC School District 118
Paula Ange | Pitt County Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Kendall Bergrud | Bismarck Public Schools
Charity Brady | Charleston County School District
Diana Casebolt | Independence School District
Sylvia Gomez | Yuba City Unified School District
Kristina Grossinger | Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District
Manuel Hernandez | Montebello Unified School District
Katherine (Katie) Lindsey | Anchorage School District
Lori McDermott | Danville CC School District 118
Jenny Moreno | Lee's Summit R-VII
Jessica Ortiz | Madison Metropolitan School District
Lexi Ray | Madison Metropolitan School District
Tonya Sawyers | Metro Nashville Davidson County
Kalani Seaman | Yuba City Unified School District
Amy Smith | Harney County School District 3
Victoria Smith | Ector County ISD
Ashley Spears | Sheldon ISD
Stephanie Stanley | Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Bridger Stapleton | Harrison School District
Kristi Torres | Sanger Unified School District
Eboni Udenze | Richardson ISD
Emily Van Nuland | Green Bay Area Public School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Elissa Anderson | ISD #877 Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose
Jenna Becker | Salem-Keizer Public Schools
Jon Belsan | Wichita Unified School District 259
James Briggs | Richardson ISD
Ronda Bustos | Albuquerque Public Schools
Martha Calderon | Napa Valley Unified | Connect on LinkedIn
Jessica Centonze-Moll | Antelope Valley Union High School District
Emily Cunningham | Salem-Keizer Public Schools
Eduardo Fernandez | ABC Unified School District
Michelle Hamilton | Elk Grove Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Melissa Heuchert-Berry | Fridley ISD #14
Christal Higgins | Baltimore County Public Schools
Robin Ilac | Santa Maria Bonita School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Rebecca Kimbrell | Elk Grove Unified | Connect on LinkedIn
Ashley Kohlmeier | Aberdeen School District
Whitney Manns | Freedom Christian Academy | Connect on LinkedIn
Yueh (Diane) Nordin | Fridley ISD #14
Michelle OConnor | Chico Unified School District
Denise Pascal | Spokane Public Schools
Margaret Pedregon | Montebello Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Ksheera Ravishankar | Greenville county school
Christa Rohrbach | Jefferson County School District 509J
Lindsey Sawyer | Washington Unified School District
Kristen Thomas | Chico Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Tamara Trotter | Chatham County Schools - NORTH CAROLINA
Jacqueline Batz | School District U-46
Erica Berchtold | School District U-46, Elgin | Connect on LinkedIn
Helen Brown | School District U-46, Elgin
Ann (AJ) Buttacavoli | School District U-46, Elgin
Heather Carey | School District U-46, Elgin
Lisa Christner | School District U-46, Elgin | Connect on LinkedIn
Samantha Cosentino | School District U-46
Arlene Dewey | Flossmoor School District 161
Jessica Fry | School District U-46
Jessica Gough (Barnas) | School District U-46, Elgin
Emily Jacobs | Community School District #300 | Connect on LinkedIn
Megan Johnson | School District U-46, Elgin
Stephanie Kames | School District U-46
Katie Larson | School District U-46, Elgin | Connect on LinkedIn
Diana Malek Huntley | School District U-46, Elgin
Heidi Martinez | School District U-46, Elgin
Kristin Mincey | School District U-46, Elgin
GINA PICCIRILLI | School District U-46, Elgin
Craig Ruback | U-46
Taylor Smith | Danville CC School District 118
Marija Spasojevic | U-46
Lindsey Adamczyk | Lee's Summit R-VII | Connect on LinkedIn
Stephanie Augustin-Louis | St. Croix USVI Virgin Islands Department of Education
Diana Barrett | James Island Charter (District)
Mikaela Barthel | Fridley ISD #14
Alyssa Behrendt | School District of Waukesha
Alison Bird | Craven County | Connect on LinkedIn
Angela Castelli | ABC Unified School District
Kristie Corbishley | Australia
Laura Davila | Santa Maria Bonita School District
Nicolle Dobbs | Los Banos Unified School District
Takisha Freeland | Fulton County Schools
Sally Henzel | Paradise Valley Unified District
Marcy Irwin | Highlands County
Emily Kunkel | Azle Independent School District
Lorrie Lewis | Natomas Unified School District
Glennell Mack | Hillsborouh
Sarah Milosh | Azle ISD
Caryl OSteen | Levy County School District
Cortney Ramos | ABC Unified School District
Greg Schive | Riverside Unified | Connect on LinkedIn
Ashley Shearsmith | Spartanburg (SC) District 5, SC
Celia Venegas | Yuma School District One
madison vlasic | San Dieguito Union High School District
Melissa Adkins | Yuba City Unified School District
Jodi Anderson | Clovis Unified School District
Laura Arvizu | ABC Unified School District
Sagan Arzola | School District 27J
Daniel Cook | Spring ISD
Carrie Crumrine | Springfield Public School District #186
Elizabeth Diaz | Brighton School District 27J
Cari Huffman | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Connect on LinkedIn
Maureen Kieger | Roseville 623
Maria Knowles | Liberty Public Schools
Scott Lauinger | Roseville Area Public School District #623
Robyn Lewis | Longview WA School District
Stacey Mann | Chatham County Schools
Margaret (Peggy) Marvin | Roseville Public School District #623
Josh Maurice | Joliet Township High School District 204
Jami Patterson | Springfield Public Schools District 186
Alexandra Reynoso | CNUSD
Erin Sapp | Erin Sapp
Ashley Sweitzer | White River School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Jaqueline Whiting | Independence School District
Marissa Woods | Val Verde Unified School District | Connect on LinkedIn
Ryan Young | Jefferson County School District 509J, OR
Quesia Alvarez | Modoc Joint Unified School District
Erin Bro | Capistrano Unified School District
Alyssa Bui | Huntington Beach Union High School District
Enjolie Bush | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Deslyn Dover | New York City Department of Education District 13
Mario Echeverria | Fontana Unified School District
Lilia Esnayra | ABC Unified School District
Brandi Hussli | Oregon School District
Jamie Magdaleno | Stockton Unified School District
Lindsay Mariani | Capistrano Unified School District
Carmen Martinez | Pasadena
Anne Olofson | South Washington County Schools ISD #833
Allison Shick | Capistrano Unified School District
Angela Stouffer | Washington County Public Schools
Nate Swartz | Capistrano Unified School District
Elizabeth Willey | Capistrano Unified School District
John Zambo | Modesto City Schools
Sydney Amos | Champaign CUSD #4 District, IL
Arturo Barrios Gonzalez | Yuma Elementary School District 1, AZ | Connect on LinkedIn
Gabrielle Becker | Windsor Charter Academy, CO
Amanda Brooks | Yuma Elementary School District, AZ
Josie Brown | Spartanburg, District 5, SC
Eva Brown | Monroe County School District, FL
Josie Brown | Spartanburg District 5, SC
Katherine Burns | Val Verde Unified School District, CA
Emylee Cabrera | Pasco School District #1, WA
Shelene Connolly | Boerne Independent School District, TX
Heidi Crane | Danville CC District 118, IL
Jennifer Culbertson | West Chicago Community High School District 94, IL
Lori Culley | Gresham-Barlow School District, OR
Kera Diller | AZ
Margaret Dubel | Capistrano Unified School District, CA | Connect on LinkedIn
Colleen Fitzgerald | Woodbury Public Schools, NJ
Rebecca Flores | Dallas ISD, TX
Kiri Frankhauser | Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
Naomi Fuentes | Ector County ISD, TX
Tamara Gaffney | Denver Public Schools, CO
Riley Galloway | North Kansas City Schools, MO | Connect on LinkedIn
Robert Glover | Corpus Christi Independent School District, TX
Laurie Grant | Danville School District 118, IL
Katie Hager | College Station Independent School District, TX
Rebecca Hanzel | Channelview ISD, TX
Stephanie Hardig-Mixson | Craven County Schools, NC
Lindsay Harms | Penn Valley Union Elementary School District, CA | Connect on LinkedIn
Shannon Harsh | Phoenix Union High School District, AZ
Christy Hewitt | Spartanburg School District 5, SC
Julie Hoffmann | Provo City School District, UT
Raleigh Hudock | Dare County Schools District, NC
Wendy Jackson | Dallas Independent School District, TX
Karin Klett | Danville CC School District 118, IL
Andrea Koltes | Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools, MN
Jenni Kozak | Ogden School District, UT
Diana Larsen | Richardson Independent School District, TX
Rebecca Lazarou | Lamar CISD, TX
Laura Leonard | Lawrence Unified SD 497, KS
Thelesia Lowery-Barksdale | Fulton County Schools, GA
Angela Mccool | Danville CC School District 118, IL
Lisa McGuin | Hillsborough, FL
Tracie McMurray | Mesa Unified Schools, AZ
Crystal Medina | Humble ISD, TX
Kelsey Meeks | Mesa Public School, AZ
DeeDee Melton | Metro Nashville Public Schools, TN | Connect on LinkedIn
Alexandra Melton | Metro Nashville Public Schools, TN
Kinsey Mens | Buffalo Hanover Montrose, MN | Connect on LinkedIn
Christine Muggli | Beaverton School District, OR
Sarah Neitz | South Washington County Schools, MN
Sarah Nieder | Lawrence Public Schools – USD 497, KS | Connect on LinkedIn
Kayla Nixon | Danville CC School District 118, IL
Douglas Norton | Yuma Elementary School District One, AZ
Jen Olson | Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools, MN
Richard Pardo | Richardson Independent School District, TX
Kayla Patt | Chandler Unified School District, AZ
Nikki Perez | Pasco School District, WA
Erika Pocaterra | Ector County ISD, TX | Connect on LinkedIn
Melisa Putney | Johnston County Public Schools, NC
Jaime Regan | Oconomowoc Area School District, WI
Yadira Robles | Socorro Independent School District, TX | Connect on LinkedIn
Nicole Schahn | Buffalo Community Middle School, Buffalo Hanover Montrose School District, MN
Lacy Schramm | Buffalo Hanover Montrose Schools, MN
Amy Skinner | Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
Casey Stock | Yuma Elementary School District, AZ
Cassandra Taylor | Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, MN
Jaynelle Wagliardo | Round Rock ISD, TX
Adrienne Ward | SDMC, FL
Deanne Westlake | Garden Grove Unified, CA
Jacqueline Williams | Kyrene Elementary School District, AZ | Connect on LinkedIn
Jessica Williams | Winters Joint Unified, CA
Jocelyn Windahl | Washington County Public Schools, Hagerstown, MD | Connect on LinkedIn
Amber Wolf | Amphitheater Unified School District, AZ
Cortney Worden | Cooper Independent School District, TX
Elisa Younger | Santa Ana Unified School District, CA
