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As we reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026, we in the CU Boulder School of Education are grateful for the many moments of joy, recognition, and community this year has brought.��

Here are 25 highlights from 2025:

Centering Students

1. 2025 Commencement honored our wonderful students and major milestones, including celebrating Outstanding Graduates who were recognized for their impact in classrooms and well beyond.��

2. Doctoral students Jackie Bristol and Lex Hunter were awarded prestigious National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowships.��

3. The Scholarship Celebration gathered 200+ students, families and supporters.

4. Students launched new student-led student groups like the Bilingual Education Student Association and a club for teacher education students interested in rural education.

Celebrating Faculty and Staff Milestones

5. Amanda Haertling Thein was named dean, returning to her undergraduate alma mater and home state and beginning as dean on July 1.

6. Derek Briggs and Kevin Welner elected to National Academy of Education (NAEd), and later in the year, Welner was selected for the NAEd Board of Directors.��

7. Elizabeth Dutro was appointed the Bob and Judy Charles Endowed Chair in Education.

8. Melissa Braaten became the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Teacher Education.

9. Erin Furtak and Kalonji Nzinga received Marinus Smith Awards for their positive impact on students.��

10. Kalonji Nzinga earned the Provost’s Faculty Achievement Award, and he was featured as an “endzone innovator” this football season.

11. Ben Shear and Sara Staley received tenure.

12. Ben Shear and several local educators were honored at 2025 Best Should Teach Awards.��

13.�� We welcomed several new faculty and staff members.

Highlighting Research and Programs

14. The School of Education formed a new external advisory group call the Education Advisory Council to strengthen statewide collaboration.��

15. CU Boulder researchers led more than 80 sessions at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting in Denver.��

16. CU Boulder’s InquiryHub launched free Colorado science standards workshops.��

17. Faculty debuted new books, Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities and Queer Justice at School, at Boulder Book Store events.��

18. �ճ����Education Research Speaker Series featuring the latest research in education from CU Boulder scholars and alumni.

19. Faculty provided expert commentary on federal educational research targets and Department of Education staffing cuts and more.

20. The Online Teacher Leadership program celebrated its five‑year anniversary.��

Building Community

21. The “Wóinila: In Silence We Learn” mural by Danielle SeeWalker was unveiled in Miramontes Baca Education Building to honor Indigenous wisdom, beauty, and knowledge.

22. The 2025 Children’s Book Festival brought award‑winning authors to Boulder Public Library.��

23. Voices magazine highlighted alumni, faculty and student stories and the community impact throughline.

24. Two teachers and students in the Online Master’s in Teacher Leadership program shared the power of connection and collaboration even while studying and working in very different schools and regions.

25. Community-engaged research projects expanded focus on youth participation, building coalitions, mentor teachers, and more.

Each year brings challenges and opportunities. The School of Education centered resilience and impactful work throughout the year.�� We look forward to building on the opportunities that 2025 presented and making new memories in 2026.��