Special Award Winners

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.

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
Coronado Unified School District
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
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