Event Celebrates Exceptional Teaching Through Recognition of all San Diego County District Teachers of the Year, including 13 National University Alumni
San Diego, Calif. – May 4, 2016 – In recognition of the region’s exceptional PreK-12 teachers, National University joins the San Diego Padres in honoring San Diego County teachers as the presenting partner of the Padres’ Annual Teacher Appreciation Night at their May 6 game against the New York Mets at Petco Park. Marking his first major public appearance here, recently-appointed National University President Dr. David W. Andrews will also greet teachers and throw out the game’s Honorary First Pitch.
The private, nonprofit National University has a strong tradition of educating the region’s teachers. During an on-field presentation, the Padres and National University will recognize San Diego County’s 43 newly-named District Teachers of the Year, as well as the reigning 2016 Teachers of the Year. About 30 percent of the honored teachers are graduates of National University’s Sanford College of Education – which is among the top ten largest schools of education in the country.
“National University applauds the many contributions of our region’s dedicated teachers who are transforming the lives of students in so many ways,” said Dr. David Andrews, President of National University. “We are committed to excellence in the teaching profession, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to celebrate our exceptional alumni and others who have been selected to represent the best of San Diego County.”
Dr. Andrews, who previously served as Dean of the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University, is a widely published expert on child development and education topics, including improving educational outcomes for students of diverse backgrounds.
“The Padres are pleased to join National University in celebrating and thanking San Diego County’s outstanding teachers for their dedication to the success of our students,” said Padres President and CEO Mike Dee. “Today, we also welcome newly-appointed National University President Dr. David Andrews, who has dedicated his career to supporting the professional development of teachers.”
During Friday’s game, the University and Dr. Andrews will be hosting several hundred teachers and educational leaders who are alumni of its Sanford College of Education, which is known for its commitment to quality teaching, as well as its prominence in serving a diverse student population. Over the past 20-plus years, more than 100 National University alumni throughout the state of California have been recognized as teachers of the year at the local, state and national level, and the College ranks #5 nationally in terms of numbers of total minority graduates who earn a master’s degree in education.
In addition to its teacher education programs, National University is also supporting ongoing teacher development through its role leading the national adoption of two research-based programs that address student development and achievement. The research-based programs – Sanford Inspire (PreK-12) and Sanford Harmony (PreK-6) – were initially developed at Arizona State University and are being disseminated nationally through the University’s Sanford Education Center.
About National University
Founded in 1971, National University is the second-largest private, nonprofit university in California. With 30,000 students and more than 230,000 alumni, National University is the flagship institution of the National University System. National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students. Four schools and two colleges – the College of Letters and Sciences; the Sanford College of Education; the School of Business and Management; the School of Engineering and Computing; the School of Health and Human Services; and the School of Professional Studies – offer more than 75 graduate and undergraduate degrees and 23 teacher credentials. Programs are offered at locations throughout California and across the nation, and are also available online. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California. To learn more, visit www.nu.edu.