Gunston Teachers Win National Music & Geography Awards

Dr. Jesse Williams, chorus teacher and choral director at Gunston Middle School, advanced as a quarterfinalist for the 2027 Grammy Music Educator Award. The Recording Academy selected Williams from 202 music educators nationwide chosen from more than 2,100 nominations across 36 states.

Alex Valen, an 8th grade world geography teacher and social studies lead at Gunston, joined the 2026 National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship. Valen is one of 36 educators across North America selected for the program, which includes field-based expeditions aboard National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions vessels to destinations worldwide. Valen plans to bring the experiences back to Gunston classrooms.