31st Annual Distinguished Educator Awards Dinner

Dr. Marquita Grenot-Scheyer is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Grenot-Scheyer serves as Chair of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and is chair-elect of the board of directors for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). She previously served as Assistant Vice Chancellor, Educator Preparation and Public School Programs, for the California State University (CSU), Office of the Chancellor from 2016 to 2021. In this role, she was responsible for leading, coordinating, and facilitating system-wide efforts to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers, counselors, and school leaders for schools and communities. Prior to this appointment, she served as Dean of the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach from 2008 to 2016. She has served as a member of the WestEd board and was a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Teacher Education Task Force (2016) on Teacher Preparation, which produced the report, Preparing teachers in today’s challenging context. She previously served two terms as a board member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), (2013-17) and served as a commissioner, on the Commission on Standards and Performance Reporting for CAEP, (2012 to 2013).

She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education in 1990 from the joint doctoral program at the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Los Angeles. In recognition of her career accomplishments, she was selected as the Distinguished Alumnus, CSULA Charter College of Education, in 2008.

Dr. Jack Scott has had an extensive career in education and public service. He is especially known for his deep commitment to advocating for educational policies that better service students and the state of California. This includes work in the California State Assembly and as a Senator. His commitment to promoting educational policy included serving as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education from 2000-2008, and he has authored 146 bills that were signed into law.

At the end of his time in the Senate, Dr. Scott served as the 14^th Chancellor of the California Community Colleges from 2009-2012. Prior to this, Dr. Scott worked at Pepperdine University, Orange Coast College, and as President of Cypress College (1978-1987), and President of Pasadena City College (1987-1995). He also served as a guest lecturer in Ed.D. courses at Cal State LA. 

In his retirement, Dr. Scott was selected as Scholar in Residence at Claremont Graduate University. He received a Ph.D. in American History from Claremont Graduate University. 

Juan Flecha recently retired as President of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA). Prior to that, Flecha served as principal for Eagle Rock High School and Thomas Jefferson High School before he took over as Administrator of Operations in Educational Service Center North, which covered 200 schools K-12 from Verdugo Hills to Woodland Hills.

Flecha earned a master’s in educational administration and a teaching credential from the College of Education at California State University, Los Angeles.   

Mr. Quoc Tran's journey in the United States began when he arrived at the age of 18, a refugee from the Vietnam war. Faced with the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language, he demonstrated remarkable resilience. His academic pursuits led him to California State University at Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. Before transitioning to the public education sector, Mr. Tran started his professional life as an Electrical Engineer, with a specialized role in monitoring air pollution in Southern California. This position honed his analytical skills, a foundation he would later leverage in his educational leadership roles. His first foray into the realm of public education was as a dedicated teacher. He began by instructing 4th and 5th graders at Ramona Elementary. This foundational experience provided him with first-hand insights into the classroom environment. He subsequently taught Math and Science at San Gabriel High School in Alhambra, broadening his perspective on secondary education. Beyond his roles in elementary and high school settings, Mr. Tran further expanded his impact by teaching master-level courses at esteemed institutions such as Whittier College and Claremont Graduate University. These experiences enriched his perspective on advanced education and contributed to his holistic understanding of the educational trajectory. Mr. Tran then transitioned into administrative roles, serving in pivotal capacities at Soledad Unified, Alisal Union, Alhambra Unified, Palm Springs Unified, and San Gabriel Unified School Districts. These roles imparted expertise in diverse areas, such as curriculum development, special education, early learning, and community engagement. In his recent tenure as Superintendent of Culver City Unified School District, he presided over a diverse PreK-12th grade student body with an ADA of 6,900 students. Under his stewardship:

• Post-COVID-19 in-person instructional programs were introduced with a focus on safety.
• Academic and socio-emotional support frameworks were enhanced.
• Trust between the Superintendent’s office and the Board was fortified.
• Communication strategies were revitalized, especially through social media.
• Key infrastructure projects, including a 2024 general obligation bond measure, were overseen.
• Fiscal strategies were optimized to ensure sustainability and revenue growth.
• Partnerships at district, state, and national levels were strengthened.
• Student-centered initiatives, such as A-G qualifications and post-graduation opportunities, were expanded.

Central to Mr. Tran's leadership is his "Students-First" approach, underpinned by a system-thinking process. This approach ensures comprehensive and cohesive decision-making, with student welfare at the forefront. Colleagues often remark on his calm demeanor and steadfast resolve when addressing challenges. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and both social and environmental justice are pillars of Mr. Tran’s leadership ethos. This commitment was evident during his tenure in Culver City, with accolades from local, state, and national colleagues serving as testament. Reflecting on his achievements and growth, Mr. Tran acknowledges the pivotal role played by California State University at Los Angeles. The institution not only provided him with academic grounding but also crucial support that shaped his career in public education.

Dr.Cheryl Ney has a B.S. in Chemistry (Arizona State University), M.S. in Chemistry (Baylor University), and Ph.D. in Biochemistry (University of Chicago). She began working at California State University, Los Angeles in 2009 and served in various high-level leadership positions on campus. Starting in 2015, Dr. Ney began serving in the role of Dean of the College of Education. She retired from this role, and her career in leadership and higher education in 2022. Dr. Ney is passionate about various areas of practice in higher education and has advocated for the supported work of linked learning, better aligning our programs with career pathways in the community, infusing technological advancements in education, and more. Among other things, she is remembered by her colleagues at Cal State LA for her love of humanoid robots to promote social-emotional learning in an educational setting. Prior to her work at the CSU, Dr. Ney served as a professor and administrator at Capital University.

The Annual Distinguished Educators Award Dinner (DeD) honors distinguished educators who demonstrate excellence, a high level of commitment, and who have made significant contributions in the community. The evening provides an opportunity to introduce others to the work of the COE and to raise funds for student scholarships, staff, and faculty professional development.
 
The COE is committed to the preparation of exceptional and caring educators, dedicated to inclusivity, student success, and the value of all individuals in our communities. As a result, COE graduates are frequently considered the best teachers, school psychologists, counselors, administrators, and leaders within their schools and communities.

We hope you enjoy this celebration of distinguished educators whose career contributions have made a lasting change and are a reflection of the historic mission of the COE.

Previous Distinguished Educator Award & Community Service Award Award Recipients

1990 through 2019

William Anton – 1990
Joseph Linscomb – 1991
Anita Suazo – 1992
Sidney A. Thompson – 1992
Stuart Gothold – 1993
Theodore Alexander, Jr. – 1993
Evangelina Stockwell – 1994
John Nagata – 1994
Robert Aguilar – 1994
Alice Petrossian – 1995
Ruben Zacarias – 1995
James Figueroa – 1996
Walfred Fassler – 1996
Dan Isaacs – 1997
Lupe Reyes – 1997
David Koch – 1998
Donald Ingwerson – 1998
Carl Cohn – 1999
Ronald Prescott – 1999
Carmella S. Franco – 2000
Lowell Milken – 2000
Maria A. Casillas – 2000
Donnalyn Jaque-Anton – 2001
Richard A. Alonzo – 2001
Maria G. Ott – 2002
Merle Price – 2002
Lilliam Leis-Castillo – 2003
Robert J. Collins – 2003
Dale Vigil – 2004
Rowena Lagrosa – 2004
Darline Robles– 2005
John Liechty – 2005
Julie Hadden – 2005
Grace Strauther – 2006
Kenneth L. Moffett – 2006
Rosemary McNutt - 2006
Renee E. Jackson – 2006
Judy Burton – 2007
Yvonne Chan – 2007
Wayne Langham - 2007
David Tokofsky – 2007
Judith Washburn – 2007
Louise K. Taylor – 2008
Lynn Andrews – 2008
Sandra Thorstenson – 2008
Antonio J. Camacho – 2009
Edwin Diaz – 2009
Lawrence Moore – 2010
Linda Del Cueto – 2010
Michelle King – 2010
Susan Parks – 2010
Cynthia Cervantes McGuire –2011
Genevieve Shepherd – 2011
Vivian Ekchian – 2011
Teresa Hughes - 2012
George Simpson – 2012
Irene Herrera-Stewart – 2012
Michelle Windmueller – 2012
Angel Barrett – 2013
Mary Falvey - 2013
Laura Tellez-Gagliano – 2013
Susan Wang – 2013
Diane Fazzi – 2014
Ei Akiko Fong - 2014
Ken Fong - 2014
Susan Kumar - 2014
Susanna Contreras Smith – 2014
Ron Carruth – 2015
Latosha Guy – 2015
Janet Fisher-Hoult - 2015
Lovelyn Marquez-Prueher – 2015
Kandice McLurkin – 2015
Sandy Suguira – 2015
Fidel Vargas – 2015
Linda Wah - 2015
Caprice Young – 2015
Shawna Draxton – 2016
Joseph Martinez – 2016
Brian McDonald – 2016
Veronica Vega – 2016
Frances Siu – 2016
Ida Chapko CSLA-FCU - 2016
Joan S. Bissell - 2017
Keith Curry - 2017
Debra Duardo - 2017
Martin Epstein - 2017
Priscilla Lizárraga - 2017
Isa-Kae Meksin - 2017
William Taylor - 2017
Joyce Wang – 2017
Anita Chu - 2018
Donna Cleman - 2018
Michelle Freridge/ Asian Youth Center - 2018
Monte E. Perez - 2018
Shirley Starke-Wallace - 2018
Linda Trevillain - 2018
Kenneth Turner - 2018 Sal Castro - 2019
Hattie Mitchell - 2019
Edward James Olmos - 2019

FAQ