The Palisades Fire was a tragedy that tore through the Santa Monica Mountains, leaving devastation in its wake. Among the countless losses were schools like Marquez Elementary, which became a smoking ruin, displacing teachers and students alike. But in the midst of destruction, a story of resilience emerged. Xochitl Becerra, a Cotsen Mentor at Castle […]
The buzz was electric at the Spring CUE 2025 Conference in Palm Springs from March 20 – 22, where thousands of educators gathered to transform teaching and learning. Among them were over 200 Cotsen Principals, Mentors, and Fellows, all united by a shared passion for using technology to help students succeed. They dove into everything […]
Cotsen alumnus have exclusive access to transformative professional development opportunities. Our Alumni Conference Grants covers conference registration, airfare, and accommodation for events like: NCTE/NCTM Joint Conference (Summer 2024) Harvard Family Engagement Institute (Summer 2024) Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy NCTE Annual Convention: “Heart, Hope, Humanity” (November 2024, Boston) CUE Conference (March 2025, Palm Springs) […]
At Hermosa Drive Elementary in Fullerton School District, math class is no longer a dreaded subject—it’s a celebration of creativity and fun. Inspired by a workshop on joyful learning, Cotsen mentor Kyle Ruiz and her fellows have revolutionized the school’s approach to mathematics education. From googly-eyed staplers to vibrant murals, the school environment now […]
As we step into a new year, we are reminded of both the strength and the vulnerability of our community. The recent devastating fires in the Los Angeles region have deeply impacted our neighborhoods, with the heartbreaking loss of schools, homes, businesses, and places of worship leaving a profound void in our community while reminding […]
On February 22nd, the Telesis Academy of Science and Math buzzed with energy and excitement as the venue for the 2025 Empowered Learning Conference. The event drew a dynamic mix of Cotsen alumni, current fellows, mentors, administrators, and a diverse group of educators from various schools and districts with the theme of “Fostering Joy, Innovation, […]
The fall 2024 edition of our newsletter, Cotsen Connect, explores several professional growth opportunities that our Foundation was honored to provide to hundreds of current and alumni educators over the summer and early fall. It also highlights a few upcoming events that we hope many of you will attend. As I reflected on these opportunities, […]
The Cotsen Foundation is excited to welcome the Class of 2026! This year, we are proud to expand our network with the addition of schools from seven districts, including two new charter schools and a fresh partnership with East Whittier City School District. We look forward to collaborating with these exceptional educators. New Schools […]
The 19th Annual ART of TEACHING Conference brought together more than 500 educators at the Long Beach Convention Center on September 14th. The Conference drew together a stellar group of presenters who inspired attendees with their diverse perspectives on education, equity, and literacy. Keynote Speaker Dr. Carla Shalaby delivered a thought-provoking address on education as […]
We are thrilled to announce that on August 1st, 2024, the United States Library of Congress in Washington D.C. selected the Cotsen Foundation as a 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program Successful Practice Honoree. The Foundation received a prestigious $10,000 award in recognition of its outstanding work in promoting literacy through innovative and effective […]