You Light the Way Awards celebrates positive impacts on special education community

On April 8, the San Juan Unified School District community gathered at El Camino Fundamental High School’s Center for the Arts to celebrate the recipients of the 36th annual You Light The Way awards ceremony.  You Light the Way celebrates outstanding individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to San Juan Unified’s special education programs.

As guests arrived, the space filled with a sense of pride and appreciation. Some attendees brought handmade signs, placing them along the front row to share messages of support and gratitude for the honorees and their commitment to making a difference in the community.

From more than 100 nominations, this year’s recipients included:

• Caeley Kelly - Special education teacher, Carmichael Elementary School

• Ed and Wendy Gonzalez - Parents and community members, Thomas Edison Language Institute 

• Keliah Owen - Student, Bella Vista High School

Following brief introductions of each honoree, a video highlighting their accomplishments and the passion behind their work was shared. The videos highlighted that, even though each honoree had a unique way of supporting their community, all three share a deep commitment to uplifting others. 

Honorees then shared a few words before accepting their award. Their reflections reinforced key themes from the evening: meaningful change begins with compassion, dedication and a genuine desire to help others thrive. 

“Even though the world can seem pretty crazy at times, I hope everybody remembers that diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice and belonging is having that voice be heard,” said Kelly as she accepted her award.

For Ed Gonzalez, supporting students means creating a sense of normalcy and belonging for every child.

“It is our goal to try to do as much as we humanly can and provide as much for all these kids, not just our own but everyone involved. (To) give them the normalcy that they deserve for just being themselves, because that's really all that matters,” he said. 

Owen, meanwhile, emphasized that a diagnosis does not define a person’s humanity or worth during her speech. 

“A disability does not change a person. A disability is just a diagnosis,” Owen said. “Even with a diagnosis, you still have a brain, you’re still a human, you still have thoughts. So by that, you should still be respected like any other human being. That’s why I strive to help people with disabilities, because everybody deserves to feel equal.”

Through their actions, this year’s honorees continue to light the way, ensuring every student feels seen, valued and supported, both in the classroom and beyond.

View the Facebook album of photos from the evening here.