Juliana Urtubey, was just named the 2021 National Teacher of the Year!

The honor was announced on CBS This Morning and included a surprise visit to Uturbey’s school by fellow educator and First Lady Jill Biden.

A special education teacher and learning strategist at Kermit R Booker Elementary School in Nevada, Urtubey graduated from our college in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and in 2011 with a master’s degree in special education. She also was an Erasmus Circle Scholar in the college.

Urtubey is one of only a few special education teachers ever to be recognized as the National Teacher of the Year. As a part of Urtubey’s College of Education program, she studied abroad in Puerto Rico and participated in our Verano en México summer study abroad program. She and other students in the program were instrumental in the founding of Resplandor International in Guanajuato which serves vulnerable children in rural areas.

“Juliana is an exceptional teacher-leader, and we are so proud to have her represent educators from Nevada and across the nation,” said Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert. “It is fitting that Juliana is Nevada’s first-ever National Teacher of the Year, as she exemplifies the values of equity and inclusivity that drive our collective work to support students and families.”

Urtubey's honor was recognized in media across the United States, including this story in Ed Week.

This is just more evidence that we really do graduate the best teachers!