California Forensic Science Teacher Named One of Five National Crystal Apple Award Recipients
Why It Matters
In California’s Central Valley, one educator is being recognized for the kind of classroom experience that prepares students for real careers in science and law. The Crystal Apple Award, given out by School Specialty, spotlights the teachers who go beyond the textbook — and this year, a Clovis forensic science instructor made the national list.
The honor draws attention to the growing importance of hands-on, career-focused STEM education at a time when schools across the country are working to keep students engaged and ready for the workforce.
What Happened
Erin Andrade, a forensic research and biotechnology teacher at the Center for Advanced Research and Technology in Clovis, California, has been named one of five recipients of the 2026 Crystal Apple Award. The award is presented by School Specialty, a national education supplier, and recognizes teachers for “inspiration, leadership, and passion.”
Andrade was selected from hundreds of nominations submitted from across the country. Organizers described the honorees as the “gold standard” of educators, a designation reserved for those considered “genuinely remarkable” in the classroom.
The announcement highlighted Andrade’s unique approach to teaching forensic science — one that includes setting up full crime scenes inside her classroom for students to investigate. “Some days they come in and we have a giant crime scene set up in the middle of the room that they’re in charge of investigating,” Andrade said in remarks reported by local outlets. “Right now, we’re learning how to analyze DNA evidence.”
By the Numbers
The Crystal Apple Award is given to just five teachers nationally each year, making selection highly competitive. Andrade’s prize package includes a personalized Crystal Apple trophy, a $500 certificate for classroom supplies, and an additional $250 to support school resources. She was chosen from hundreds of nominations submitted from across the United States.
Students and Parents Speak Out
Reaction from former students and parents of current students was swift and enthusiastic. “Omg she was my teacher at Cart,” former student Breana Josiah Paris wrote on Facebook. “I love her she has always been so good to her students.”
Former student Daniel Garcia added, “Great teacher. She had a lot of patience with me.” Another former pupil who took her criminal forensics class called the win “well deserved,” describing Andrade as “absolutely fantastic.”
A parent of two of Andrade’s students offered perhaps the most telling endorsement: “There are very few people like her in our educational system. She’s definitely one of a kind.”
The outpouring of community support reflects a broader hunger among parents for educators who challenge students through real-world application — not just standardized curriculum — while maintaining the individual attention that makes lasting differences in young people’s lives.
Zoom Out
Andrade’s recognition comes as STEM and career-readiness programs gain momentum in schools nationwide. Hands-on learning environments — particularly those that connect academic content to actual professional skills — have drawn increasing support from educators, parents, and lawmakers looking to better prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
California has invested significantly in career technical education programs in recent years, and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology where Andrade teaches represents exactly the kind of specialized, career-focused institution those efforts are designed to support. Her award underscores that when educators are given the freedom to teach creatively and rigorously, students respond — and parents notice.
Education advocates across the country have pointed to teachers like Andrade as models for what effective STEM instruction can look like when schools prioritize skill-building alongside traditional academics. For more on educators making an impact, see our recent coverage of community figures visiting classrooms in New York.
What’s Next
Andrade is expected to receive her personalized Crystal Apple trophy and classroom supply certificates through School Specialty’s award program. Her recognition may also boost visibility for the Center for Advanced Research and Technology’s forensic science and biotechnology offerings, potentially drawing more student interest in career-focused STEM pathways throughout the Central Valley and beyond.
School Specialty has not yet announced a public ceremony date for the 2026 honorees, but the award typically serves as a platform to elevate best practices in education nationally.