Mireya Jimenez ’94 named CABE’s 2025 Teacher of the Year for her decades of inspiring bilingual students.
Mireya Jimenez accepts the 2025 Teacher of the Year award at the CABE Awards event.
“Schools like Pomona are committed to having bright students, regardless of financial circumstance — I’m living proof of that,” Jimenez says.
During an entry-level Spanish Literature course at Pomona College, Mireya Jimenez ’94 discovered her true calling: to become a teacher. She grew up speaking Spanish at home and was proud of her first language. But when her first Spanish paper was returned to her covered in red ink, her confidence was shaken.
Despite having grown up speaking Spanish, it became clear that she had not been taught the rich, formal Spanish because all of her institutional education had been in English. That realization sparked a deep desire to teach young students not just the Spanish language, but Latino cultures, as well. Today, she is named California Association for Bilingual Education’s (CABE) 2025 Teacher of the Year, for her decades-long teaching career, which has inspired generations of bilingual students.
Born in the San Fernando Valley and raised in Palm Springs, California, Jimenez was the first in her family born in the United States. She attended Pomona as a first-generation student, receiving a comprehensive financial aid package which included grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities, making it possible for her family to afford the cost of attendance. Eager to experience more of the diverse, rich Latino culture, an additional scholarship gave her the chance to study abroad in Chile. Jimenez says she often tells her own students not to let the expense of college keep them from applying.
“Schools like Pomona are committed to having bright students, regardless of financial circumstance,” she says. “I’m living proof of that.”
While at Pomona, Jimenez was determined to study Latin American Studies, a major the College didn’t offer at the time. Undeterred, she petitioned for the major to be approved and ultimately earned that degree — blazing a trail for future Sagehens. She’s proud that the College introduced the Latin American Studies major the next year under the leadership of Emeritus Professor of History and Chicana/o Latina/o Studies Miguel Tinker Salas.
“The Latin American Studies major enriches the Pomona community by offering students a profound understanding of one of the world's most dynamic regions — equipping future leaders in public policy, law, business, education and beyond,” says April Mayes, associate dean of the College, Warren Day Professor of History and coordinator of Latin American studies. “We are incredibly proud of the impact Mireya has had not just on the landscape of Pomona, but on the next generation of young thinkers.”
This foundation led Jimenez to land her dream job immediately after graduation: teaching in Pomona Unified School District’s Dual Language Immersion program, which supports elementary, middle and high school students whose first language is Spanish, as well as elementary students learning Spanish as a second language.
For more than 30 years, Jimenez has done just that. Her work in this program has had a lasting impact, earning her the title of California's 2025 Bilingual Teacher of the Year. This prestigious honor is awarded to outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence in bilingual teaching and a strong commitment to the success of English learners across the state. “It was a true honor to be recognized for what I have devoted my life to,” she says.
For Jimenez, the award recognized more than her own professional achievements. This year, one of her sixth-grade students won CABE’s statewide bilingual writing contest. The recognition was especially meaningful because the winner is the daughter of one of Jimenez’s very first group of students — a testament to her enduring influence across generations.
“I was more excited for my student’s award and getting to see how far she had come,” Jimenez says.
As part of her award, Jimenez earned a three-week scholarship to travel to Spain this summer, where she’ll continue to immerse herself in the language and culture she has dedicated her life to teaching.
“Little did I know when I came to Pomona College, I would have created this life that I am so proud of,” she says. “I hope my story serves as a reminder that if you have a dream and the support of those who believe in you, anything is possible.”
Gifts to the Pomona Annual Fund support scholarships, grants and study away programs, making transformative education experiences like Mireya Jimenez’s possible. Visit our website or call 909-607-6096 to make a gift today.