In recognition of their contributions to the innovation in education in San Diego County, the Classroom of the Future Foundation has created special awards for leaders in the community.
2024 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Dr. Nancy Rohland-Heinrich, Executive Vice President National University |
| CFF Innovative Principal & School Team Award | Nerel Winter and Bostonia Global Team, Bostonia Global Cajon Valley School District |
| CFF Innovative Superintendent & District Team Award | Joseph Clevenger, Superintendent & Design Team Bonsall Unified School District |
| CFF Pathways Team Award | Heather Montgomery and Film Guild Team Encinitas Union School District |
| CFF DREAMS Team Award (Design, Research, Engineering, Art, Math & Science) |
Liana Davis, Resource Teacher and Sci Phy Lead San Ysidro School District |
| CFF Business Team Award – Partner | Curriculum Associates |
| CFF Business Team Award – Community | Olivewood Gardens and Learning Centers |
2023 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Tom Davis, Director of Business Development The Center for Educational Innovation |
| Innovative Principal Award | Cristina Meglich, Principal Conway Elementary School, Escondido Union School District |
| Innovative Educator Award | Aled Anaya, CTE Teacher Orange Glen High School, Escondido Union High School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Paul Gothold, San Diego County Superintendent of Schools San Diego County Office of Education |
| College & Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Chris Geldert, Woodworking Teacher San Marcos High School, San Marcos Unified School District |
| Business Champion of the Year Award | North Island Credit Union |
| SDCUE Innovative Educator of the Year | Angelique Gianas, Teacher Grossmont Union High School District |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Kailey Cumming, Teacher Cajon Valley Union School District |
2022 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Dr. Tim Baird Green Schools National Network |
| Innovative Principal Award | Stephanie Brown, Principal Lincoln High School, San Diego Unified School District |
| Innovative Educator Award | Cesar Gamez, Teacher Castle Park High School, Sweetwater Union High School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Karl Mueller, Superintendent Coronado Unified School District |
| College & Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Nicole Moersch, K12 Pathway Coordinator Serving Carlsbad USD, Oceanside USD, & San Dieguito USD |
| Business Champion of the Year Award | San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) |
| SDCUE Innovative TOSA of the Year | Kristen Eveland Santee School District |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Taylor Cotton Cajon Valley Union High School District |
| CFF Special College and Career Pathways Award | MANA de San Diego |
2021 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Malin Burnham, President The Burnham Foundation |
| Innovative Principal Award | Eric Frandsen, Principal Surfside Educational Academy, Oceanside Unifed School District |
| Innovative Educator Award | Dr. Roby Nye, Asst. Superintendent for Instructional Services Carlsbad Unified School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Leighangela Brady, Superintendent National School District |
| College & Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Laura Gardiner, Culinary Arts Teacher Kristi Sovacool, Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Teacher Kara Walker, Hospitality IA Orange Glen High School, Escondido Union High School District |
| Business Champion of the Year Award | Cox Communications |
| SDCUE Innovative TOSA of the Year | Lauren Leathers San Diego Unified School District |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Sarah Kesty Sweetwater Union High School District |
| CFF Special Career Pathway Award | Perkins Elementary Astronomy Club |
2020 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Dr. Tom Dillon, Senior Vice President SAIC (Ret.) |
| Innovative Principal Award | Dr. Eric Chagala, Principal Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA), Vista Unified School District |
| Innovative Educator Award | Glen Warren, Director of Literacies, Outreach, & Library Services Encinitas Union School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Holly McClurg, Superintendent Del Mar Union School District |
| College & Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Dr. Matt Tessier, Assistant Superintendent, Innovation & Instruction Chula Vista Elementary School District |
| Business Champion of the Year Award | USS Midway Museum |
| SDCUE Innovative TOSA of the Year | Melissa Hughes, TOSA Energy Station Chula Vista Elementary School District |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Sophia Jacoub, Teacher Santana High School, Grossmont Union High School District |
2019 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Drew Schlosberg, Advertising Relations Director The San Diego Union-Tribune |
| Innovative Principal Award | Kim Morton, Principal T.H.E. Leadership Academy, Vista Unified School District |
| Innovative Educator Award | Adina Sullivan-Marlow, K12 Educational Technology Coordinator San Marcos Unified School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Ben Churchill, Superintendent Carlsbad Unified School District |
| College & Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Megan Arias, Director of Secondary Programs Carlsbad Unified School District |
| SDCUE Innovative TOSA of the Year | Kelli Mocny, Integrated Technology TOSA Oceanside Unified School District |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Marisa Thompson, Teacher Carlsbad Unified School District |
2018 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Caroline Winn, Chief Operating Officer SDG&E |
| Innovative Principal Award | Nicola Labas, Principal Innovation Middle School, San Diego Unified School District |
| Innovative Educator Award | Dr. Erin English, Director of 21st Century Teaching & Learning Oceanside Unified School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent Cajon Valley Union School District |
| Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Richard Oka, Teacher Clairemont High School, San Diego Unified School District |
| SDCUE Innovative TOSA of the Year | Christine Dixon, Innovation Coordinator TOSA Double Peak K8 School, San Marcos Unified School District |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Charity Shepard, Teacher Double Peak K8 School, San Marcos Unified School District |
2017 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | National University |
| Innovative Principal Award | Maria Kehoe Rios Elementary Computer Science Magnet School |
| Innovative Educator Award | Dan Stoneman, Chief Innovation Officer San Diego Unified School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Justin Cunningham Bonsall Unified School District |
| Career Pathways Educator of the Year Award | Keith Nuthall, Principal Del Lago Academy, Escondido Unified School District |
| SDCUE Innovative TOSA of the Year | Heather Love-Fleck Oceanside USD |
| SDCUE Innovative Teacher of the Year | Allison Slattery Bonsall USD |
2016 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Dr. Randolph E. Ward, Superintendent of Schools San Diego County Office of Education |
| Innovative Principal Award | Laura Smith Casita Elementary School, Vista USD |
| Innovative Educator Award | Dr. Laura Spencer, Director of Educational Technology Lakeside UESD |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Jeffrey Felix Coronado USD |
| Innovative Technology Award | Co-Winner: Tom Nusser, Teacher Innovation Middle School Co-Winner: Jo-Ann Fox, M.Ed. Quantum Academy TOSA |
2015 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Thomas W. Greaves CEO & Founder of The Greaves Group |
| Innovative Principal Award | Co-Winner: Steve Bailey EmSTEAM Academy, Cajon Valley USD Co-Winner: Rick Oser Lemon Grove Academy, Sciences & Humanities, Cajon Valley USD |
| Innovative Educator Award | Jeff Heil, JCCS San Diego County Office of Education |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Timothy Baird Encinitas USD |
| Innovative Technology Award | Scott Moss, Teacher Innovation Middle School |
2014 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Dr. Paula Cordeiro, Professor & Dean School of Leadership Education Sciences (SOLES), USD |
| Innovative Educator Award | Kathy Shirley, Director in Technology and Innovation Escondido Union Elementary School District |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Devin Vodicka Vista Unified School District |
| Innovative Technology Award | Matt Baier, Director of the Center for Innovation Cathedral Catholic School |
2013 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Mac McLaughlin USS Midway Museum |
| Innovative Educator Award | Mary Kraus San Diego County Office of Education |
| Innovative Superintendent Award | Dr. Janice Cook Cajon Valley School District |
| Innovative Technology Award | Jen Roberts Point Loma High School |
2012 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Dr. Rudy Castruita, Superintendent of Schools San Diego County Office of Education |
2011 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Colleen Peterson Peterson Hill Marketing |
2010 Special Award Winners
| SPECIAL AWARD | AWARD WINNER |
| Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award | Todd W. Gutschow The Todd and Mari Gutschow Foundation |