California State University, Northridge, CA
Lesson Plan Title: Learning About Compassion & Science by Identifying & Studying Native Trees Using The Picture Book Wangari’s Trees of Peace
Daniel Huerta is currently a full-time student at CSUN, pursuing both his teaching credentials and bachelor’s degree through the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP). He has been on the path to becoming a teacher for nearly eight years. Over the years, Daniel has visited a variety of school settings and learned about different educational strategies, tools, and supports. He has worked in classrooms based in robotics, coding, environmental science, emotional intelligence, language arts, and has supported students on the autism spectrum. Additionally, he has volunteered as an advocate for environmental education in the E.A.R.T.H. club and led a Minecraft coding club at Pacoima Charter Elementary.At CSUN, Daniel has found growth through professors and peers who challenged his thinking and expanded his perspective on what it means to be a teacher. Their influence has motivated him to excel academically, resulting in a 3.8 GPA. Daniel approaches every class with dedication and effort to better the next generation. He strongly believes in the role of teachers as lifelong learners, which he exemplifies constantly in his career.
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Lesson Plan Title: Compassion
Olga Vaskova is an educator and curriculum designer currently pursuing her MSEd in Learning Sciences at Northwestern University. Passionate about helping children think deeply and independently, she designs learning experiences that nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity. Before graduate school, Olga worked extensively with children and teens, leading after-school clubs, teaching creative and critical thinking courses, and running workshops for parents and educators. Her path into education began with her own daughters, through treasure hunts, storytelling, and hands-on exploration of the world. Olga holds a Master of Laws degree, and draws on her background in law to teach logic and problem-solving. Outside of work, she loves reading, traveling, inventing games, and learning alongside her two daughters, who inspire many of her ideas.
Rocky Mount Elementary School, Marietta, GA
Lesson Plan Title
Andrew Geocaris teaches general music and choir in the Cobb County School District at Rocky Mount Elementary School in Marietta, Georgia. He provides comprehensive music education to 600 students via a hybrid classroom that combines face-to-face instruction with synchronous virtual instruction. His students study performance, composition, improvisation, musical literacy, and interdisciplinary connections. Mr. Geocaris holds a Bachelor of Arts, magne cum laude, in music education from Carthage College in Wisconsin. He received his Masters of Music in Euphonium Performance, summa cum laude, from Georgia State University. In 2017, Mr. Geocaris was recognized as the Rocky Mount Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Mr. Geocaris loves spending time with his wife, Alanna, three children, Soraya, Charlotte and Zeke, and their dog, Shadow. He also enjoys running, weight- lifting, building scale models, and is a life-long Star Trek fan!
Edward F. DeRoche, MA, MS, Ph.D. has served as a teacher, principal, public school board member, a member of two private high school boards, professor, evaluator, adviser, and dean at the University of San Diego’s School of Education. He now directs the Character Education Resource Center in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. A consultant, author, and teacher trainer, Ed has received numerous honors, including the Sanford N. McDonald Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education, USD’s Outstanding Administrator of the Year, and The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Educator of the Year Award. He is also a past president of the California Association of Teacher Educators.
Carol Phipps holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies (cum laude) and an M.A. in Bilingual Education from Cal Poly Pomona. She earned her teaching credential in 1990 and an Administrative Services Credential in 2015. Carol has over 30 years of teaching experience, including long tenures at Vejar, Gladstone, and Ekstrand Elementary Schools. She currently teaches at Ekstrand and serves as a Lead Mentor and Program Assistant with the Foothill Consortium Induction Program. Carol has lived in San Dimas for 32 years with her husband, Adam, and their four sons: Jonah, Tristan, Elijah, and Aidan. She enjoys singing, reading, writing poetry, gardening, quilting, and teaching.
Benjamin Tsao is the Principal of Tzu Chi Elementary School, where he leads with a strong commitment to academic excellence, character development, and bilingual education. With an immense passion for innovative learning and a deep respect for cultural values, Mr. Tsao works closely with teachers, families, and the broader community to create a nurturing and high-performing educational environment for students. His leadership emphasizes whole-child development, integrating mindfulness, compassion, and service into the curriculum. Drawing from years of experience in education, Mr. Tsao is dedicated to fostering the growth of the younger generation so that they can thrive academically, socially, and ethically in an ever-changing world.
We sincerely thank the Character Education Resource Center for their valuable collaboration as a partner in the Character Education Lesson Plan Competition. Their support and expertise have greatly enriched this initiative, helping us inspire future educators and promote the importance of strong character development in schools. We truly appreciate their commitment to our shared mission.
