2026 CCAE State Award Winner Bios

Awardee: Pedro Uribe

Central Section

Pedro Uribe is an ESL and HSD instructor at Porterville Adult School. He serves as the Past President and Legislative Action Chair on the Porterville Chapter of CCAE, and he is the Member-at-Large with CCAE Central Section. Pedro is an exceptionally versatile and committed educator. He teaches English and Spanish HiSET preparation, ESL, Citizenship Preparation, and IET courses, ensuring that adult learners have access to high-quality instruction tailored to their diverse needs. His instructional expertise, adaptability, and consistent commitment to student success make him a cornerstone of the Porterville Adult School faculty. He has taken a lead role in coordinating ESL student involvement with both the Porterville Chamber of Commerce and the Springville Chamber of Commerce, ensuring adult learners have opportunities to participate in civic and cultural events. Under his guidance, students have trained as volunteers and contributed significantly to major community events such as the Porterville Christmas Parade and the Springville Apple Festival. These experiences not only enrich the community but also strengthen students’ confidence, language development, and sense of belonging. Pedro is an exceptional teacher and a respected leader, and his contributions have made a measurable impact on the Porterville region and the field of adult education as a whole.

Awardee: Tess White

Central Section

Tess White is an ESL Teacher at Clovis Adult Education working with Advanced level ESL students and teaching conversation and pronunciation courses. Her excellence is demonstrated through her strong commitment to collaboration. Tess works closely with community programs and school initiatives to expand learning opportunities and provide additional resources for her students. Tess recognizes that adult learners often face unique barriers, including personal, cultural, and academic challenges, and she responds with compassion, individualized support, and creative problem-solving. Tess understands the emotional and personal challenges adult learners face, including balancing school with work and family responsibilities. She creates a safe space where students can ask questions without judgment, seek help at their own pace, and feel heard and valued. Her ability to wear-her-heart-on-her-sleeve allows her to connect with students on a human level, which often becomes the motivation they need to persevere and continue learning. Tess’s approach to teaching is—rooted in empathy, personalized support, and strong community connections. She sets a powerful example for other educators and strengthens the overall adult education program at Clovis. Her passion, positivity, and unwavering support for learners have made her a standout educator whose impact extends far beyond academics.

Awardee: Margarita Chavoya

​L.A. Metro Section

Margarita Chavoya is a teacher who has taught in several program areas at Abram Friedman Occupational Center. Her teaching spans parenting education—including classes for homeless fathers and adolescent parents—ESL, math for parents, and Spanish for health care professionals. She has also taught ESL for Job Corps and Spanish at East Los Angeles College. Margarita actively participates in professional development, including ESL, literacy, parenting, and technology training. She incorporates these skills into lessons on digital literacy, citizenship, and workplace communication. Her students conduct research projects on U.S. states, historical figures, and cultural landmarks—gaining critical thinking skills and technological fluency. Her core philosophy is to empower every student—regardless of their educational background—to grow academically, professionally, and personally. She also goes above and beyond to support students individually. Margarita regularly connects learners with resources such as free childcare, food banks, immigration assistance, and computer classes. She helps students who may never have attended school in their home country gain foundational reading and writing skills and gives them the confidence to pursue higher education and speak in public forums.

Awardee: Yanira Chavez

​South Coast Section

Yanira Chavez is a WIOA/CASAS Resource Teacher at Burbank Adult School. With 25+ years in adult education, she has evolved from Office Assistant to a dynamic leader, trainer, and instructor. In this capacity, she has led technology-driven assessment training for teachers and has shaped program implementation. For the past three years, she has been teaching Workplace Soft Skills and Basic Computer Skills for ESL students. In addition to teaching, Yanira is our LARAEC Point Person proudly representing the school at high-level conferences—delivering presentations known for precision, professionalism, and warmth. Yanira's excellence in teaching shines through in both her outcomes and her approach. She creates inclusive, skill-building environments where students gain not only technical knowledge but also the confidence to thrive professionally. Her instruction in their Administrative Office Assistant Training program exemplifies this impact—particularly the soft skills component, which emphasized communication, professionalism, and workplace readiness. Beyond the classroom, Yanira consistently supports students with tailored feedback, anticipates their needs, and fosters a culture of persistence and growth. Her teaching doesn't just inform—it transforms. She has been very active in CCAE as the Chapter Treasurer as well as Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and Secretary for South Coast Section.

Awardee: Kristy Ann Cota

​South Coast Section

Instructor Kristy Ann Cota leads the Norwalk La Mirada Adult School’s Child Development Program, which she launched in 2015, supporting over 1,000 students. She teaches and mentors Adult Education students, guiding them through CTC permit applications, practicum experiences, and job placement preparation. Kristy builds community partnerships, develops articulation agreements with colleges, and advises students on academic and professional growth. She embeds child abuse prevention training, supports student leadership initiatives, and provides entrepreneurship guidance for childcare business startups. As the CTE Department Chair and Mentor Teacher, she fosters student success through career coaching, guest speakers, and resources on parenting, SEL, special education, and best practices in education. As an Academic Advisor, Kristy supports both students and teachers in achieving professional development goals, empowering them to excel in their fields. She champions student leadership by guiding initiatives like food donation drives for the school pantry, fostering a culture of service and advocacy. Her commitment to child safety is evident in her integration of child abuse prevention training into coursework, equipping students with critical knowledge to protect children. Her holistic approach ensures students are not only career-ready but also empowered to be compassionate, informed professionals who positively impact their communities.

Awardee: DeeDee Ade

Southern Section

DeeDee is a highly skilled teacher specializing in US Citizenship and English as a Second Language. Over the past 23 years, she has assisted hundreds of Poway Adult School students in achieving naturalization as US citizens. She tailors her instruction to meet individual student needs, working both one-on-one and in small groups to prepare them for the challenging USCIS naturalization interview. As a long-standing member of CCAE, DeeDee actively contributes to professional development by attending conferences and sharing her expertise. For example, last year, she collaborated with three ESL colleagues to present a workshop at the CCAE Southern Section Conference in Palm Springs, titled "Nurturing Student Engagement and Retention." The workshop emphasized understanding students' needs, fostering creativity and self-efficacy, and encouraging motivation. This initiative helped educators and administrators address learning barriers and implement improved practices to create a supportive environment for student success.

Awardee: Judith Scheiber

Northern Section

Judith Schieber is the ESL Coordinator for Mt. Diablo Adult Education. She has worked in Adult Ed for over 25 years. She has extensive expertise which includes coordinating adult ESL programs and actively supporting teachers, aides, clerical staff and SIA's. She has been a crucial and indispensable representative in WASC accreditation efforts. Her work involves gathering and presenting crucial data, collaboration with evaluators, and helping shape the school's self-study report. She has demonstrated leadership in key operational areas such as payroll oversight, hiring, staff evaluations, curriculum development and grant management. Beyond our campus, Judith is actively engaged, well known, and respected within the wider Bay Area ESL education community and holds significant roles in professional organizations such as CATESOL and has been a member of CCAE for 17 years.

Awardee: Julia Rosario

L.A. Metro Section

Julia Rosario teaches CTE business courses at the Richard N. Slawson Southeast Occupational Center. Julia joined the DACE family in 1986 where she worked in the administrative offices at the Third Street Annex until 1995 when she transitioned into her teaching career and never looked back! Julia has 35 years in the classroom and has been teaching and training students for jobs as Office Managers, Office Technicians, Data Entry Clerks, Receptionists, Administrative Assistants, Accounting Clerks amongst others in her various placements. Julia’s dedication and expectations for her students is the perfect recipe for student success. She continues to grow in her pedagogy by attending professional development and embedding her learning and strategies in her classroom. Outside of her classroom hours Julia doesn't stop working. She will field calls from students and mentors to new instructors. She is supportive of CCAE in her attendance at conferences and has been a member of CCAE for 22 years. Lastly, Julia is an Elder in the Kiowa Tribe of the Great Plains.

Back to 2026 Awardees

---

Past State Awardees.

To view former State Award recipients across all categories, visit our archives.