When it comes to celebrating the teachers and students who are shaping the future, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union doesn’t mess around. The credit union recently teamed up with the Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF) to recognize some of San Diego County’s brightest stars at the 23rd Annual Innovation in Education Awards on May 14.
Think of it as the Oscars for education—minus the red carpet, but with way more STEM grants.
This year’s ceremony put the spotlight on seven Special Award winners, five STEAM Grant recipients, and 14 AVID STEM scholars. These high-achieving graduates are heading off to pursue STEM degrees, armed with ambition and some serious brainpower. The event also distributed $25,000 in STEAM grants to programs across multiple school districts, including Poway Unified, Escondido Union, and Fallbrook Union High School District.
“For more than two decades, the Classroom of the Future Foundation has celebrated the visionary work happening in San Diego County schools,” said Josh Smith, vice president of school and community relations at SchoolsFirst FCU. “Partnering on this event allows us to support programs that expand learning opportunities and help students thrive.”
Meet the 2026 Special Award Winners
These educators, teams, and organizations went above and beyond to drive educational innovation and help students succeed. Here’s who took home the honors:
- Todd W. Gutschow Visionary & Outstanding Leadership Award: Bruce Braciszewski, Ph.D.
- Innovative District Team Award: Escondido Union School District Expanded Learning Team
- Innovative School Award: Ivy High School, Fallbrook Union High School District
- Pathways Team Award: Borrego Springs Unified School District Team
- CFF D.R.E.A.M.S. Team Award: Poway OnStage
- Business Team Award: California Schools VEBA
- Community Team Award: Project Next
Bottom line? San Diego County’s educators are doing incredible work, and events like this make sure their efforts don’t go unnoticed. Here’s to another year of innovation, inspiration, and investing in the next generation.