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As we reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025, we in the CU Boulder School of Education are grateful for many moments of joy and accomplishments that this year has brought.

Here are a few highlights from the school’s past year, as we look forward to marking new opportunities and milestones in 2025.

Centering and celebrating our students and alumni

• This year, our 2024 Outstanding Graduates included a STEM teacher living his dream of empowering students, first-generation students paying it forward, an advocate for rural bilingual learners, an IT professional-turned-educator, and more. 
• Alumna and mentor teacher, Ash Mattys, earned Boulder Valley School’s New Teacher Award, while alumna Sara McIntosh received the Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award, which covers the .
• CU Engage students were named top CU System-wide honors. Fernanda Cerros, a Puksta Scholar and Public Achievement student, received President's DEI Award, and Rain Michael, a Leadership Studies Minor and CU Engage student, was named CU Boulder Student Leader of the Year.
• The School of Education Student Government co-founders reflected on their leadership and design of an active undergraduate student government for the school.
• Doctoral Student Danielle Aguilar received a yearlong Newman Civic Fellowship from Campus Compact.
• Alumnus and long-time School of Education partner, Jack Chambers, was awarded the Adams 12 District’s Employee of the Year honor.

Celebrating our leadership, faculty and staff

• We welcomed a new interim dean, Fernando Rosario-Ortiz at the beginning of year.
• We welcomed back Chancellor Emeritus and new faculty members at the beginning of the new academic year.
• Sara Staley and Andrea Dyrness earned the Provost’s Faculty Achievement Awards and Oded Gurantz received tenure at Fall Convocation.
• Lorrie Shepard received 2024 Women in Measurement Leadership Award and talked about the ways colleagues made space for her work.
• Deena Gumina was honored with the Best Should Teach Award alongside CU colleagues and outstanding educators from the School of Education’s partner school districts.
• David Webb received a Fulbright Specialist Award for a project at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic to improve the university’s undergraduate STEM education program through of active learning, student-centered teaching and formative assessment practices.
• Bethy Leonardi was selected for 2024 Community Perspectives program, a professional development program for CU Boulder faculty members that combines workshops about public and community-engaged scholarship, a listen-and-learn tour of Southeast Colorado, funding and support with partnership and project development. 
• Joe Polman and co-authors earned “” honors from the Journal of the Learning Sciences.
• Voices Magazine, the School of Education’s alumni magazine won a Best of District IV Award from the Council of Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
• Students and faculty presented an impressive breadth of research at the American Educational Research Association Meeting in Philadelphia in April.
• The School of Education, in collaboration with the Boulder Book Store, hosted the 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival in November. Culturally diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators led read alouds, panel discussions and visits to local classroom, where the festival donated more than 500 books to schools, teachers and learners.

Research and community-engagement milestones

• The School of Education’s launched a new Education Research Speaker Series featuring the latest research in education from CU Boulder scholars and alumni and leading experts from other institutions. The series kicked off the spring semester with professor Mimi Engel and alumna Molly Hamm-Rodríguez, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida and the 2023 School of Education Outstanding Dissertation Research Awardee. Trish Morita-Mullaney, associate professor at Purdue University, visited in October.
• Of the four competitive New Frontiers Grants aimed at fostering new, interdisciplinary research directions for CU Boulder, two projects, "Empowering Newcomer Students: A Multifaceted Approach to Culturally Sustaining STEAM Education and AI Integration" and "Exposure to and Health Effects of After-wildfire Toxicants (ExHEAT) Consortia," involve education researchers.
• The 2024 Teachers of Color and Allies Summit in November featured the theme is “Navigating the Nuanced Narrative of Neutrality” and keynote speaker, alumnus Vincent Basile, associate professor at Colorado State University, who examined federal STEM education policy, revealing cyclical patterns of racial commodification, racial essentialism and differential racialization.
• After more than five years of fundraising efforts and renovations, the School of Education celebrated moving into its new campus home: the Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard Baca Education Building with a festive building dedication and community open house in October. We showcased the school’s collaborative new spaces, highlighted influential research, celebrated educators and honored the passionate community that made the project possible. Read more about the event and view photos from the ribbon "ripping" ceremony.

Each year brings its own challenges and opportunities, and yet we were able to accomplish so much in 2024 when we worked together and remained true to our mission.

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Meet Mylie Lanier, a senior at CU Boulder majoring in Elementary Education with a passion for education, advocacy, and social impact and the motto 'Live what you love.'

 From an early age, Lanier discovered her passion for working with children, which inspired her to spend several years coaching young skiers and tutoring students. 

Lanier also worked with Reintegra, a nonprofit organization that empowers survivors of human trafficking through educational and vocational support, helping them reintegrate into society. “I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of trauma-informed care and the impact of focusing on the humanity of individuals,” says Lanier. 

This experience underscores a vital truth: real change often begins with individual support. 

Diagnosed with learning disabilities in elementary school, Lanier’s second-grade teacher, Ms. Lawson took the time to work with her one-on-one after school. “Her support made a significant impact on my learning and left a lasting impression,” Lanier shares, “It was in that moment that I decided I wanted to be a teacher who, like Ms. Lawson, would provide the guidance and encouragement that every student deserves.” 

While traveling and surfing in Central America, Lanier has been able to explore her passion for learning Spanish, a skill she believes is essential to fostering deeper, more humanizing relationships. “Spanish is not just a valuable skill – it is essential to my ability to connect meaningfully with others.” 

After graduation, Lanier plans to join the Peace Corps and teach English in Central or South America. Guided by her belief in the transformative power of one-on-one connection, she is determined to create change abroad and locally, one student at a time. 

In her own words:  

What kind of impact do you think teachers have? 

“Teachers have a profound and lasting impact on their students, shaping not only their academic development, but also their personal growth. They have the ability to inspire, encourage, and empower students, fostering a sense of confidence and self-worth, and love for all that extends beyond the classroom. A teacher's support, particularly in moments of struggle, can make all the difference in a student's learning journey, as I personally experienced with my second-grade teacher, Ms. Lawson. Teachers are also crucial in guiding students to become thoughtful, equitable, compassionate individuals who can navigate and contribute to a diverse, beautiful, and complex world. By creating inclusive, safe spaces that honor each student's background and experiences, teachers help cultivate a sense of belonging and respect, and humanizing pedagogy.” 

How has your time at CU Boulder influenced your decision to pursue education? 

“My freshman-year courses helped me understand that teaching involves much more than I initially thought. To be a teacher like Ms. Lawson means being an anti-racist and abolitionist educator, a lifelong learner committed to unlearning and relearning. It’s about recognizing the injustices rooted in our country's history and the schooling system, and having the courage to challenge them. I believe that as educators, we must advocate for those students who are often overlooked and create a classroom that is a safe space for addressing social injustices. We must learn from our mistakes, appreciate each student's background and beliefs, and teach with love and compassion.” 

What is something most people don’t know about you? 

“I was adopted as a newborn, just 24 hours old, and from the moment I came home, the bond with my parents was immediate, strong, and unconditional. This bond remains central to my life today. I am incredibly fortunate to have been raised in a loving, supportive home that has provided me with a wealth of experiences and opportunities. My parents have always been there for me, nurturing me to be community-minded, ethical, and compassionate. They have instilled in me values and morals that guide my perspective and shape how I engage with the world. I am deeply grateful for their love and support.” 

What is your motto? 

“As cheesy as this might sound, my motto is: live what you love.” 

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After more than five years of fundraising efforts, CU Boulder’s School of Education celebrated moving into its new campus home: the Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard Baca Education Building. The milestone, made possible by collective philanthropy, was marked with a festive building dedication and community open house on Oct. 4 to showcase the school’s collaborative new spaces, highlight its influential research, celebrate educators and honor the passionate community that made this project possible.

Launched in the spring of 2019, the initiative to move the School of Education to its newly renovated home (previously known as the Fleming Building) was a multi-phase renovation project. The school’s dean emerita, Kathy Schultz, spearheaded the move with donor and campus leadership support. 

A united effort

An extraordinary 97 families donated to the renovations — resulting in 23 named spaces in the building, from classrooms to meeting spaces and private study rooms, demonstrating the strength of the school’s community support. 

“It took a whole village … The building was much-needed, to be competitive with other universities and to provide a state-of-the-art location for students, faculty, staff and our community,” said Barb Quinlan (Edu’65, MA’86), donor and member of the school’s Development Advisory Board. Quinlan is also a member of Women Investing in the School of Education (WISE), which supports faculty research, initiatives, and a student scholarship. In addition to contributing to the project, she led a group effort to inspire other passionate WISE members to name one of the school’s classrooms. 

The building’s name honors two former CU Boulder School of Education faculty members, Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard Baca, and their lasting legacies of exceptional mentorship and groundbreaking leadership — particularly in the field of bilingual education, which continues to uplift educators and support historically marginalized students today. 

Miramontes, who passed away in 2005, was represented by her sister and niece at the dedication, and Baca was present with his wife and grandson. The heartwarming ceremony featured stories of gratitude from their former students, and many family members, mentees and former colleagues were in attendance to honor Miramontes’ and Baca’s impact.  

Together at last

Moving to the Miramontes Baca Education Building marks the first time in recent history that the entire School of Education will be together under one roof. Previously, the school’s centers and programs were housed in a variety of buildings. In addition to providing more space, the new location is equipped with the technology and facilities to support modern teaching methods and community-building opportunities.

  A hallmark of our School of Education is a commitment to collaborative and interactive communities, both in our classrooms and in the entirety of our work as scholars and educators. Our space reflects this commitment — I am excited to see where we go in the future.." — Melissa Braaten, associate professor in the School of Education 

  View event photo album 

"This renovation has allowed the School of Education to create spaces that suit the programming and classes that it offers,” said Suzanne Hoover, development board member and longtime supporter of the school. “It has allowed the school to have up-to-date technology that is so important to education in the 21st century." Suzanne and Dave Hoover helped kick off the fundraising effort for the school in 2019. In recognition of their generosity and dedication to education, the school named its new central collaborative space the Hoover Atrium. 

"For us, our educations have been paramount to our ability to dream of a future and to reach those dreams,” said Suzanne Hoover. “Education broadens horizons and opens doors for those who pursue it." 

Additional features of the Miramontes Baca Education Building include modernized classrooms and conference rooms, private study rooms, a food pantry and community kitchens, and learning labs for specialized disciplines such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.             

Associate Professor Melissa Braaten, program chair for STEM education in the School of Education, remarked that the new spaces are being used exactly as they’d hoped — with students from all over campus connecting and collaborating in ways they weren’t easily able to before.

Heartwarming support

Braaten noted that teaching in classrooms named after the dedicated and generous families that support the school offers a sense of “legacy and community.” She said future philanthropy for the school can continue to ensure adequate classroom space and enhance learning for tomorrow’s educators. 

“The fundraising effort has taken many years and many contributions, large and small, to generate the resources that we need to renovate our building,” said Braaten. “I have had the opportunity to meet the donors and families responsible for supporting the classrooms where I teach — it’s so special to hear their stories of the compassionate, dedicated teachers in their families and see their commitment to education.”

An innovative component to the school’s new classrooms is their ability to be reconfigured — the seating has been designed to be movable, offering a more interactive approach to teaching and classroom collaboration. The building dedication and open house on Oct. 4 allowed attendees to tour the newly renovated spaces and see these features firsthand. Guests also engaged in a research showcase and family-friendly activities and enjoyed live mariachi music, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks honoring the community’s commitment to education. 

“As one of the most important things we can provide for children, education is top of the list — it’s a gift of a lifetime,” said Marty Coffin Evans (A&S’64), donor and board chair for the school. “I believe strongly in the power of education. It has the ability to change, enrich, inform and mold lives.”  

A bright future

Evans remarked that the school’s new home reinforces its value and formally acknowledges “the powerful education found within its walls.” She hopes gratitude and a passion for education can drive future philanthropy efforts. 

“If you've had a special teacher, counselor or coach in your life, this is a wonderful way to say: ‘Thank you for believing in me, thank you for teaching me,’” said Evans. 

In addition to enhancing innovative education and bringing the whole school together, the renovated facilities will help attract and retain top faculty, as well as support the school’s mission of preparing the teachers and leaders of tomorrow.

“A hallmark of our School of Education is a commitment to collaborative and interactive communities, both in our classrooms and in the entirety of our work as scholars and educators,” said Braaten. “Our space reflects this commitment — I am excited to see where we go in the future.”

  View event photo album 

Photo captions: 
Above: The ribbon-cutting ceremony included Angela Snyder and Marcela Martinez-Jones (Ofelia Miramontes' sister and niece), Dean Emerita Kathy Schultz, Interim Dean Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, Chancellor Justin Schwartz, Chancellor Emeritus Phil DiStefano, Leonard Baca, his wife and grandson, Eleanor Baca and Jaylen Baca
Center: Melissa Braaten teaching elementary education students in the new Learning Sphere Classroom, a space named by Trish Shapiro in the Miramontes Baca Education Building.
Below: Leonard Baca and family, and Ofelia Miramontes' family and close friends.

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At the CU Boulder School of Education, we are excited to welcome and announce new faculty members who bring a variety of experiences and enhance our community of educators and learners. Please join us in welcoming them to our school and community: Lizz Tetu is assistant teaching professor for elementary education, Derek LeFebre is assistant teaching professor in EFPP, Kate Baca is postdoctoral associate for the National Education Policy Center and AJ Schiera as assistant professor of literacy studies. We sat down with Scheira, who is new to our community, to learn more about what attracted him to CU Boulder.

Why did you choose CU Boulder and the School of Education? 

• I am coming to CU Boulder for the opportunity to be part of a rich, vibrant, multifaceted, welcoming community of thinkers and doers. As I begin this new journey into the academy, the scholars here at the School of Education are ones whose work have inspired me, shown me how principled commitments and methodological approaches can go hand in hand to learn about learning and do good work in the world. When I interviewed here, I discovered how eager the School of Education community was to converse, collaborate, and explore together. All of this is to say: I am grateful CU Boulder chose me, too! 

What are you excited about this upcoming year? 

• The inseparability of teaching novice teachers and researching how novice teachers learn is what makes me tick. I am excited to get connected to secondary social studies licensure candidates in particular, see their growth from fieldwork to coursework and build on the work others have done to create rich learning experiences for them in social studies methods. 

What do you like to do on a day off? 

• The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped my relationship with walking, and walking reshaped my relationship with my neighborhood. Living in Philadelphia at the time, I got a newfound appreciation for all of the things that made Kensington and Fishtown special and told stories of continuity and change-- all while forcing me to slow down my body and mind and be more present. I am eager to see how this habit deepens as an aspiring but *very novice* hiker, taking in the beauty of the Front Range. 

What’s a fun fact about you? 

• For whatever reason, I acquired a fascination for sports officiating as a kid. That has persisted to today in that watching NBA, NFL, or MLB games involves as much attention on the officials as on the teams. Over time, I'm hoping to find my way back on courts and fields as an amateur official of youth sports. 

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Phil DiStefano reflects on returning to the School of Education after 15 years as Chancellor.

In 1974, a young man from Ohio joined the CU Boulder School of Education as assistant professor. This July, Phil DiStefano returned to the faculty of the School of Education after 50 years at the university and a storied journey through leadership across campus. 

DiStefano stepped down after a remarkable 15 years as chancellor for CU Boulder. Before that, he was the campus’s first provost and executive vice chancellor following—dare we say it aloud—his “favorite” position as dean of the School of Education from 1986-96.  

For the former high school teacher and first-generation college graduate, DiStefano rejoining the education faculty is like a special homecoming — this one doesn’t involve marching bands or Ralphie or alumni reunions, but it is exciting moment in his next chapter at CU Boulder.

We asked five questions for the newly minted Chancellor Emeritus to see what he is most excited about in “coming home.” 

You have mentioned that your time in the School of Education includes some of your fondest memories at CU Boulder. What are you most excited about upon returning to the faculty? 

When I became Interim Dean in 1986, the school was at a crossroad. At the time, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education was looking at consolidating programs at different universities and colleges and one proposal was to move the School of Education at CU Boulder to the University of Northern Colorado or the University of Colorado Denver. Along with faculty led by Professors Lorrie Shepard and Ernie House, we hired a consultant, David Berliner, from the University of Arizona and later Arizona State University to assist us. We had to make difficult decisions, such as supporting teacher education while requiring undergraduates to pair teacher certification with Arts and Sciences majors and focusing on four graduate programs of excellence—Instruction & Curriculum; Research, Evaluation and Methodology; Bilingual/Special Education; and Policy Studies—and eliminating or moving other programs.  

The commission accepted our recommendations, and the chancellor allowed us to recruit on all vacant positions. When I left the deanship in 1996, the School of Education was in the top 25 nationally. 

I am eager to see the various programs that now exist in the School of Education and how programs have evolved over the years. Of all the positions I have had at CU Boulder, being dean of the School of Education was the best, because I had the opportunity to build the school with the faculty to one of the top schools in the country. 

Is there anything new about the School of Education since the time of your appointment as Chancellor that you are particularly interested in learning about? 

The quality of any university, school or college is measured by the quality of the faculty. I don’t know many of the faculty who have been hired in the last ten to fifteen years but am eager to meet them to get to know their research and teaching agendas and how their agendas fit the vision and goals of the School of Education. 

We understand you are continuing to focus on leadership studies. What have you learned from after your chancellorship that you hope to share with School of Education faculty and students and CU Boulder at large? 

This past spring, I spent a week in Dharmshala, India with the Dalai Lama and the Dalai Lama fellows on a conference focusing on leadership. The theme of the conference was “Leadership through Compassion and Courage.” While there, I added two other values—integrity and humility in my presentation on leadership. Although values of compassion, courage and humility might seem to be at odds with each other, they are needed with integrity to be the leaders that we need for our democracy to survive. 

In addition to your many roles on campus past and present, you and your wife Yvonne are cherished donors for the school from student scholarship support to participation on donor committees and more. Why do you and your family choose to give to the School of Education?  

Yvonne and I are both first-generation college students in our families. We understand firsthand the value of education in today’s world. We meet with first-generation students throughout the year to share our experiences on the value of higher education and what can be accomplished with an undergraduate and a graduate education. 

Now that you have passed the torch as chancellor and will hopefully have more free time, what are you looking forward to most? 

For me, I am interested in taking some classes as a senior auditor. There are amazing faculty on our campus, and I would like to spend some time in their classes and continue the learning process. Together, Yvonne and I want to spend more time with our grandchildren in Arizona. One is in high school, and the other is in middle school. We would love to be part of their middle school and high school experience. 

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