Uppercase: Showcasing our Nation’s Best Teachers

For 23 years, Sergio de Alba, a fourth-grade teacher at R. M. Miano Elementary in Los Banos, CA, has focused on establishing a system geared toward developing achievement for our most marginalized students. He is known for his ability to create innovative lessons that allow for success.Sergio was selected as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow in Washington, D.C., a Fulbright Fellow in Colombia, a KKC Fellow in Japan, a Fund for Teachers Fellowship in Australia, and a Grosvenor

Dr. Gina Pepin holds an Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership and a MS in Reading & Literacy K-6. She is the 2023-2024 and 2018-2019 Region 1 Teacher of the Year for Michigan. Dr. Pepin teaches in a rural elementary school as a reading intervention teacher. She is involved in leadership, scholarship, and speaking opportunities across the country: family literacy workshops (Great Start Family Collaborative), K-12 mentoring & university supervision (teacher candidates), online assistant

Caryn Long is a veteran educator of 35 years with experience across all levels from K-College. Caryn’s passion is in Elementary STEM-based teaching. She is a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching recipient for the state of North Carolina and a recent inductee to the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Caryn is also an Albert Einstein Distinguished Teacher Fellowship awardee, placed at NASA Headquarters to develop education programs for Title I schools. Through that