Join us for an evening of celebration and community building.
Savor small bites and wine as we explore ways to empower youth to thrive, and honor our outstanding educators and community leaders.
Registration
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 17!
If you need any assistance, please contact linda@acknowledgealliance.org
Scholarship Tickets
We have a limited number of scholarship tickets available for educators.
Please reach out to ryan@acknowledgealliance.org to learn more.
Program
Cocktail Hour
Panel Discussion: “Building Communities of Belonging and Access Where Youth Thrive”
Teacher of the Year Honoree
Principal of the Year Honoree
Outstanding Educational Leadership Honoree
Panel Discussion
Building Communities of Belonging and Access Where Youth Thrive
In these challenging times, young people are experiencing unprecedented levels of adversity - from housing instability, uncertainty around immigration status and economic security to struggling with identity, isolation, and the lasting impacts of unresolved trauma. Despite these realities, we continue to see how resilience can be cultivated when youth are surrounded by compassion, opportunity, and trust. This panel discussion will highlight the power of positive adult relationships in young people’s lives, along with proven strategies that foster belonging, expand access to critical supports, and create safe spaces where youth feel seen and valued. Panelists will share insights on what is working, lessons learned from the field, and how each of us can play a role in building communities where all youth have the support they need to heal, grow, and thrive as they navigate today’s complex challenges.
Moderated by Tracy Lyons, LMFT
Resilience Consultation Program Director, Acknowledge Alliance
Tracy Lyons (she/her) earned her BFA in theater arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her MA in counseling psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto. Her professional training and background includes school counseling in elementary, middle, and high school, parenting and psychoeducation groups for pregnant and parenting teens, Mindful Schools curriculum training, and Hakomi somatic psychology training. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, Tracy is genuinely curious about the different relationships and systems impacting individual and community well being. Understanding the profound impact of strengths-based work, Tracy leverages trust building with a focus on what’s working rather than what’s wrong as the foundation for lasting and substantial change. She brings this perspective to her work at Acknowledge Alliance, where she is committed to fostering inclusive school communities in her work as a Resilience Consultant, an SEL facilitator, and now as Program Director.
Dr. Candice Arora
Co-founder, The Arora Collective
Dr. Candice Arora is an educator and leader with over 20 years of experience supporting youth and families navigating adversity and change. As Co-Founder of The Arora Collective, Candice partners closely with nonprofits, schools, and community-based organizations to develop values-aligned leadership, translate community voices into strategy, and build systems that support belonging, access, and long-term sustainability. She is especially passionate about the role of positive adult relationships in healing and resilience, and about creating brave spaces where young people and the adults who serve them can show up authentically. Candice holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership, with research centered on social-emotional learning, and brings a rare blend of lived experience, deep empathy, and professional expertise to her work. She believes that when adults lead with intention, humility, and care, learning environments and communities can become places where all youth feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Leo DelToro
Director of Drop-in Center, Bill Wilson Center
Bio Coming Soon!
Teacher of the Year
Mariel Joseline Islas Lopez Mooraj, M.Ed.
Social Studies, Columbia Middle School
Mariel Joseline Islas Lopez Mooraj is a proud undocumented immigrant and 7th grade social studies teacher. She earned a Bachelor's degree in History with a minor in Black Studies at UC Santa Barbara and a Masters in Education at Stanford University. She grew up in Jalisco, Mexico and at the age of five migrated to the United States, finding community in the southbay area of Los Angeles.
At UCSB, Mariel Joseline found her voice as a student organizer, learning firsthand the power of community-building and collective resistance in the face of systemic marginalization and erasure of vulnerable communities. Those experiences deepened her belief that history is not something that happens to people — it is something people make together.
Her passion for history stems from listening to her great-grandfather’s testimonies as a Bracero worker. This began a life long passion for understanding and analysing history. As an educator, Mariel is credited with creating an inclusive classroom where students are openly engaging in challenging dialogue and critical thinking. Her students’ confidence and healthy sense of identity within their respective communities is proof of the transformative space her classroom provides. Mariel Joseline has one goal in mind for her students: they are part of history and their stories matter.
Principal of the Year
Patricia Alcocer
Principal, Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School
Patricia Alcocer was born and raised in the small agricultural town of Live Oak, California. As a first-generation college graduate, she began her higher education journey at Butte College before earning her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Spanish from CSU Chico. She later received her Bilingual Teaching Credential (BCLAD), solidifying her commitment to bilingual education and serving multilingual communities.
During her undergraduate years, Patricia worked closely with Migrant Education, providing academic support and summer instruction to students before they left to follow the harvest season. She also worked with California Mini-Corp, supporting migrant students in classrooms and advocating for equitable educational opportunities. These early experiences deeply shaped her passion for serving diverse communities and reinforced her belief in education as a tool for empowerment.
Patricia’s entire career has been rooted in Spanish Immersion education. She began teaching kindergarten in Vacaville, later moved to Woodland, and ultimately found her professional home in Redwood City at Adelante Spanish Immersion School. The majority of her 17 years in the classroom were spent teaching fourth grade, where she cultivated a love for upper elementary learners and academic rigor in two languages. When Adelante merged with Selby Lane, she proudly continued her work as part of the Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion community.
In the 2021–2022 school year, Patricia stepped into the role of Vice Principal, and this year she assumed the role of Principal. She remains deeply committed to bilingualism, biliteracy, and building inclusive school communities where every child and family feels seen, valued, and empowered. Her dedication to social-emotional learning and whole-child development has been recognized by Acknowledge Alliance, where she was nominated for the Principal of the Year Award for championing student and staff well-being and for bringing Project Resilience into classrooms to support the Adelante Selby community.
Outstanding Educational Leadership Honoree
Terri W. Kemper
Director of Preschool Program, Mountain View Whisman School District
Terri Wallace Kemper’s career in early education began during her undergraduate studies when she worked part-time as an instructional assistant in a Montessori preschool program. This experience sparked her interest in working with children in educational settings. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UC Davis, she spent a few years working as a nanny and as a Director in a school-age afterschool care program. When Terri joined the Mountain View Whisman School District (MVWSD) as a preschool teacher, she had no idea it would mark the start of a multi-decade journey. She quickly found a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment in serving students and families in a state-subsidized preschool program.
While working as a teacher at MVWSD, Terri completed a Master’s Degree in Child Development at San Jose State University. She then transitioned into administrative roles within the preschool program, initially serving as both a co-director and a part-time teacher, and later as the preschool's Director. Committed to continuous learning, she earned an additional Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education and participated in the California Fellowship for Leaders in Early Care, Learning, and Health, sponsored by Rockwood Leadership and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Terri’s advocacy efforts for children in the community include serving on the City of San Jose’s Library and Early Education Commission and multiple terms on the Local Early Education Planning Council (LPC). She draws inspiration from MVWSD Preschool’s children and families and is dedicated to providing access to high-quality early learning and resources for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
MVWSD Preschool sites consistently achieve the highest ratings in Santa Clara County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), have received a California School Board Golden Bell Award, and have been recognized by the Inclusion Collaborative for their exemplary inclusive practices. Terri feels both humbled and honored to receive a leadership award from Acknowledge Alliance, viewing it as the culmination of collaborative efforts with her dynamic and devoted teammates within the preschool program over the past 30 years. She is grateful for all she has learned during her tenure at the preschool program and for how the experience has helped her grow personally and professionally.
Event Partners
“Blooming Hope” Platinum Sponsor
“Planting Empathy” Bronze Sponsor
Contact ryan@acknowledgealliance.org to learn more about available sponsorship opportunities.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations prior to April 15, 2026 will be refunded minus any applicable processing fees. Any refunds requested after this date will not be guaranteed. Please contact linda@acknowledgealliance.org if you need to cancel.