Alex Diasgranados, a teacher at Aiton Elementary School in Washington, DC, was overwhelmed with emotion when he was surprised on The Drew Barrymore Show with the prestigious National University 2021 Teacher of the Year honor and a $50,000 check.
Diasgranados has been working with his students since 2015, developing strong relationships with them and inspiring them. Of his pupils, he said, “They really inspire me and keep me going every single day.” His dedication and commitment to teaching have been recognized with numerous awards. Last year, he received the $10,000 Sanford Teacher Award and was also named DC’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, which comes with a cash prize of $7,500.
On his appearance on the show, Alex shared his advocacy to provide better digital access to students, especially during the pandemic. He was in for an even bigger surprise when Barrymore presented him with 265 laptop computers for teachers and students at his school.
Dr. Michael Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System, then announced that Alex had been chosen as the National University 2021 Teacher of the Year. In addition to the award, he will receive the $50,000 cheque and a full scholarship
