The 2026–27 Teach Plus Policy Fellows Will Bring Teacher Voice to State Education Policy
QUICK FACTS
Who: 25 pre-K through 12th-grade educators
Where: Los Angeles & Southern California Coast, San Diego Region, Inland Empire & Orange County, Sacramento & Northern California, Bay Area, Central Valley & Central Coast
Focus Areas: Building on the early math diagnostic, funding and reclassification for multilingual learners, and implementation of the new governance system.
____________________
SACRAMENTO, CA, October 15, 2026—Teach Plus California has named 25 pre-K through 12th-grade teacher leaders to its 2026–27 Policy Fellowship. Over the next year, these educators will work with the California Department of Education and state policymakers as a new governor takes office in January and the state’s redesigned education governance system takes effect.
Selection into the Fellowship cohort was highly competitive. Fellows join a well-established regional network that includes California Teachers of the Year, Nationally Board Certified teachers, and a local union president. This year’s cohort features several teachers with stand-out credentials, including district and county teachers of the year, the Selene Jacobs Humanitarian Award winner, and ISTE+ASCD 20 to Watch recipients.
Teach Plus trains Policy Fellows in policy analysis, research, advocacy, and communications, including storytelling and op-ed writing, so rigorous data and firsthand classroom experience from educators reach decision makers and the public directly.
____________________
Policy focus areas:
- Improving Math Instruction and Outcomes: California adopted new math materials in 2025 and in 2028 will adopt new tools to assess every K–2 student’s math knowledge. Fellows will advocate for these to lead to real support, from strong instruction to teacher coaching, so no child falls behind before 3rd grade.
- Investment in Multilingual Learners: Emergent Bilingual policies, including the English Learner Roadmap, are often underfunded and underused. Fellows will make the case for increasing funding to turn these policies into real support for local educators and students.
- Centering Teachers in State Systems: With AB 181, California created an appointed Education Commissioner and reshaped the State Superintendent’s role. Fellows are working to make sure classroom realities shape how the new governance structure is implemented across the state.
- English Learner Reclassification Implementation: AB 2555 cuts the requirements for reclassifying English learners from four to one. Fellows are identifying what educators and families need to know so students are supported through the transition.
___________________
Perspectives from Teach Plus leadership and educators:
“Teach Plus California is rooted in the belief that when educators are trusted, supported, and given space to lead, they not only improve classrooms—they help transform schools and systems. At this moment of transition for the state education system, it is more important than ever that California’s best and brightest educators, like this cohort of Policy Fellows, are positioned to shape the lasting change our students need.”—Sarah Lillis, Teach Plus California Executive Director
“I’m excited to join a group of very passionate educators who all care about making changes not just at the classroom level, but at the state level. I look forward to working alongside them to amplify our voices and bring about the change we want to see so all students can learn.”—Tanya Mailangi, 2026-27 Teach Plus California Policy Fellow and English teacher, Foster City
“Teach Plus taught me advocacy skills that I can use for my bilingual students. I’m excited to connect with like-minded educators and continue the work.”—Frankie Avila, 2026-27 Teach Plus California Senior Policy Fellow and 4th Grade teacher, Rohnert Park
____________________
Meet the Fellows:
Los Angeles & Southern California Coast
Edgar Grajeda, Los Angeles Unified School District (Long Beach)
Jessica Hernandez, Glendale Unified School District (Glendale)
Kimesha Ogueji, Senior Policy Fellow, Lennox School District (Lennox)
Genesis Reyes Rivera, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Los Angeles)
Jocelyn Spellman, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Los Angeles)
Brandi Thibodeaux, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Los Angeles)
Sally Weltner, Animo Charter Schools (Los Angeles)
San Diego Region
Sharon Apple, San Diego Unified School District (San Diego)
Valentyna Banner, Senior Policy Fellow, San Diego Global Vision Academy (San Diego)
Ethan Kaufman, Poway Unified School District (Poway)
Cassandra Lawson, San Diego Unified School District (San Diego)
Felicity Potter, Senior Policy Fellow Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences (Escondido)
Jillian Salazar, Senior Policy Fellow, San Diego Unified School District (San Diego)
Inland Empire & Orange County
Shreshta Aiyar, Irvine Unified School District (Irvine)
Maria Gadsden, San Bernardino City Unified School District (San Bernardino)
Angela Perez, San Bernardino City Unified School District (San Bernardino)
Sacramento & Northern California
Amy Bailey, Anderson Union High School District (Anderson)
Maria Guillen, Twin Rivers Unified School District (Sacramento)
Talina Hutton, Natomas Unified School District (Sacramento)
Alejandra Rubalcaba, Oroville Union High School District (Oroville)
Bay Area, Central Valley & Central Coast
Frankie Avila, Senior Policy Fellow, Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District (Rohnert Park)
Anthony Drobnick, Modesto City High School District (Modesto)
Grace Lin-Cereghino, Lodi Unified School District (Lodi)
Tanya Mailangi, San Mateo-Foster City School District (Foster City)
Margot May, Aspire Public Schools (Oakland)
ABOUT TEACH PLUS
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. In pursuing our mission, Teach Plus is guided by our Student Opportunity Mandate: To act boldly and create the conditions where every student can imagine their future—and experience an education that delivers the opportunity to realize it. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/ca
