Please join us for an evening of celebration and community building.
Enjoy small bites and cocktails while learning more about the critical role of mental health
in educating young people and honoring our exceptional educators and community leaders.
Parking is limited, and carpooling is highly encouraged.
Registration
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 31!
If you need any assistance, please contact linda@acknowledgealliance.org
Scholarship Tickets
We have a limited number of scholarship tickets available for educators.
Please reach out to ryan@acknowledgealliance.org to learn more.
Program
Cocktail Hour with Book Signing, Activities and Silent Auction
Keynote
Audience Q&A Session
Cleo Eulau Legacy of Resilience Honoree
Outstanding Educator of the Year
Community Hero Honoree
Keynote
Slow Urgency: How Do We Sustain Ourselves and Work From within
Unjust Systems to Create Change
Teaching is an exceptionally complex and multifaceted craft, and extends far beyond “just” teaching content and standards. Teachers mentor, counsel, hold, intervene, problem-solve, adapt, build, and repair in the midst of constant interruptions and crises. This can be especially challenging in school communities faced with poverty, violence, racism and other oppressive conditions. Yet, with the relentless pace of modern life, the allotted time educators have to get it all done is a constraint that has largely remained unchanged. As a result, many teachers are running on empty and experiencing burnout. Educator, Nonviolence Practitioner and Author, Mike Tinoco, M.Ed., will discuss how adopting a mindset of slow urgency can be a powerful act of resistance and survival. Mike will share examples and stories of how slowing down and prioritizing our own needs and wellbeing can help improve our efficacy as educators. An audience Q&A session will follow.
Mike Tinoco, M.Ed.
Educator, Nonviolence Practitioner, and Author
Mike Tinoco (M.Ed.) is an educator and nonviolence practitioner who advocates for creating classrooms and schools that center interdependence, peace, and liberation from all forms of violence. He has supported hundreds of educators, administrators, and students with developing nonviolence practices and is frequently invited to guest speak and lead trainings.
Mike is formally trained in the philosophy and methodology of Kingian Nonviolence, which follows in the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As a certified Kingian Nonviolence trainer, he has learned directly from elders who lived through the civil rights movement, applying lessons of their powerful examples of resistance to his classroom and beyond. Dr. King's vision of the Beloved Community is at the heart of Mike's teaching philosophy and practice.
Mike is also a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. NVC is a consciousness practice, dialogic model, and worldview that seeks to enrich life. By practicing empathy, attending to needs, and disrupting harmful systems and life-alienating patterns of behavior, NVC helps us strengthen the quality of connection within ourselves and with each other. Mike’s teaching philosophy and practice are deeply grounded in NVC principles.
He recently released his first book, Heart at the Center: An Educator's Guide to Sustaining Love, Hope, and Community Through Nonviolence Pedagogy (Routledge 2025), which explores a holistic approach to nonviolence in teaching and learning spaces.
Cleo Eulau Legacy of Resilience Honoree: Jean Hamilton
Jean Hamilton, LMFT
Resilience Consultant
Jean received a B.S. in American Literature from DePauw University in Greencastle Indiana, a M.A. from San Francisco State in Special Education, and a M.S. with a Special Major in Dance/ Movement Therapy and Clinical Counseling from Cal. State University, East Bay. She has been licensed for over forty years as a Marriage and Family Therapist, has worked as a clinician at Family Service of the Mid-Peninsula, Miramonte Mental Health, and for Santa Clara County Mental Health. She has a private practice in Palo Alto where she sees adults, some children and adolescents and families. She has been a Clinical Supervisor and a Resilience Consultant for over 20 years, working in the Redwood City School District and Sunnyvale School District. Jean is a member of the Board of Directors of One East Palo Alto and on the Advisory Board of the Foundation for a College Education. These organizations, along with her work at Acknowledge Alliance, combine her commitment to working for social change in the areas of mental health and education.
Outstanding Educator of the Year
Graham Middle School’s
Sebastian A. Benavidez III
Principal
Mr. Sebastian A. Benavidez III is a dedicated educational leader with a deep commitment to student success and community engagement. A proud native of Fresno, California, where he was raised by his parents, Ben and Gloria Benavidez, who instilled in him the values of perseverance and community service.
Mr. Benavidez began his academic journey at Fresno City College, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from California State University, Fresno, all while working full-time as a mechanical plumber. His passion for education led him to further his studies, earning a Master’s degree in Education from National University and an administrative credential from California State University, Fresno.
As the principal of Isaac Newton Graham Middle School, Mr. Benavidez is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive school environment where all students feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. His leadership is deeply influenced by his personal experiences as a student, particularly by the guidance of his freshman English teacher, Mrs. Sydney Kellas, who recognized his potential and helped him overcome social-emotional challenges. Inspired by her impact, he dedicated his career to ensuring that every student receives the encouragement and support they need to succeed.
Beyond his role as an educator, Mr. Benavidez is a proud father of six sons, three of whom are military veterans, and a devoted grandfather to six grandchildren. His family remains his greatest source of inspiration, shaping his approach to leadership and reinforcing his belief in the power of education to transform lives.
Mr. Benavidez’s dedication to education has been recognized by Acknowledge Alliance, which honored him with the Educator of the Year Award. He proudly dedicates this achievement to Mrs. Kellas and to all educators who see the immense potential in their students and work tirelessly to help them realize it.
Under his leadership, Graham Middle School continues to thrive as a place where students are encouraged to dream big, work hard, and embrace their unique potential.
Community Hero Honoree: Superintendent Michael Gallagher
Superintendent Dr. Michael Gallagher
Sunnyvale School District
Michael Gallagher has been committed to equity through service in the public schools of Santa Clara County for more than 35 years, as a high school English teacher, counselor, associate principal, middle school principal, and as a district-level leader. He came to Sunnyvale School District in May of 2009 as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and later Deputy Superintendent. For the past five years, he has served as Superintendent.
As Superintendent, Michael led the district community in the development of the first six-year Strategic Plan and the first multi-year Facilities Master Plan in many years. Under his leadership, the District also passed a $214 million facilities bond measure with over 72% community support and a renewal of the district’s parcel tax with over 80% community support. He is particularly proud of the Sunnyvale Promise: “Every student is known by name, strength, and need, ready to excel in high school and beyond, and to lead a life of joy and purpose.” This statement of commitment to our youth grew from the strategic planning process and captures his vision for public education.
Michael has been a leader in the movement to understand the social-emotional dimensions of teaching and learning and culturally responsive teaching practices. He has partnered with Acknowledge Alliance to create innovative employee support systems including on-campus resilience consultants and support groups focused on building teacher resilience. He is a widely recognized expert in the areas of social-emotional learning and interest-based bargaining.
He also serves on the Board of Sunnyvale Community Services and is a member of Sunnyvale Rotary, and he is a past president for both organizations. He is an advisory board member for the Center for Reaching and Teaching the Whole Child. He is an adjunct faculty member for San José State University’s Educational Doctorate program and for Santa Clara University’s Master of Arts in Educational Administration program.
Gallagher and his husband, Jason Chan, are both lifelong residents of the South Bay, are avid San José Earthquakes fans, and are deeply committed to empowering the area’s youth.
Event Partners
“Blooming Hope” Diamond Sponsor
“Nourishing Community” Platinum Sponsor
“Growing Resilience” Gold Sponsor
“Planting Empathy” Silver Sponsor
Contact ryan@acknowledgealliance.org to learn more about available sponsorship opportunities.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations prior to April 16, 2025 will be refunded minus any applicable processing fees. Any refunds requested after this date will not be guaranteed. Please contact linda@acknowledgealliance.org if you need to cancel.