Teaching Profession Video

2021 National Teacher of the Year: Special Education Is the ‘Heartbeat’ of Schools

By Emma Patti Harris & Madeline Will — May 6, 2021 3:13

Juliana Urtubey, an elementary special education teacher in Las Vegas, is the third special educator to receive the national honor in the program’s nearly seven-decade history. Known as Ms. Earth, Urtubey has built a school garden, where she leads classes and teaches students about character and growth mindset.

Emma Patti Harris is a deputy managing editor for Education Week who oversees visuals and immersive experiences.
Madeline Will is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of school leadership and general education trends.
Related Tags:

Video

Education Funding Video Tornado Threats Are a Constant. But Funding for a Safe Room Is Lagging
A school district has waited four years and counting to begin work on a tornado shelter funded with federal dollars.
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Video How a "Reverse Career Fair" Can Launch High Schoolers Into the Real World
It flips the traditional model and allows students to set up booths to display their talents to employers.
1 min read
20260507 ReverseCareerFair EdWeek R5B 5725
Dustin Chambers for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Video Will AI Help or Overwhelm Students? Teachers Weigh In
Even as teachers across the country experiment with AI, many are skeptical of its role in classrooms, and whether it will undermine student learning.
1 min read
Artificial Intelligence Video How AI Complicates Student Well-Being. What Schools Should Know
Many kids cannot tell the difference between an AI-driven chatbot and genuine human understanding.