Orange County Equality Coalition

2013 LGBTQ EQUALITY IN EDUCATION AWARDS
Honoring LGBTQ Ally Teachers and Outstanding Students

Laguna Beach, California – Oct. 2, 2013

 

The Orange County Equality Coalition’s School Compliance Taskforce hosted its annual LGBTQ Equality in Education Awards on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Simard Bilodeau Galerie in Laguna Beach.  Irvine City Councilmember Beth Krom emceed the event.

 

Receiving honors at the event were three outstanding educators who exemplify caring and respect for all students – regardless of their confirmed or perceived sexual orientation, gender identification and/or gender expression. These educators were Lisa Richardson, "2013 Elementary School Teacher of the Year" from Irvine Unified School District; Peter Neeve, "2013 Middle School Teacher of the Year" for his work in  Capistrano Unified School District; and Monique Hernandez, "2013 High School Teacher of the Year" from Anaheim Union High School District.

The "2013 OCEC Students Leadership Award" was given to Wyatt Robertson, Newport Harbor High School, and Sarai Santamaria and Valerie Paniagua, two youth leaders from The Center Orange County's Youth Empowered to Act (YETA), both received  “LGBTQ Leadership Scholarship” awards.