The California State University is home to a robust educator preparation program that is responsible for awarding thousands of teaching credentials each year. In fact, the CSU prepares almost half of teachers in California and 4% of teachers in the U.S. Meet a few of the alumni teachers who are changing lives in the classroom.
Arby Jean Wolkov
CSUN
Arby Jean Wolkov, 2025 California Teacher of the Year, in her classrom at William Howard Taft Charter High School. (Photo courtesy CSUN/David J. Hawkins)
Named a 2025 California Teacher of the Year, Arby Jean Wolkov found her calling teaching American Sign Language to high schoolers. At William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills, Wolkov teaches ASL 1, 2 and Honors 3, with plans to add Honors 4 next school year, as well as a leadership class for seniors. In addition, she chairs the school's World Languages Department.
From a young age, Wolkov, who also has hearing loss and grew up signing, knew she wanted to teach. Inspired by her high school ASL teachers, Wolkov decided to pursue her bachelor's in Deaf Studies and a teaching credential in Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) education from CSUN. She also earned her master's in Special Education, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education from the university—and returned later to complete her Single Subject Credential in ASL while teaching ASL at Burbank High School.
“Nowadays, a lot of teaching is about social-emotional learning, making sure that we are aware of the whole child,"
Wolkov said. “They're not just a student. They have other things going on … That's a really important job. Yes, that's another thing to put on a teacher's plate, but it helps our job to know them."
Richard Tejada
Cal State San Bernardino
Richard Tejada in his classroom at Curtis Middle School. (Photo courtesy CSUSB)
Richard Tejada grew up in an area of San Bernardino marked by higher crime and poverty rates. School became a way for him to avoid falling into trouble. While attending San Bernardino Valley College and tutoring younger students, he realized his interest in teaching—leading him to earn a bachelor's and a single-subject teaching credential in mathematics from Cal State San Bernardino.
Today, Tejada teaches math to seventh- and eighth-graders at Curtis Middle School in San Bernardino. He also serves as a demonstration teacher for the San Bernardino City Unified School District providing mentorship, resources and leadership for other teachers.
“I actually grew up five minutes from where I teach right now,"
Tejada said. “That's been the greatest part, being able to teach kids that I really identify with. I see a lot of myself in them, and that's helped me a lot as a teacher and educator, just making those connections with them."
Donja Harding
Sacramento State
Donja Harding holds her award at the Sacramento County Office of Education teacher recognition ceremony for the 2024 Sacramento County Teachers of the Year. (Photo courtesy SCOE)
After earning a bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy from Sacramento State, Donja Harding held a range of professional roles and completed a master's before returning to Sacramento State to earn a multiple subjects teaching credential. She currently teaches history and social studies for sixth through 12th grades at Leroy Green Academy, and she was named a 2024 Sacramento County Teacher of the Year for her work.
Harding recently earned her Community College Faculty Preparation Certificate through Sacramento State's College of Continuing Education and began teaching communications courses at the community college level. She also helped develop the ethnic studies curriculum for Natomas Unified School District, of which her school is part.
“Our district is one of the most diverse in the country and our teachers work hard to ensure the academic and social success of all our students,"
Harding said. “As the representative for such an elite group of educators, I feel proud and inspired to keep educating and preparing our students to effectuate positive change."
Suzanne Huerta
Cal State Fullerton
Suzanne Huerta works with a young student in the classroom at Whitaker Elementary School. (Photo courtesy Buena Park School District)
Suzanne Huerta discovered her passion for teaching while studying at Fullerton College, so she transferred to Cal State Fullerton to pursue her bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development. Now a special education teacher at Whitaker Elementary School in Buena Park, Huerta teaches math for fifth-grade students with mild to moderate disabilities. She employs instructional methods and teaching approaches that allow students to explore the mathematical problems and the process of finding a solution.
“This method gives students confidence and encourages them to solve problems that make sense,"
Huerta said. “By understanding each of my student's thinking and developmental stages, I can tailor their instruction to meet their individual needs."
For her dedication, Huerta was one of California's three finalists for the 2024 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the state's only finalist in the elementary math category.
Bridgette Donald-Blue
CSU Dominguez Hills
Bridgette Donald-Blue, a 2023 California Teacher of the Year, in her classroom at Coliseum Street Elementary. (Photo courtesy CSUDH)
Though her original plan was to become a lawyer, Bridgette Donald-Blue shifted direction after an encounter with Teach for America. During her two-year commitment with the organization, Donald-Blue was introduced to CSU Dominguez Hills's educator preparation program. Upon moving to Los Angeles and becoming a teacher at an elementary school in Compton, she enrolled in CSUDH's multiple subject teaching credential program. Afterwards, she continued on to earn an administration credential and a master's in educational administration.
Donald-Blue's teaching career has spanned more than three decades, and she now teaches K-5 mathematics at Coliseum Street Elementary in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She was recognized as a 2023 California Teacher of the Year for her service.
“The greatest joy is knowing that at the end of the day, you have served the child well and served the community well,"
Donald-Blue said.
Learn more about factors that set the CSU's educator preparation programs apart.