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2016-17: Congratulations to LVHS teacher honored at NEA Gala

Al Rabanera, a mathematics educator at La Vista High School was honored one of the five finalists for the Excellence in Teaching Award! As a finalist, Rabanera received the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence and $10,000.

 

 

Here is the video featuring Rabanera that premiered during the gala. And attached are photos from the evening, including:

 

 Group shot: (left to right)

Melissa Ladd, a fifth grade educator at Poplar Road Elementary School in Sharpsburg, Georgia;
Stephanie Johnson, a second grade educator at HB Rhame Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina;
Al Rabanera, a mathematics educator at La Vista High School in Fullerton, California; 
Gary Phoebus, President and CEO of NEA Member Benefits;
Victoria Rowell, award-winning actress, author, and activist, and gala host;
Sonia Galaviz;
Carol Bauer, a fourth grade educator at Grafton Bethel Elementary School in Yorktown, Virginia;
Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation.

 

picture of finalists

 

 

 

 

 

Stage shot (left to right):

Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation;

Kelly Stacy, Senior Vice President for Field Operations and Distribution of the Horace Mann Educator Corporation;

Al Rabanera;

Eric C. Heins, President of CTA;

 

Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, Chair of the NEA Foundation Board of Directors; 

Lily Eskelsen Garcia, President of NEA.

picture of finalists

 

For additional photos and video, you can follow @NEAFoundation on Twitter, or the event hashtag #neafgala. You can also share photos from the NEA Foundation’s Facebook album of the gala, which will be available tomorrow.

 

(For your reference, the winner of the top award — the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence and $25,000 — was Sonia Galaviz, a fifth grade educator at Garfield Elementary in Boise, Idaho. I’m happy to share the press release announcing the winner for more details if you’re interested.)