Frances Cruz-Serrano and students

Frances Cruz-Serrano, who has served as Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ International Family Involvement Specialist, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Educator of the Year Award given by the Anne Arundel County Office of Hispanic/Latino and Multicultural Resources,

Cruz-Serrano has worked for Anne Arundel since 2015, serving in a variety of capacities. In each of them, she has worked to facilitate communication with and provide resources for international families.

“Receiving this award is not just a personal honor, but a recognition of the collective effort and dedication of our team, which works tirelessly to bridge the gap between our international families and the educational system,” Cruz-Serrano said. “Every day, we strive to ensure that every family feels valued, understood, and empowered to support their children's academic journey. This is essential not only for their success but for the enrichment of our entire community.”

For the last several years, she has coordinated the school system’s International Parent and Community Leadership Academy (IPCLA). The IPCLA is aimed at improving communication between the school system and international families as well as diversifying the pool of leaders in schools and the community who can better support the academic achievement of international students and English Language Learners.

Cruz-Serrano will receive her award at the Anne Arundel County Hispanic Heritage Awards Ceremony on October 10.