August 2025
Doctoral alum Christopher 鈥淢ike鈥� Johnson was named president of the University of West Georgia effective Aug. 1. Johnson served as chief of staff to UH System Chancellor and UH President Renu Khator and earned his Ph.D. in higher education leadership and policy studies in 2024.
Steven Hernandez, who earned an M.Ed. in administration and supervision in 2025, won 2024-25 Teacher of the Year from Meadow Wood Elementary in Spring Branch ISD. Hernandez teaches first grade at the school.
Doctoral alum Cashuna 鈥淪hun鈥� Huddleston was elected to serve as president-elect of the American Psychological Association鈥檚 Division 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women) for 2025-26; she will assume the role of president the following year. Huddleston earned a earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology in 2015 and founded New Way Psychological Services in Houston, where she currently works as a licensed psychologist.
July 2025
Diego Benitez, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2024, won 2024-25 Rookie Teacher of the Year from Golbow Elementary in Katy ISD. Benitez teaches fifth-grade math and science at the school.
June 2025
Leonora (Lora) Kaldaras, an assistant professor in the teaching and learning program, has been named a 2025 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. As part of the prestigious fellowship, Kaldaras will participate in professional development retreats and receive mentorship to support her research on AI-assisted learning.
Kregg Cuellar, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2011, has been named Spring ISD interim superintendent as of June 2. Cuellar, who has 20 years of experience in public education, most recently served as chief of academics and school leadership for the district.
Alyssa Gutierrez, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2024, was named the 2024-25 Rising Star Teacher of the Year at Channelview ISD鈥檚 Anthony Aguirre Junior High. Gutierrez teaches seventh-grade social studies at the school.
May 2025
Savannah Moffitt, a participant in the UH Alternative Certification Program for Teachers, won Rookie Teacher of the Year from Alvin Junior High School in Alvin ISD. Moffitt teaches sixth grade science at the school.
April 2025
Two faculty members earned UH Teaching Excellence Awards for 2024-25: Clinical Professor Heather Domjan (recognized in the instructional/clinical category) and Clinical Associate Professor Anne Katz (recognized for community engagement).
March 2025
Anthony Encarnacion, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2024, won the 2025 District Rookie Teacher of the Year Award from Fort Bend ISD and the Rookie Teacher of the Year from his school, Sullivan Elementary, where he teaches special education.
February 2025
Carolina Quinones, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2020, won Teacher of the Year at the School of Science and Technology - The Woodlands, where she teaches fifth-grade English, language arts and reading.
Alumna and current M.Ed. student Jacqueline Martinez was awarded Teacher of the Year from Wilson Elementary in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Martinez, who鈥檚 pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in administration and supervision, teaches first grade at the school. She earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2021.
January 2025
Alex Botelho, who earned an M.Ed. in special populations in 2024 and a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2022, has been named 2024-25 Campus Teacher of the Year at Carter Academy in Aldine ISD. Botelho, who teaches elementary music won Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2022-23.
Salma Yousef, who earned an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction in 2023 and a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2020, won ESL Teacher of the Year from Holley Elementary School in Fort Bend ISD. Yousef teaches third-grade reading, writing and social studies at the school.