Jul 14, 2026

2025-26 Extra Mile Award: Top 1% of Academy Hours Earned

With nearly 7,000 teachers participating in the NGPF Academy in the 25-26 year, graduating with Summa Cum Laude status for hours earned in the NGPF Academy is no easy feat. Who worked their way to the top 1% of the 2025-26 class?

This impressive list of 70 teachers completed a combined total of over 9,201 hours of professional development during the 2025-26 NGPF Academy Year! 

This includes one-hour live NGPF Virtual PD sessions, one-hour NGPF On-Demand modules, 10-hour NGPF Certification Courses, Saturday conferences, and in-person FinCamps. 

The NGPF Academy recognizes educators who participate in NGPF professional development. Teachers earn achievements as their credit hours accumulate. You are automatically enrolled in the NGPF Academy when you participate in any of our PD offerings.

 

Congratulations to the following teachers for their active participation in NGPF professional development, placing them in the top 1% of NGPF Academy hours earned.

 

Every educator listed here completed 101 or more hours of PD in the 25-26 year.

Valedictorian goes to Carrem Duque of Valley High School in Nevada, who leads with 236 PD hours.

Salutatorian goes to Heidi Arbuckle from Lied Stem Academy Middle School in Nevada with 221 PD hours. 

 

Annette Harvison Greene County High School (MS)
Ariette Escobar Stroudsburg HS (PA)
Aubrey Burns Larry A. Ryle High School (KY)
Autumn Kizerian Saville Anthony MS (NV)
Brad Van Slyke Basic Academy of Int'l Studies HS (NV)
Bradley Gajeski Pulaski High (WI)
Brian Petula State Correctional Institution at Dallas (PA)
Briana Franklin Crispus Attucks High School (IN)
Cheryl Waggle Orange High School (OH)
Cindy Schultz Start High School (OH)
Claire Romzek Lied STEM Academy MS (NV)
Cristine Letada Edwards Elbert ES (NV)
David DeLia Hancock Doris ES (NV)
Derek Bardell, EdD, CNP Delgado Community College (LA)
Dr. Valerie Jackson Beaufort High (SC)
Elizabeth Browe Whitefish Township School (MI)
Elliott Jimenez Bluffton-Harrison Middle School (IN)
Gail Hardman McFarland Middle School (WA)
Gretchen Sarrazolla Tri-Cities Prep (WA)
Heather Clarkson West Side Leadership Academy (IN)
Heather VanRheenen Agoura High (CA)
Honor Furtek Kensington Creative & Performing Arts HS (PA)
Jamie Shields Lavergne High School (TN)
Jamie Snellings Mancos High School (CO)
Jason Liptow Lighthouse Academy Eagle Village (MI)
Jeffrey Jenson Cocoa High School (FL)
Jennifer Ciarcia James Hillhouse High School (CT)
Jennifer Griffin Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School (NY)
Jennifer Lorenzo Nyack Senior High School (NY)
Jessica Recio The Pathway School (PA)
JonniQue Dale Jersey City Public Schools (NJ)
Josefina Cid Stanford Teacher Education Program (CA)
Joselito Duque Valley HS (NV)
Joshua Wladkowski Manchester Essex Regional High School (MA)
Kathie LaManna North Kingstown Sr. High (RI)
Kathleen Sorenson Manson High School (WA)
Kaylee Roether Dwight Common School (IL)
Khalid Eljabari Western HS (NV)
Kimberly Devoll Tri-Valley High School (OH)
Kimberly Pennacchio NV Learning Academy J-SHS (NV)
Kyle Anderson Clark Ed W HS (NV)
Lauren Woodcock Manchester Essex Regional High School (MA)
Leonita Herrera Cimarron-Memorial HS (NV)
Lesa Bame Mound Street Academy (OH)
Lidia Lopez Sunrise Mountain HS (NV)
Lisa Olson MCF-Red Wing Maginnis High School (MN)
Liz Chalanick Skaneateles Senior High School (NY)
Matt Stark Herron High School (IN)
Michael Kuennen Findlay Clifford O MS (NV)
Michele Vaughn All Saints Episcopal School (TX)
Mike Nelson Norwalk High School (CT)
Myleene Ruiz Galloway Fay ES (NV)
Nellie Calayag Galloway Fay ES (NV)
Raquel Aguilar Desert Oasis High (Continuation) (CA)
Robert Washington Jr. Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy Charter School (NY)
Salah Borji New Century School (MN)
Sebastian Vallejo International (International)
Shawn Brigham Garland Independent School District (TX)
Sheila Krajcir West Haven High School (CT)
Stephanie Moore Palisades Charter High (CA)
Stephanie Phelix Belle Forest Community School (TN)
Steven Buford Del Sol Academy of Performing Arts HS (NV)
Steven Smilk Marple Newtown SHS (PA)
Suzanne Walter Kohler High (WI)
Tammy Haugen Pardeeville High (WI)
Vasanthi Nanjundan Hampton County High School (SC)
Vicki Neja Smith J D MS (NV)
Zoraida Wright Daniel Jenkins Academy (SC)

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.

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