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Congratulations to our 2025 Teacher and Teammate of the Year award winners!

Aspire Public Schools is proud to announce the 2025 Teacher and Teammate of the Year award winners! Now in its second year, this recognition celebrates exceptional educators and staff across our three regions—Bay Area, Central Valley, and Los Angeles—who embody our mission and values. This year’s honorees were selected from a competitive pool of nominations submitted by teammates, students, families, and alumni. Each winner has made a profound impact on their school community through dedication, leadership, and a commitment to student success.

Bay Area

 

Teacher of the Year: Jenny Sar
At Aspire Golden State Preparatory Academy, Jenny Sar serves as a 9th and 12th-grade math teacher, Math Department Lead, and Leadership teacher. Her innovative approach to education is exemplified by the student leadership program she initiated, culminating in the school’s first homecoming pep rally. Jenny reflects, “It was incredible to see our students step up, showcase their leadership, and bring so much energy and creativity to the event.”

Teammate of the Year: Mina Vega
With 21 years of dedicated service at Aspire Monarch Academy, Business Manager Mina Vega has been a steadfast presence in the school community. She cherishes the opportunity to welcome new TK and kindergarten students each year and take pride in watching them grow and transition to middle school. Mina’s commitment to the school’s mission and her nurturing spirit have left an indelible mark on countless families.

Central Valley

Teacher of the Year: Genesis Abdul-Rashid
Genesis Abdul-Rashid, an Education Specialist at Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle School, is celebrated for her dedication to inclusive education. One of her most memorable experiences was organizing the Ruby Bridges Walk, an event that united students and families in a powerful demonstration of community and historical awareness. Genesis remarks, “Witnessing our community come together to honor a pivotal moment in history was truly inspiring.”

Teammate of the Year: Starrlight Murray
Starrlight Murray, Business Manager at Aspire Capitol Heights Academy, is known for her vibrant energy and deep connections with students. Recalling a cherished memory, she shares, “A group of my students convinced me to participate in our school talent show. I was incredibly nervous, but a third grader said, ‘Ms. Starrlight, just get out there and dance like no one is watching!’ That moment reminded me why I love working with kids—their honesty, encouragement, and the unforgettable memories they help create.”

Los Angeles

Teacher of the Year: Nadean DeLeon
At Aspire Pacific Academy, 6th-grade Math and Science teacher Nadean DeLeon is recognized for her commitment to academic excellence and student engagement. She proudly highlights her students’ achievements in the Aspire Math Field Day Competitions, where they secured championships in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024. Nadean’s dedication to fostering a love for math and science has empowered her students to excel.

Teammate of the Year: Eduardo Ramirez
Eduardo Ramirez, Office Assistant and Family Coordinator at Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy, is celebrated for his efforts to build strong family-school connections. One highlight of his tenure was organizing a trip to a Dodgers game for students with excellent attendance and their parents. Eduardo shares, “It was awesome to see the smiles, not just from our students, but also from parents who were experiencing their first-ever game. Moments like that remind me why we do this work.”

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding individuals. Their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions continue to inspire and uplift the Aspire community.

Spectrum News 1: South Gate school implements co-teaching model for students with disabilities

Original article found here.
BY TAYLOR TORREGANO
MAY 7, 2025

LOS ANGELES — With the dismantling of the Department of Education, educators fear funding for special education students will be heavily affected.

Studies show this group is already falling alarmingly behind across California.

What You Need To Know

  • Aspire Firestone Academy in South Gate is blazing a new trail, implementing a co-teaching inclusion model that staff say is having significant results
  • Janie Portillo’s favorite part of school is learning, writing and reading, but most of all, she says she loves her teachers and when she walks in her classroom, she says, “It fills me with — I’m brave, I’m strong, I can do this”
  • The co-teaching inclusion model at Aspire Firestone Academy that integrates special education students with general education students like Liam Diaz
  • The students with disabilities need special attention from time to time, but the teachers say they seamlessly integrate that into their lessons, depending on the need

Aspire Firestone Academy in South Gate is blazing a new trail to change that, implementing a co-teaching inclusion model that staff say has significant results. 

Janie Portillo’s favorite part of school is learning, writing, and reading, but most of all, she says she loves her teachers, and when she walks into her classroom, she says, “It fills me with — I’m brave, I’m strong, I can do this.”

Even though Janie is considered an IEP student, which stands for individualized education program and means she has a disability and specific educational needs, she isn’t treated any differently than the general education students she shares a classroom with.

It’s the co-teaching inclusion model at Aspire Firestone Academy that integrates special education students with general education students like Liam Diaz.

Principal Marnie Kislinger shows three groups of students learning in a 4th-grade math class, divided only by their understanding of yesterday’s lesson.

“In some ways, we’re paving a new way, but there’s actually a lot of research out there that supports that having inclusive models where students with IEPs and without IEPs are in the same classroom, learning from a general education teacher and a special education teacher, really helps everyone, and that’s with both academics and with their social, emotional learning,” Kislinger explained.

Students with disabilities occasionally need special attention, but the teachers say they seamlessly integrate that into their lessons, depending on the need.

Kislinger says this has nearly eliminated the math performance gap between students with IEPs and their general education peers, which is virtually unheard of across California.

The 2024 to 2025 California School Dashboard showed that students with disabilities are 124 points below the standard. They’re falling so behind, educators are calling it a crisis, which is why Marnie says this integrated model is so groundbreaking.

“Every student in this classroom has access to grade-level content,” she said. “So they continue to grow and that gap can actually decrease, and we see students with IEPs and without IEPs achieving at super high levels and not a big gap between them.”

It creates an environment for students like Janie and Liam to learn math and reading and how to be good humans.

“It’s a way to show that we’re all the same,” Diaz added.

Mastering the concept of triangles, equilaterals, and trapezoids, but also self-awareness, as the two do their morning affirmations.

“I am lovable, I am important, I can do this. I will never give up. My mistakes help me learn. I will listen to my heart. I love and respect myself, me llama respecto yo,” the students chant.

Aspire Firestone Academy is a public charter school that does not require tuition. For more information about the school and to enroll, click here.

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