The recognition event, hosted by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), celebrated Charlene Fried’s remarkable dedication, leadership, and contributions to education over her five-decade career. It took place at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, and to her surprise, she was on the cover of the IAOTP Magazine.
Fried’s career at Sierra Vista High School began in the 1970s, after she left her hometown of San Francisco and moved to Southern California on a whim. “I saw an opening in Baldwin Park, applied, and received a teaching position,” Fried said. “I’ve been here ever since, and I still love teaching as much as the day I started.”
At Sierra Vista, Fried teaches English Language Development (ELD) and senior English, along with other subjects she has taught throughout her career, such as health, physics, and oceanography. She works with classes blending English speakers and English learners, encouraging collaboration among students to build connections and overcome language barriers. Her classroom culture emphasizes creativity and individuality, starting with “culture bag” crafts that allow students to showcase their identities and passions.
Fried’s impact extends beyond the classroom. She motivates students to aim high, guiding them to enroll in Advanced Placement courses, apply for scholarships like Questbridge, and participate in programs like the California Teachers Association “CTA” César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards. “A lot of our students feel they can’t go on to college or do more after high school, and I want to show them that they can,” Fried explained.
Her passion for education is deeply rooted in her own learning experiences. Fried earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Public Speaking from San Francisco State University, a Master of Science in Bilingual Cross-Cultural Education and a Bilingual Cross-Cultural Specialist Credential from Pepperdine University, and credentials in Spanish from the Universities of Salamanca and Valencia in Spain. College, she said, was a time of discovery, collaboration, and creativity that shaped her teaching philosophy.
Beyond Sierra Vista, Fried also teaches at California State University, Los Angeles, and Loyola Marymount University, where she instructs courses on English Language Development, academic language, classroom management, and strategies for working with diverse student populations. Many of her former university students now teach alongside her at Sierra Vista.
Throughout her career, Fried has received numerous accolades, including recognition as the Woman Educator of the Year by California Senator Susan Rubio and the dedication of Sierra Vista’s library in her honor, now known as the Charlene Fried Library. She also won the CABE and NABE Teacher of the Year, and the CABE Corazon Award. Fried has also been published in the CABE Multilingual Educator and edSource. In 2023, she received an Upper District Water Education Grant, which led to her work with the grant being published in the Spring, 2024 CABE Multilingual Educator. Last year, she was featured in the 2023-24 Marquis Who's Who in America.
“I am who I am because of the wonderful students I have worked with in Baldwin Park and at the university level. I can humbly say that my students are the ones who have shaped my own life as a teacher. I feel the same way about everyone I work with in Baldwin Park and at Sierra Vista High School. We are truly a team. We are the teachers.” said Fried.
Looking forward, Fried plans to write a book on teaching strategies and continue mentoring new educators. Reflecting on her career, she said, “I want students to believe they can, be creative, be humble, and take chances. Education is about trying and believing you belong.”
Fried acknowledges the challenges of today’s post-pandemic classroom, noting the importance of rebuilding students’ confidence and communication skills. “There’s a lot of fear these days,” she said. “It’s crucial to teach students to think outside the box and give them the tools to create.”
When asked what still excites her after 50+ years, Fried simply said, “Seeing my students peeking through the window each morning, ready to learn. That’s what keeps me going.”
PHOTOS
Photo 1: Sierra Vista High School teacher Charlene Fried takes a photo at her classroom desk.
Photo 2: Sierra Vista High School teacher Charlene Fried takes a group photo with her students.
Photo 3: Charlene Fried covers the IAOTP magazine.
Photo 4: Photo of Charlene Fried (center) at the IAOTP Gala.