Raul Pedraza won Outstanding Educator of the Year in 2024 for grades 6-8 at Vallivue Middle School in Caldwell.
Named Vallivue Teacher of the Year in 2023, Raul Pedraza believes that a history curriculum is made up of many great stories. Pedraza helps Latine students connect with their cultural heritage by emphasizing the ancient Mesoamerican cultures and drawing parallels to some of his other favorite topics including George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware to the great Renaissance thinkers such as Shakespeare and Leonardo da Vinci. Pedraza highlights stories connected to the Incas that engineered Machu Piccu in Peru, the Mayas and the invention of the number zero, and the Aztecs, which allows students to make a personal/cultural connection with history while making connections with others in the room.
Raul Pedraza, center, Caldwell