Chapman University’s Attallah College of Educational Studies is celebrating Dorcas Hoi, IES ’18, MACI ’19, and Marina Ballesteros, MA ’19, who were named 2026 Teachers of the Year by Orange Unified School District.
Hoi teaches middle school math and AVID at Yorba Middle School. Her path to the classroom began in Chapman’s undergraduate program and continued through the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, where advising, coursework, and a year-long student teaching experience helped her enter the profession feeling prepared.
A math methods course changed how Hoi viewed the subject and ultimately inspired her to become a math teacher. “It helped me see math as a subject centered on reasoning, problem-solving and building confidence, and it ultimately set me on the path to becoming a math teacher,” she said.
She also credits Dean Roxanne Greitz Miller and Professor Quaylan Allen with encouraging her to become a thoughtful and reflective educator. In her classroom, Hoi hopes students learn to see themselves as capable problem solvers and critical thinkers who can approach challenges with confidence.
Ballesteros teaches sixth grade at Fletcher Mandarin Language & GATE Academy, where she serves as the English counterpart teacher in the Mandarin Dual Immersion Program. She entered the program without previous teaching experience and said Attallah College’s fieldwork and student teaching opportunities helped her develop confidence as a new educator.
Reflecting on her Attallah College cohort, Ballesteros said, “I think the cohort model was essential in our success. We were able to support each other during our time at Chapman and beyond.”
As an undergraduate student, Dean Miller’s Writing for Educators course also helped Ballesteros learn to communicate effectively with parents, families, administrators, colleagues and the broader community. Today, she works to ensure that every student in her classroom feels supported and experiences the satisfaction of setting and achieving a goal.
Hoi and Ballesteros each recently completed an administrative credential, strengthening their understanding of school systems while keeping their career possibilities open.
Their advice to Attallah College’s newest graduates reflects the experiences that have shaped their careers. Hoi encourages graduates to invest in their relationships and treat others with kindness, encouragement and gratitude. Ballesteros encourages future educators to remain proactive, consider substitute teaching to gain experience, and trust that the right opportunity will come.
