About / Bio
About Alejandro
“My mission is to empower students, support teachers, and build schools that reflect the brilliance of our kids.”
Dr. Alejandro Diasgranados is an award-winning educator, national speaker, and tireless advocate for educational equity. A proud native of Prince George’s County, Maryland, Alejandro began his career in education with a simple goal: to be the teacher he never had — especially for Black and brown boys who often don’t see themselves reflected in the classroom. Today, he teaches second and third grade at Seaton Elementary School in Washington, D.C., where he continues his work of building joyful, inclusive classrooms rooted in love, purpose, and possibility.
With over a decade of experience in education, Alejandro has built a reputation for connecting schools with their surrounding communities and creating learning environments where all students feel seen, heard, and valued.
Alejandro has received numerous awards, including the following:
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2021 DC Teacher of the Year
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National University Teacher of the Year
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Johns Hopkins Outstanding Recent Graduate Award
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Alliance for a Healthier Generation Latino Health Champion
My Story
I didn’t always know I wanted to be a teacher. I was a student-athlete at Virginia State University, majoring in Health Science, with plans to pursue physical therapy. But after college, I found myself working as a substitute teacher in Holyoke, Massachusetts — and everything changed. I saw students who reminded me of myself, navigating systems that weren’t built with them in mind. I realized then that my calling wasn’t to help athletes recover — it was to help young people rise.
In 2015, I joined Teach For America and returned to Washington, D.C. to begin teaching at Aiton Elementary School (later renamed Whitlock). I wanted to show my students that they mattered, that their voices mattered, and that their dreams deserved investment. While teaching full-time, I earned my Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University — and my students attended my graduation ceremony in caps and gowns of their own.
Over the years, I’ve worked to bring the community into our schools and the school into the community. I partnered with the Washington Commanders to build a laundry center for families, organized a winter coat drive with NHL player Devante Smith-Pelly, and led an initiative to secure 265 laptops for students — with the help of The Drew Barrymore Show.
Recognition
In 2021, I was named the D.C. Teacher of the Year and selected as one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year. That same year, I received the National University Teacher of the Year Award live on national television and was featured in People Magazine as one of its “People of the Year.” I’ve had the honor of sharing my students’ stories on the Today Show, ABC News, and in conversations with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona.
No matter the platform, my message stays the same: representation matters. Relationships matter. And every child deserves a school that sees their full humanity.
Let’s Connect
I speak across the country with educators, students, and school leaders about equity, experiential learning, and what it means to truly serve. If you’d like to bring this message to your school, district, or organization — [contact me here].