Coordinator, Val Verde USD Teacher Residency at Alder GSE

Rae Dunn serves as the Coordinator of Teacher Residency in the Val Verde Unified School District, where she is passionate about preparing and supporting the next generation of exceptional educators. Now in her 30th year in education, Rae is a recovering high school English teacher whose career has included classroom teaching, instructional coaching, new teacher support, professional learning, and district leadership.

Throughout her career, Rae has championed initiatives that expand access, opportunity, and success for all students—work she now brings to preparing and supporting teachers. She has partnered extensively with county office of education organizations and educational leaders to advance college and career readiness, financial literacy, ethnic studies, literacy and regional efforts that helped shape California’s FAFSA graduation requirement. A frequent presenter and collaborator, Rae is committed to building systems that empower both educators and students. She is also a contributing author to 100 No-Nonsense Things That ALL Administrators Should STOP Doing.

Although her work now focuses on developing and supporting educators, Rae still loves spending time with students and serves as a high school cheer coach in Val Verde USD. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Riverside, and her teaching credential and master’s degree in Educational Administration from Chapman University. She believes that great teachers change lives, leadership is rooted in service, ALL means ALL, and there can never be enough glitter.