Educators Win 2025 YouScience Innovative Educator Awards

Winners in four states honored for innovative, aptitude-based approaches to college and career readiness.

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Four educators have been named recipients of the 2025 YouScience^® Innovative Educator Award, honoring their exceptional leadership in connecting and preparing students for successful careers through innovative and intentional use of YouScience Brightpath. The award recognizes educators who champion student-centered career exploration, skills development, and data-driven decision-making to ensure every learner connects their education to career outcomes and helps them thrive in our global economy.

The 2025 YouScience^® Innovative Educator Award winners are:

• Malinda Sommers, Career Coach, Scottsboro High School (Alabama)
• Danielle Green, CTE Business Educator, Santee Education Complex, Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
• Dr. Treesomia Walker, Former CTAE Director and Assistant Principal, Lamar County School System (Georgia)
• Candice Sears, Former Director of Instructional Services, Montgomery County Educational Service Center (Ohio)

Malinda Sommers helps students align personal goals with realistic educational pathways

Since becoming Scottsboro City Schools' career coach in 2022, Malinda Sommers has played a pivotal role in helping students understand their aptitudes and interests to chart successful postsecondary plans. Her student-first philosophy and meaningful implementation of YouScience have made her a trusted advisor and powerful advocate for student success.

"Mrs. Malinda Sommers has spent her career pouring into the lives of Scottsboro students," said Jason Hass, Interim Superintendent, Scottsboro City Schools. "Her passion and love for our kids prompted us to maximize her impact by placing her as our system's Career Coach. Mrs. Sommers uses YouScience to help our students recognize their interests and aptitudes, and help them select courses that better prepare them for a career that will provide them with lifelong fulfillment."

Highlights of Sommers' work:

• Uses YouScience as a foundation for postsecondary planning to align student goals with realistic outcomes
• Centers every conversation on individual student aptitudes, guiding them with purpose and compassion
• Brings 22 years of experience to her work, with four years serving as Career Coach

Danielle Green connects curriculum with career through innovation and equity

A celebrated educator with more than 18 years in the classroom and 20 years of service, Danielle Green teaches Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship, and serves as the Career and Technical Education Chair at Santee Education Complex in Los Angeles. She integrates YouScience into midterm assessments and instruction to bridge classroom content with industry expectations, equipping students with the tools and confidence to pursue real-world career opportunities. In addition to inspiring students, she provides outstanding leadership to her CTE colleagues ensuring they stay informed, prepared, and supported in implementing new initiatives.

"Danielle Green encompasses everything a Falcon teacher should be—a warm demander with heart, an innovator in the classroom, and a respected and admired leader," said Dr. Violeta Ruiz, Principal, Santee Education Complex. "She is a true advocate for her students and colleagues, inspiring excellence through every interaction."

Highlights of Green's work:

• Utilizes YouScience industry certifications to help students gain real world skills
• Connects curriculum to career using aptitude insights as teaching targets
• Advocates for educational equity through leadership in professional development, community engagement, and culturally responsive practices

Dr. Treesomia Walker builds a systemwide career readiness model in rural Georgia

With over 20 years of service to Lamar County, including as the former CTAE Director and Assistant Principal, Dr. Treesomia Walker led district-wide efforts to use YouScience data to shape every stage of the student experience. From mock interviews and senior capstones to counseling interventions and industry tours, she and her powerful team of two counselors built a robust model for connecting aptitude data to opportunity.

"Dr. Walker supervises our school counseling department and ensures the effective implementation of YouScience for all students," said Jake Harris, Principal, Lamar County High School. "She is innovative in every role she takes on and continues to make a meaningful impact on the students and staff of Lamar County."

Highlights of Walker's impact:

• Embeds YouScience into the district's assessment calendar and freshman orientation
• Uses data to design career fairs, field trips, mock interviews, and student support programs
• Helps students and parents use YouScience for informed college and career conversations

Candice Sears activates regional data to personalize student opportunity

When Candice Sears was Director of Instructional Services at Montgomery County ESC, she was part of a multi-department team that facilitated a regional YouScience implementation that goes far beyond assessments. MCESC partners with districts to examine YouScience data across the region, identifying patterns, gaps, and new opportunities—then builds programs to bridge students to real-world outcomes.

"What makes our YouScience implementation unique is that we don't just use the data—we activate it," said Sears. "By analyzing results across districts, we help educators personalize guidance so that every student's journey feels intentional, not incidental. It's about translating trends into pathways and possibilities."

Highlights of Sears' approach:

• Supports YouScience implementation across a multi-district region, helping schools use data to inform guidance and workforce connections
• Collaborates with educators to translate aptitude insights into personalized student experiences
• Believes every student is a "future in progress" and works to ensure opportunity is within reach

Celebrating impact-driven educators

"We are proud to honor Malinda Sommers, Danielle Green, Dr. Treesomia Walker, and Candice Sears with the 2025 YouScience Innovative Educator Award," said Edson Barton, CEO, YouScience. "These educators are true trailblazers in helping students uncover their potential and connect that potential best-fit career opportunities–building meaningful futures for every student. Their passion, creativity, and unwavering belief in their students make them shining examples of what's possible in education."

The YouScience Innovative Educator Award celebrates leaders who use YouScience to inspire career exploration, boost engagement, and expand opportunity. Nominations are accepted year-round at youscience.com/youscience-innovative-educator-award/.

About YouScience
YouScience^® is the leading education technology company dedicated to empowering individuals with the data and credentials needed to succeed in school, career, and life. Its award-winning platform, Brightpath, is the only College & Career Readiness solution built for both compliance and impact—powered by scientifically backed aptitude discovery, industry-recognized certifications, and meaningful career connections. By leveraging cutting-edge research, AI, and industry collaboration, YouScience helps individuals uncover their unique talents, validate their skills, and connect with in-demand educational and career pathways. YouScience has served more than 13,400 educational institutions and millions of users nationwide, making it the preferred choice for individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to achieve real outcomes through education and career pathways.

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