Two School of Education alumnae have been named finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Selected from nearly 600 nominations statewide, they are among 30 educators recognized this year for the positive impact they are making in their classrooms and communities.  

Nita Sengupta (BA '09, MEd '12) is a 6th-8th grade math teacher at Salazar Elementary Bilingual Center who connects mathematics to real-world applications through socially relevant issues and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). This year, her students led a fundraising initiative supporting cleft lip surgeries for children in South America, using math skills to track progress while seeing the tangible impact of their work. 

Sara Mazhary (BA '10) is K-8 STEM teacher at Marvin Camras Children's Engineering School who created a comprehensive, human-centered curriculum that ensures accessibility for all learners. Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Engineering, she guides students in defining real-world problems while fostering ethical reasoning, creativity, and collaboration. 

Join us in celebrating their incredible work! 

Learn more HERE.