Celebrating Our 2024 Aspire2Alder Award Winners!
We are so thrilled to announce our 2024 Aspire2Alder winners! This award celebrates employees who have chosen to grow their careers at Aspire by entering into the Alder teacher residency program, through which they will earn a master’s in education and teaching credentials.
These dedicated teammates were selected based on careful consideration based on their demonstration of Aspire’s Core Value of Bienestar (Well-being), promoting well-being in their campuses, and bringing their full selves to educating. Read on to get to know our amazing winners and their plans to grow as culturally responsive teachers for social change below!
Aspire Bay Area Winners
Damon Plant, Aspire Richmond Tech Academy
Background
Damon has spent nearly his entire adult life in education, facilitating creative writing programs, working in outdoor education, and tutoring. Last year, as RTA’s on-site substitute teacher, he had his first experience leading instruction, which sparked his decision to pursue teaching. Inspired by colleagues who completed the Alder Residency, Damon chose Alder to help him grow into a confident, capable, and transformative educator. In five years, Damon plans to continue teaching, and updating the curriculum to meet the cultural and academic needs of his scholars. He also aspires to pay it forward by becoming a master teacher and guiding a resident teacher of his own.
What Does Bienestar Mean to You?
“To me, Bienestar means bringing my full self to work—not only through my strengths but also through my learning, mistakes, and growth. It’s about being open to feedback from mentors, peers, and students while continuing my journey toward full fluency in Spanish. Bienestar means sharing my passions and interests with students, from playing sports at recess to discussing hobbies like Pokémon and YouTube. It’s about showing my authentic self to create a safe space for others to do the same.”
How Do You Plan to Drive Positive Social Change?
“I will prioritize liberation in my classroom through inclusive teaching practices, such as using word walls and math manipulatives to ensure diverse means of expression. I will connect lessons to students’ lived experiences, empowering them to create solutions to the challenges they face. I will confront bigotry and bias both in myself and others, using these moments as learning opportunities to promote equity and critical thinking.”
Natalie Tate, Aspire Monarch Academy
Background
Natalie began her educational journey as a substitute teacher at Aspire Monarch Academy, where she discovered immense joy and fulfillment in teaching. Motivated to deepen her understanding of how children learn, she joined the Alder residency program. In five years, Natalie envisions herself continuing to evolve as a classroom teacher, focusing on creating engaging, whole-child-centered, and culturally responsive learning experiences.
What Does Bienestar Mean to You?
“To me, Bienestar means showing authenticity in my interactions with students, colleagues, and the community. I see my students as whole individuals, and I embrace their personalities, stories, and hobbies in the classroom. It’s crucial to understand who they are beyond being students. Bringing my full self also means acknowledging my mistakes and using them as opportunities for growth. This honesty fosters a culture of openness where students feel safe to express themselves and take risks—because we’re all human!”
How Do You Plan to Drive Positive Social Change?
“I aim to create lessons that reflect the world my students live in, and a classroom environment that honors their identities and interests. My goal is to prepare diverse scholars for future education and fulfillment. I’m particularly interested in researching strategies to support multilingual learners. By deepening my expertise in this area, I hope to address their unique challenges, promote inclusivity, and help other educators provide their students with the best education possible.”
Aspire Central Valley Winners
Zaria Henderson, Aspire Ben Holt Middle
Background
Zaria graduated with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and initially planned to pursue a career in sports medicine. However, while working as an Instructional Aide for TK-5 students at Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy, she discovered her passion for education. She saw the positive impact inclusive education had on students and realized the significance of having educators who reflect students’ intersecting identities. As a Black woman, she recognized the profound influence she could have and decided to enroll in the Alder residency program to become the kind of teacher she never had. In five years, Zaria envisions herself as a secondary English Language Arts educator, advocating for social justice in education and helping students understand the importance of their learning in advancing their communities.
What Does Bienestar Mean to You?
“To me, Bienestar means taking a holistic approach to teaching. I cannot teach effectively unless I am physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy, with my identities affirmed and my experiences acknowledged. As a Black woman, I have faced times when societal stereotypes made me question my reality. Staying grounded in my values helps me make strong decisions while also allowing for self-growth when I am wrong. Bringing my full self means recognizing that while I am a role model, I am also human and capable of mistakes—and that’s okay.”
How Do You Plan to Drive Positive Social Change?
“I aim to implement Restorative English Education, a pedagogy that is not only culturally responsive but also actively seeks social justice and peace, extending beyond the classroom. When I learned about this concept in my Alder coursework, I knew it would be a cornerstone of my teaching career. As a secondary educator, I have the unique opportunity to influence students during their formative years. I plan to inspire them to embrace their role in driving positive social change by using culturally relevant literature and creating a classroom that fosters relationships and peace.”
Hailey Raught, Aspire Vincent Shalvey
Background
Hailey was an Aspire student for her entire K-12 career, graduating from Aspire Ben Holt in 2019, and credits her Aspire education and passionate teachers for setting her up for success post-graduation. She entered into the Alder residency in hopes of becoming an equally excellent teacher for her students and believes that every child deserves an outstanding teacher. In five years, she plans to put everything learned in the Alder residency program to use in her pedagogy in her fourth year of teaching without a mentor teacher. She will remain a life-long learner and always search for growth opportunities.
What Does Bienestar Mean to You?
“Bienestar means I can show my students that I am a whole person, just as they are whole people. It means that I can utilize my passions, interests, and feelings as a teacher, just as I would like my students to do. To me, this includes being transparent about how I, even as their teacher, have fears, and things to learn, and I have room for growth. I want all of my students to understand that it is okay for them to come as they are, and to celebrate them for all of the ways that they are unique. All of my students come into the class from different backgrounds. It is so important to foster an environment that encourages my students to be the same person they are at home and at school.”
How Do You Plan to Drive Positive Social Change?
“I plan to continue internalizing the practices that I will be learning throughout this year. I am learning so much about all the ways to teach to the whole child and foster an environment that celebrates growth and allows my students to experience joy inside and outside of the classroom. I strive to continue to develop and practice a culturally sustaining pedagogy. I will continue to connect with and serve every one of my students every day.”
Aspire Los Angeles Winners
Jacqueline Aguilar, Aspire Tate Academy
Background
Jacqueline spent seven years working as an in-home early interventionist and behavioral therapist, where she helped children learn life skills such as reading, writing, and self-advocacy. Over time, she felt a calling to reach more children and families, which led her to work as a substitute teacher at Aspire Inskeep Academy. The unique experience at Aspire, especially seeing the core values in action, made Jacqueline realize it was the place for her. She knew that joining the Alder residency program was the next step in her journey. In five years, Jacqueline hopes to be a role model for both students and teachers, someone who scholars can relate to, look up to, and learn from through meaningful connections.
What Does Bienestar Mean to You?
“For me, Bienestar means continuously learning and reflecting on my practice with a clear end goal in mind—creating a classroom where students feel joyful and safe to be their authentic selves while giving back to the community. It’s not just about learning new pedagogies but applying them by addressing personal biases and unlearning harmful concepts. I believe that recognizing each student’s unique strengths and needs is essential. As an educator, it’s important to set aside time to build rapport and strong relationships, because children notice when you see and understand them, especially knowing they come from diverse backgrounds and experiences.”
How Do You Plan to Drive Positive Social Change?
“I aim to be a linguistically and culturally inclusive educator who recognizes students’ intersectionality and creates an anti-racist, equitable space. By focusing on students’ strengths, I hope to build their confidence and challenge the biases society imposes on them. With over seven years of experience in building strong relationships with parents, I believe they are a crucial part of driving positive social change. I won’t hesitate to think outside the box, advocate for, and actively show up for students and the community.”
Jesus Muñoz, Aspire Firestone Academy
Background
Jesus previously worked as a substitute teacher at Aspire Firestone Academy and decided to join the Alder Graduate School of Education’s teacher residency program out of a deep desire to make a meaningful impact in education. The program’s emphasis on collaborative learning, and community engagement, and its impact on his hometown of South Gate inspired him to take this next step. Jesus is excited to earn a master’s degree while gaining hands-on teaching experience that fosters both personal and professional growth. In five years, he hopes to begin transitioning into an administrative role, starting as a dean, then vice principal, and ultimately fulfilling his dream of becoming a principal at an Aspire school.
What Does Bienestar Mean to You?
“Bienestar in my teaching practice means creating a classroom culture where well-being is at the forefront, allowing both my students and me to grow and succeed. It’s about embracing vulnerability—being open to learning from challenges, and sharing those experiences with others, whether mentors, peers, or administrators. Culturally responsive teaching plays a big role in this too. By incorporating students’ diverse cultures, languages, and experiences into lessons, I can enrich their learning while affirming their identities. Building meaningful relationships with my students is crucial—not just teaching academics but being emotionally present and creating a space where they feel supported and heard. Ultimately, bringing my full self to work involves taking a holistic approach, recognizing that my students come with challenges, and fostering a learning environment that promotes their mental, emotional, and social well-being.”
How Do You Plan to Drive Positive Social Change?
“I plan to prioritize cultural responsiveness by incorporating the diverse backgrounds of my students into my teaching. By making lessons relatable and relevant, I can engage students and validate their identities, fostering an inclusive learning environment. Building trust and rapport with students will be key to creating a supportive classroom community. I also aim to promote critical thinking by encouraging students to examine social justice, equity, and community issues, helping them develop the skills to analyze and challenge injustices. My goal is to empower my students to advocate for themselves and their communities, using projects that connect them with local issues or inspire them to become change-makers. By fostering a collaborative classroom, I’ll emphasize teamwork and peer learning to strengthen social skills and build a sense of community.”
To learn more about the Teacher Residency program at Alder GSE, visit aspirepublicschools.org/join/aldergse.