Undergraduate Students

Meet Esperanza Zárate, a passionate bilingual educator and the 2026 School of Education Outstanding Graduate

Ichigo Takikawa — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:53:55 +0000

Meet Esperanza Zárate, a passionate bilingual educator and the 2026 School of Education Outstanding Graduate Ichigo Takikawa Fri, 04/24/2026 - 11:53

Esperanza Zárate always liked working with kids—from coaching summer soccer camps to volunteering at local elementary schools. Now graduating with her elementary education degree, she is ready to continue this passion through her own classroom.

Zárate, who received the School of Education Outstanding Contributions to Leadership in Education award and Outstanding Overall Undergraduate award, attributes her success at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder to finding her community through friends and family.

“Being one of the eight people of color in my program, it felt isolating at times,” said Zárate. “The impact that being around people who genuinely want to see you succeed and want to support you is amazing.”

For Zárate, a critical lesson she learned was the importance of advocating for herself and her community.

As an undergraduate, Zárate launched �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s new chapter of the Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO), a national organization with chapters across the country. While students in the elementary education program learn about bilingual education in their coursework and earn an endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, she noticed the need for a space where future teachers could connect and reflect together.

Students in BESO are committed to advancing bilingual education, supporting emergent bilingual students and connecting with the local community through events. For the last two years, the BESO group has participated in the Dia del Niño community event hosted by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Last year, they helped kids construct their own alebrijes and shared where the tradition comes from. This year, helped kids visually portray their own identities as constellations.

“[Esperanza] embraces a holistic view of bilingualism, recognizing students’ diverse language repertoires and lived experiences as assets in the classroom,” said Katie Leigh, director of elementary education and one of her award nominators.

“In her work with emergent bilingual students and their families, she models this asset-based stance by affirming students’ identities and nurturing their potential in ways that reflect the same vision she advances through her leadership of BESO.”

After graduation, Zárate will bring her knowledge and passion to a dual language school in Edgewater, Colorado as a sixth grade teacher and teach the Spanish component classroom.

In her own words

1) Please tell us a bit about yourself:

I am from Lakewood, Colorado. I am very family-oriented, so being close to home influenced part of my decision to go to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. I have worked with kids for a long time: I was part of a club in high school where we would visit our nearby elementary school and build relationships with young students and I coach soccer camps every summer for third to fifth graders. Children are the most interesting, intelligent, curious and caring people—working with them is so rewarding.

2) What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter of your life?

The importance of advocating for myself and my community.

3) What does graduating from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder represent for you or your family/community?

Being one of the eight people of color in my program, it felt isolating at times. But finding support in my community through friends and family is what got me to this point. I am proud of everything that I have accomplished, and I know I have made my family proud too.

4) What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

Find your community! The impact that being around people who genuinely want to see you succeed and want to support you is amazing!

5) What are your next steps after graduation?

I will be working at a dual language school (Edgewater Elementary) as a sixth grade teacher and teach the Spanish component classroom.

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Meet Alyssa Shappee, a future high school science teacher ready to step into the unknown

Isabella Del Barco — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:58:34 +0000

Meet Alyssa Shappee, a future high school science teacher ready to step into the unknown Isabella Del Barco Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:58

Isabella Del Barco

“I was drawn to the School of Education because of its emphasis on equity, hands-on learning and preparing teachers to build meaningful relationships with their students,” said Shappee, the 2026 School of Education Outstanding Contribution to Teaching award recipient.

“Through classroom observations, lesson planning artifacts and mentor feedback, Shappee has demonstrated a strong commitment to equity- and justice- seeking science teaching, reflective practice and engaging students in scientific practices to figure out scientific ideas," said Will Lindsay, associate teaching professor and Shappee's award nominator.

She is now more than ready to begin her teaching career, and carry those experiences with her in her future classroom.

“Alyssa is an exceptional preservice science teacher whose instruction consistently engages students in meaningful scientific sense-making,” said Lindsay.

Shappee found that success isn't about having a perfect plan, but rather it is about showing up, taking chances and learning to trust in yourself.

“It’s okay to not have everything figured out, and sometimes the best growth happens when you step into the unknown,” Shappee said.

“There were times where I felt uncertain or out of place, but leaning into those moments, being curious, and trying anyway often led to the experience that mattered most.”

She hopes to carry those lessons of curiosity, resilience and embracing uncertainty as she begins teaching high school science in the fall. She is also excited to begin coaching a high school dance team.

In her own words

Please tell us a bit about yourself

I grew up in Colorado, so I was fortunate enough to know the reputation �鶹��Ѱ��has for a strong sense of community, and how beautiful the campus is. I came into college knowing I was passionate about science, but it was through my experiences at �鶹��Ѱ��that I realized I wanted to pursue education. I was really drawn to the School of Education because of its emphasis on equity, hands-on learning, and preparing teachers to build meaningful relationships with their students, values that have shaped the kind of educator I hope to be.

What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter of your life?

One of the most significant lessons I’ll carry with me from my time at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is that it’s okay to not have everything figured out, and sometimes the best growth happens when you step into the unknown. There were times where I felt uncertain or out of place, but leaning into those moments, being curious, and trying anyway often led to the experiences that mattered most. �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder taught me that success isn’t just about having a perfect plan; it’s about showing up, taking chances, and learning to trust yourself along the way. Those lessons about resilience, curiosity, and embracing uncertainty, are the ones I’ll carry with me into whatever comes next.

What does graduating from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder represent for you or your family/community?

To me, graduating from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder represents stepping into a new chapter with confidence and purpose. My time here challenged me in ways I didn’t always expect and helped me grow into someone ready to make an impact in my classroom and community.

This moment is just as much my family’s as it is mine, because their love, encouragement, and sacrifices made this journey possible, and graduating feels like a celebration of all we’ve accomplished!

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

Be open to new opportunities! Try new things, talk to new people, join that random club, go to that event, even if it’s a little scary. Some of the best experiences, the ones that stick with you and teach you who you really are, come from the moments you didn’t expect at all. Never underestimate the power of simply being willing to try!

What are your next steps after graduation?

After graduation, I am excited to begin my career teaching high school science in the fall. Beyond the classroom, I will also be coaching a high school dance team! I can’t wait to connect with my students and create a classroom where they feel supported and challenged. I’m also looking forward to contributing to the school community and continuing to learn as an educator and from my colleagues.

Alyssa Shappee came into college with one big thing in mind: that she was passionate about science. However, it was through the many experiences that she went through at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder where she realized that she wanted to pursue education. “I was drawn to the School of Education because of its emphasis on equity, hands-on learning and preparing teachers to build meaningful relationships with their students,” said Shappee, the 2026 School of Education Outstanding Contribution to Teaching award recipient.

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Meet Jinjae Han, a future teacher who brings authenticity, vulnerability, an asset-based mindset and joy to her communities

Isabella Del Barco — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:36:11 +0000

Meet Jinjae Han, a future teacher who brings authenticity, vulnerability, an asset-based mindset and joy to her communities Isabella Del Barco Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:36

Isabella Del Barco

Growing up in Aurora, Colorado, Jinjae Han had originally decided on �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder because she wanted to stay close to my family. Now, Han is grateful to have picked Boulder.

As a senior in high school, Han wasn't sure on what she wanted to do. At CU, she ended up switching majors into Middle and High School Teaching. After a conversation with her mother, she was reminded of her career of choice as a kid: wanting to be a teacher.

Han, the 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Community Engagement award recipient, is now student teaching. At her school, she quickly built strong relationships with her students and has numerous opportunities to learn.

“She recognized the importance of seeing students as whole humans with lives and communities outside of the school, which meant paying attention to and being aware of how ICE raids were directly and indirectly impacting her students’ lives,” said Ashley Cartun, director of secondary humanities, associate teaching professor and award nominator for Han.

“She also embodies commitments to justice and equity in her approaches to curriculum and pedagogy. For example, she designed a unit for her students that was explicitly designed to incorporate primary sources of African Americans to question dominant narratives about Reconstruction in the United States. Those who are lucky enough to enter Jinjae’s orbit get to experience the authenticity, vulnerability, asset-based mindset and joy she brings to her communities. ”

Han enjoys growing interdisciplinary connections and during her time at CU, she regularly attended extracurricular ethnic studies events on campus and engaged with communities outside of �鶹��Ѱ��to grow and learn.

Currently for her Practitioner Inquiry Project project, Han is investigating how cultivating peer-to-peer relationships contributes to a caring and democratic classroom community. She hopes she can find a teaching job either in a middle or high school.

Han's advice for students and fellow future teachers? “Don't let perfectionism keep you from enjoying the experience of learning.”

In her own words

Please tell us a bit about yourself

I am from Aurora, CO and I decided on �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder because I wanted to stay close to my family. However, I am so grateful to have picked CU. Initially, as a senior in high school I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, and eventually I switched from the major I applied for and decided to pursue teaching. When I talked to my mom about it she told me that when I was little I used to say I wanted to be a teacher.

What is one of the most significant lessons from your time at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder that you’ll carry with you into the next chapter of your life?

In some ways, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has taught me more about other people than it has about any sort of curriculum. I am so grateful for having met so many lovely people here. I am also grateful to have learned how to better interact with and be a safe person for students. College gives opportunities for so many different kinds of human connection, and my time at �鶹��Ѱ��has really shown me what to prioritize.

What does graduating from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder represent for you or your family/community?

Honestly my mom deserves this degree almost more than me. I could have never done this without her unwavering support and reassurances. I love her so much and am grateful for her. Additionally, I am Asian American and can say that I have only ever had one teacher that looked like me. In my experiences at �鶹��Ѱ��this has been reinforced by the fact that I am one of a handful of students of color in the program.

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

Don't let perfectionism keep you from enjoying the experience of learning.

What are your next steps after graduation?

I would really love a teaching job somewhere, either in middle or high school.

Growing up in Aurora, Colorado, Jinjae Han had originally decided on �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder because she wanted to stay close to my family. Now, Han is grateful to have picked Boulder. Han is the 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Community Engagement award recipient.

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