Awards presented to this year’s honorees are displayed before the start of the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards ceremony at the Orange County Department of Education’s Conference Center in Costa Mesa. 
Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean speaks to educators and partners during the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards at OCDE. 
Colleen Dillaway, market vice president for Cox Communications, addresses guests at the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards. 
Jessica Anderson receives the award for Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator. 
Manuel “Manny” Aquino accepts the award for Outstanding Expanded Learning STEM Educator. 
Kassondra DeBoer is recognized as the Outstanding Early Childhood Educator. 
Dr. Torri Draganov receives the award for Outstanding Postsecondary STEM Educator. 
Katrina Edmunds is presented with the Outstanding Career Awareness Educator Award. 
Dr. Sabina Giakoumis accepts the award for Outstanding Leadership in STEM Education. 
Dr. Daniel Pilchman receives the Outstanding Career Awareness Educator Award. 
Dr. Al Rabanera is recognized as an Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator. 
Laurie Smith accepts the award for Outstanding Community Advocate in STEM Education. 
Torrey Thomas receives the Innovation in STEM Programming/Instruction Award. 
Kathy Whitten is recognized as an Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator. 
Award recipients, representatives from Cox Communications, local elected officials’ offices, Dr. Bean and OCDE staff gather for a group photo following the ceremony.
Quick look: Educators from schools and organizations across Orange County were celebrated during the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards for inspiring curiosity, creativity and problem-solving in students through innovative STEM instruction.
Twelve Orange County educators and partners were recognized Wednesday for their innovation, leadership and commitment to advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
The 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards brought together teachers, faculty and community organizations to highlight practices that promote curiosity and problem-solving in learning environments across the county.
Hosted in partnership with Cox Communications and the University of California, Irvine, the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards took place Nov. 19 at the Orange County Department of Education’s Conference Center in Costa Mesa, with County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean in attendance.
The annual recognition program, presented through the OC STEM Initiative, honored teachers, faculty and community partners who bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Each honoree was recognized during the ceremony and photographed at the event, which highlighted collaboration among educators and organizations promoting STEM education.
“We are privileged to be able to partner with Cox Communications and UCI to honor these outstanding educators,” Trish Walsh, OCDE’s director of Academic Content and Instructional Support, said. “The passion for STEM that they share with their students is what impacts learning most.”
Walsh noted that the honorees represent a diverse group of educators who are helping students deepen their understanding of scientific and technical subjects in meaningful ways.
The event also featured remarks from Colleen Dillaway, market vice president for Cox Communications, who emphasized the company’s longstanding support for STEM educators.
“As a company founded by a teacher, we know educators are the heartbeat of innovation in our community,” Dillaway said. “At Cox, we are proud to partner with the Orange County Department of Education to recognize these inspiring individuals who are shaping the minds that will solve tomorrow’s challenges. Their dedication to science, technology, engineering and math education is building a brighter future for Orange County and beyond.”
The honorees represent schools, colleges and organizations throughout Orange County. This year’s recipients include:
- Dr. Sabina Giakoumis, Magnolia High School, Anaheim Union High School District — Outstanding Leadership in STEM Education
- Dawn Bakker, Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy, Magnolia School District — Outstanding Leadership in STEM Education
- Dr. Al Rabanera, La Vista High School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District — Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator
- Jessica Anderson, El Modena High School, Orange Unified School District — Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator
- Kathy Whitten, Arnold Elementary School, Cypress School District — Outstanding K–12 STEM Educator
- Dr. Daniel Pilchman, Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District — Outstanding Career Awareness Educator
- Katrina Edmunds, North Orange County Regional Occupational Program — Outstanding Career Awareness Educator
- Dr. Torri Draganov, Cypress College — Outstanding Postsecondary STEM Educator
- Laurie Smith, CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County — Outstanding Community Advocate in STEM Education
- Kass DeBoer, Environmental Nature Center — Outstanding Early Childhood Educator
- Manuel “Manny” Aquino, WINGS Program, Savanna School District — Outstanding Expanded Learning STEM Educator
- Torrey Thomas, Oxford Preparatory Academy — Innovation in STEM Programming/Instruction
That focus on innovation and real-world learning was echoed by John Fox, OCDE’s program specialist for mathematics.
“On behalf of the Orange County Department of Education, Cox Communications, UCI and the OC STEM Initiative, we thank you for your passion and leadership in STEM education,” he said. “Your dedication to creating hands-on, meaningful learning experiences empowers students, strengthens our community and helps shape a brighter, more innovative future for all of Orange County.”
To learn more about OCDE’s efforts to support STEM education through hands-on learning, collaboration and innovation, visit OCDE’s STEM Education webpage.