SDSU Imperial Valley student wins Division of Education’s Student Teacher of the Year Award
Clarissa Miranda, who teaches ninth graders in Brawley, is a double alumna and is part of the Division of Education’s second largest graduating cohort.
Teaching ninth graders has been a revolutionary experience for Clarissa Miranda, SDSU Imperial Valley teaching credential student, who was named Single Subject Student Teacher of the Year for 2025 by the Division of Education.
“Entering and completing the teaching credential program has been rigorous, but it has also been so wonderful as it prepared me and my classmates for what to expect once you are in the classroom,” said Miranda.
SDSU Imperial Valley’s Division of Education recently graduated one of its largest cohorts, with 57 students completing the program this past December. Alongside Miranda, Brittney Gonzalez won the Multiple Subject Student Teacher of the Year designation, announced in December 2024.
“I am grateful and excited about the award because it felt like such a rewarding experience,” said Miranda, who was assigned to an English class at Brawley Union High School. “The program shaped me by having more resilience, patience and strategy to adapt to every classroom and take our students’ strengths as a way to connect better with them.”
Miranda earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from SDSU and later acquired her master’s degree in teaching from the University of Southern California in 2022.
An Imperial Valley native, Miranda moved out of town to begin her education, but returned to the region to enter the university’s teaching credential program as a final step to teach full time. Once she began teaching at Brawley, she said, her perspective around teaching styles changed completely.
“As a teacher with more than 150 students, it is important to learn how to adapt and embrace all of the positive things my students bring to the table,” said Miranda. “I used to have more of the ‘go by the book’ mentality, but now I feel I can be more adaptable to my students’ personalities. One teaching style may not work the same for one classroom as previous ones.”
Miranda’s journey in the teaching credential program was heavily impacted by her mentors and supervisors, she said, who guided her as she was finishing her last semester.
“My guide teachers and supervisors always supported me through all the challenges,” said Miranda. “I feel like my mentors were part of the award, since they helped me a lot and pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
For Miranda, teaching allowed her to come out of her shell and shift to a more positive, empathetic mentality. She hopes to continue teaching high school students in the future.
During its celebratory ceremony, the Division of Education announced that California Retired Teacher Association (CalRTA) Imperial Valley will award a $500 grant to two student teachers each year who are completing the program. This year, Caitlin Dion and Jonathan Dominguez were each awarded a $500 grant to further their work and contribution to the teaching profession.
The Division of Education is accepting applications for its 2025 teaching credential program up to Saturday, Feb. 1. Information about the program can be found online.
