Outstanding
Pandemic Teaching
Awards

This award recognizes outstanding teaching during difficult times

Check out the winners!

20 teachers were selected from the over 200 teachers who were nominated

Congratulations to the Winners of the OPT Award!

About the OPTs

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The OPT Awards

CSUN faculty and alumnae have put together these awards to honor the excellent work of many of our best educators.

Want to up your teaching game? Check out these education MA programs: Secondary Education, Elementary Education, Special Education,

Our Criteria

The OPT award focuses on two main criteria for outstanding teachers

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Effective online instruction

Teaching that provides opportunities for students to develop their skills and knowledge

  • Student-centered inquiry
  • Collaborative learning
  • Student discourse and language development

Advocating for students

The pandemic affects students in many ways. Teachers need to adapt and be assertive to support them.

  • Being supportive and flexible with students' situations
  • Creating accessible instruction
  • Being relentless in engaging students in learning

Our Team

The team that developed the OPT Awards and will review submissions.

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Brian Foley

CSUN Professor, Educational Technology Masters Program (EdTechMA) Coordinator
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Jake Chipps

CSUN Adjunct Faculy and High School Teacher and EdTechMA Alum
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Jenn Wolfe

CSUN Assistant Professor
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Bryant Cooper

High School Teacher, CSUN Teacher in Residence and EdTechMA Alum
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Cat Gaspard

CSUN Associate Professor
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Joshua Einhorn

Grants Officer, Michael D. Eisner College of Education
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Alicia Ruvalcaba

Pathways in Education Teacher and and EdTechMA Alum
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George Reyes

Magnet Coordinator at the Laurel Cinematic Arts and Creative Technologies Magnet and EdTechMA Alum
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Erica Angelo

Compass Charter Teacher and EdTechMA Alum.
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Maria Yniguez

Coordinator, Chandler Elementary School
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Chris McLemore

CSUN Adjunct Faculty, Middle School Teacher and EdTechMA alum
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Ariana Gomez

Elementary School Teacher, Muay Thai fighter, and EdTechMA Alum

Presenting the OPT Awards

Congratualtions to the 20 winners of the OPT Award and 24 Honorable Mention teachers

Awardees

    Miguel Lopez

  • Balboa Gifted/High-Ability Magnet Elementary School
  • 5th Grade Teacher
  • "He works endless hours beyond the school day to plan, implement innovative ways to keep students engaged."

    Anna Murillo Roughton

  • Math Science and Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High School
  • Biology Teacher
  • "She has been a leader in providing additional resources to support online instruction to her colleagues."

    Armenui Amy Manasarian

  • Sierra Madre Middle School
  • Social Studies Teacher
  • “We get to do a project; we played Kahoot!; she does TikToks; she makes it fun.”

    Rosie Huerta

  • Bryson Avenue Elementary Magnet School
  • 2nd Grade Teacher
  • "She posts engaging and fun assignments for her students which keep them excited about coming to class!"

    Gladys De La Torre

  • Vinedale College Preparatory Academy
  • Special Education Teacher
  • "She has been meeting with students via Zoom and Google Classroom to ensure students stay connected."

    Sherell Lanoix

  • 32nd Street Performing Arts Magnet
  • 4th Grade Teacher
  • "Students answer questions assertively and in complete sentences and that is thanks to Ms. Lanoix and her skillful art of teaching!"

    Angela Chavez

  • Vena Elementary & Gifted Magnet
  • 5th Grade Teacher
  • "Her students are engaged in practical, real world situations and they are encouraged to figure out solutions that will impact society."

    Tricia Kalma

  • Porter Ranch Community School
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • "She is an amazing teacher and her kids are eager to get on zoom every day!"

    Annie Matthews

  • Providence High School
  • English Teacher
  • "She is a masterful classroom and online teacher."

    Robin Keith

  • Calahan Street Elementary
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • "She has learned how to use technology platforms that she was completely unfamiliar with and has mastered them."

    Javier Landazuri

  • Heliotrope Avenue Elementary School
  • 5th Grade Teacher
  • "He has been wonderful with getting his students using Google Classroom as part of their technology routine."

    Beth Berry

  • ICEF View Park Preparatory High School
  • Mathematics Teacher
  • "I've never met someone who is so energetic and actively engaged with her students!"

    Ivannia Nolasco

  • Northridge Middle School
  • 6th Grade English/History Teacher
  • "She has continually demonstrated her ability to engage students in a well-organized collaborative lesson activities."

    Rebecca Goldsmith

  • North Valley Military Institute College Preparatory Academy
  • Physical Education & History Teacher
  • "When I am having trouble with something I know I can rely on her and email her and she will get back to me right away."

    Jennifer Lopez

  • PUC Community Charter Elementary School
  • 5th Grade Teacher
  • "Always keeping up the amazing energy even during this difficult time. She is incredible!"

    Brenda Recinos

  • Robert Fulton College Preparatory: Communication Arts & Music Magnet
  • 6th Grade Teacher
  • "You can feel her compassion for her students through the screen! I know her students would think so too."

    Michael Yeung

  • Calabasas High School
  • Mathematics/Robotics Teacher
  • "He is teaching the entire district along with students on how to transition to technology using Zoom, Google Classroom, and various other forms of learning."

    Patricia Francisco

  • Panorama High School
  • Arts Media Entertainment Teacher
  • "[She] created a series of inspirational videos demonstrating various styles of performance."

    Brandy Nguyen

  • Porter Ranch Community School
  • 4th Grade Teacher
  • "She takes time individually with each student to make sure they know she cares about them."

    Gabriel Monge

  • Luther Burbank Middle School
  • English Teacher
  • "He finds ways to make the current learning situation fun and interactive. My son looks forward to seeing him in their Zoom classroom."

Teachers Deserving Honorable Mention

Sydney Snyder

CHIME Charter

Akiko Arevalo

Marquez Charter School

Monica Sada

Camellia Avenue Elementary School

Genecis Suarez Gaona

Multicultural Learning Center

Yisel Meza

Chandler Elementary

Ailette Bright

Burbank Boulevard Elementary

Jaime Choi

Chandler Elementary

Claudia Corbera

Sylvan Park Elementary

Lisa Martinez

Porter Ranch Community School

Nancy Madrid

Vinedale College Preparatory Academy

Debra Meltzer

Hoover St. Elementary School

Garry Joseph

The Alta Vista School

Julie Shute

Porter Ranch Community School

Erin Sopapunta

Francis Polytechnic High School

Stacy Angela Medina

Canoga Park High School

Stacy Angela Medina

Canoga Park High School

Joy Apostal

Linda Marquez High School

Dayanara Byrne

Francis Polytechnic High School

Gabriela Mancilla-Angulo

Maywood Center for Enriched Studies

Michael Ng

King/Drew Medical Magnet

Michael Dang

Southeast MS DREAMS Magnet

Melanie Ronning

Madison Middle School

Susan Hollenbaugh

Granada Hills Charter High School

Congratulations on your Excellent Teaching During the Pandemic!

Nominating a Teacher for OPT

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Do you know an outstanding pandemic teacher?

Teachers can self-nominate or be nominated by students, parents, administrators or other teachers are welcome to nominate them. To nominate a teacher, simply submit their name, school and email on the form linked below.

  • Nominations are now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.
  • Go to the Nomination form
  • We contact nominees and invite them to submit an application.
  • Submissions need to be complete by May 27.

Submitting Documentation

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Submission is Easy

Teachers can submit their information by filling out the application form. Just tell us about your teaching during the pandemic.

  • Go to the Application form (copy link)
  • Complete the form with information about your instruction.
  • Include screen shots, examples of assignments or student work.
  • Please remove any text or images that identify students.
  • Share the document with us (learningnet@csun.edu) to submit your application by May 27th (deadline extended).

Frequently Ask Questions

What is the deadline for submitting for the OPT

All submissions must be in by May 27, 2020, 11:59pm (deadline extended).

What teachers are eligible for this award?

All Los Angeles area teachers who teach grades K-12 are eligible; this includes teachers at public, private, and charter schools.

Do you need to be in Los Angeles to apply?

The focus of this award are the teachers in the Los Angeles area. But we encourage great teaching anywhere. We will consider submissions from other areas.

What can teachers win?

Winning teachers will recieve a certificate as well as a $50 gift cards donated by Target (we are open to further donations!)

How will submissions be evaluated?

The general criteria for evaluating submissions is posted above.criteria.

Are CSUN students eligible?

Any teachers are able to apply except for anyone on or related to the evaluation team. Student teachers could submit with their mentors as a team.

Will the winning teachers share their secrets?

One of our goals of doing this is to identify the experts amoung us. It will be up to the winners to decided what to share, but we will encourage them and provide a platform for sharing their great work.

Do teachers need to complete all parts of the submission form?

No. Great teaching comes in many different types. We created the form to provide opportunities for teachers to share the good work they are doing. But not every teacher will be doing all the things mentioned on the form.

More Questions?

Ask us a question and we will post the response.contact us

Contact Us

California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. 91330

818 677 4005

learningnet@csun.edu