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As one of CU Boulder’s longest standing traditions, the 91st annual Alumni Awards Ceremony took on a different virtual format but familiar celebratory character on Oct. 22 to honor just six CU Boulder alumni and leaders, including School of Education alumna Kris D. Gutiérrez and Professor Rubén Donato. Watch their videos.

With many higher education faculty taking part in racial justice teach-ins this week, faculty and alumni from the CU Boulder School of Education are sharing a video message aimed at encouraging the nation’s scholars to explore and interrogate research and pedagogy in support of understanding anti-Blackness and its impact on scholarship. 

At the CU Boulder School of Education, we are excited to welcome and announce new faculty members who immensely enhance our community of educators and learners. Find out about their scholarly interests as well as their passion projects from making groovy playlists to maintaining a list of fiction with Black female leads and more.

Can computers work side-by-side with groups of students to support their engagement in meaningful learning experiences designed by their teachers? That’s the vision of a new research collaboration led by CU Boulder. “Students need to understand how AI functions in the world now, including its potential role in building a ‘surveillance economy,’ and how it can help communities design together for a more just future,” said co-PI and School of Education Professor Bill Penuel.

CU Boulder’s School of Education will soon launch a new online master’s degree program designed to address teacher shortages by supporting teachers to stay in the classroom. Developed with input from partner educators in rural Northeast Colorado, the program promises to support teachers who are looking for an affordable and accessible pathway to develop new skills and competencies.

Imagine doing your high school math or history homework while also being the full-time caregiver for your younger sibling. It’s a challenge that teenagers across the country are facing as schools have switched to online classes, said CU Boulder education researcher Michelle Renée Valladares.

A newly configured leadership team for CU Engage: the Center for Community-Based Learning and Research is uniquely positioned to continue and expand the University of Colorado Boulder’s legacy of collaboration with community organizations and advancing social change. Roudy Hildreth, Siomara Valladares, and Enrique Lopez take the helm.

Rubén Donato has been elected to join the National Academy of Education (NAEd), which advances high quality education research and its use in policy and practice, the Academy announced this year. As an educational historian, Donato studies the historical dimensions of educational equality and has delved into the educational history of Latino education in the United States.

Who are your most inspiring educators at CU Boulder? Each fall, the Best Should Teach Awards honor University of Colorado Boulder faculty, graduate teachers, and K-12 teachers at the CU Boulder Best Should Teach Ceremony. Student nominations for their most inspiring educators are due by the extended deadline of May 1.

As the year comes to an end, we like to look back on some of the CU Boulder School of Education's notable accomplishments and milestones. As we look ahead to future initiatives, we hope to keep steadfast in our dedication to democracy, diversity, equity and justice. Here are some of our top highlights from 2019.