Shaping the future of education

Ofelia Valdez-Yeager didn't speak English when she started elementary school. A native of Tayoltita, Durango, Mexico, she moved to the United States just before entering first grade and by the end of that school year was at the top of the class.

Valdez-Yeager '69, T.C. '71 carried that experience into her work as an educator and community leader. She and her husband Louis Yeager '69, also a career educator, shared a passion for education, serving as mentors and role models for young teachers at UC Riverside and establishing Louis E. Yeager III and Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Teacher Education Award in the School of Education Fund in 2018 to support teacher credential students.

"Their commitment to accessible, high-quality education motivated them to create the endowment, grounded in the belief that an educated society strengthens communities," said Jorge Ancona, assistant vice chancellor, alumni engagement at UCR.

Award recipients pursue teaching careers in Inland Southern California, just as Valdez-Yeager and Yeager did. She worked as a high school counseling assistant, elementary school teacher, and bilingual resource teacher, and was the first Latina elected to serve on the Riverside Unified School District Board of Education. He was a bilingual educator, teacher, and principal.

"Their support not only opens doors for our students but also affirms the power of community investment in shaping the future of education," said Joi A. Spencer, dean and professor in the UCR School of Education. "Their endowment is a lasting legacy that not only uplifts our scholars but strengthens UCR's mission to serve and empower the next generation of educators and leaders."

Susana Hernández-Reyes '24 received the Valdez-Yeager award while earning a teacher's credential and master's degree at UCR. The fund helped her develop a multi-cultural and multi-lingual library in her dual-language-emersion kindergarten classroom.

"I've been able to build a foundation for an inclusive learning environment, one where students are not only learning in two languages but also seeing their cultures and identities celebrated through books and classroom materials," she said. "This support has lessened the financial burden of being a new teacher and allowed me to focus on what truly matters - creating meaningful learning experiences for my students."

The young learners in Hernández-Reyes' classroom are now part of the couple's legacy. Known as Ofie and Ley to friends, the two proudly served their community. Valdez-Yeager, who passed away in 2024, founded the Riverside Latino Network, was a board member for numerous local organizations, and played a pivotal role in opening The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry.

"They're just the example of what one person can do, the impact that one person can have," said Ken Noller '75, T.C. '76, M.A. '84, current member and former president of UCR Alumni Association Board of Directors, and a longtime friend of the couple's. "Award recipients should know that they put heart and soul into making the community a better place, whoever gets the award should be just honored that they're following in the footsteps of Ofie and Ley."