Aurora Public Schools is proud to present the Superintendent's Powering Potential Award! Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr. is honoring the extraordinary teachers, paraeducators and support staff members who go above and beyond to help every student and colleague thrive. These honorees exemplify the core values of our Destination APS strategic plan. Each recipient embodies what it means to power potential, reminding us that our greatest strength as a district lies in the people who make learning possible every day.
We’re proud to spotlight the latest Superintendent's Powering Potential Award recipients!
Horacio Borja Durán | District Translator
Horacio demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation and a deep commitment to equity for multilingual families. In his role as district translator, he has strengthened the Central Language Services Office’s system by developing efficient translation processes that improve quality and save significant resources. By introducing AI and computer-assisted tools, Horacio has helped the district save approximately $182,000 this year, allowing more funds to support students in the classroom. Horacio’s productivity and dedication are exceptional. In October 2025, he both translated and coordinated the translation of more than 60 documents, totaling over 480,000 words. This work required deep technical skill, careful project management and consistent quality control. Managing a volume of this size in a single month reflects the level of output that many districts plan for across an entire school year. He also supports after-hour incident response communication and is reliable whenever urgent needs arise for families. His work ensures that every parent has clear access to information and a meaningful voice in their child’s education. Horacio consistently demonstrates initiative by identifying problems, creating solutions and elevating the quality and efficiency of our services. His forward thinking and commitment to equitable access make him an outstanding example of excellence, service and inclusion in action.
Ana García | Clerk & Family Liaison, William Smith High School
Ana exemplifies what a clerk does at William Smith High School. She supports all members of the 9th grade academy team, from teachers to paras to SEA to counselors. She is extremely organized and is able to manage tasks easily. Ana attends to every individual student, while also holding them accountable. In turn, students show respect and follow her directions. A great example is her support with students who had failed a class in the first quarter. Ana stepped up and supported these students by pulling them into the office and making them complete their work with integrity. Her support in 9th grade exemplifies the work William Smith staff are doing, resulting in the highest 9th grade on-track data across the five large high schools in the district. She celebrates students, is the first one to call home when students are absent, does home visits weekly and is the glue to the William Smith team.
Tiffani Mabray | Autism Teacher, Jewell Elementary School
Jewell Elementary is incredibly fortunate to have Tiffani Mabray leading the Autism (ASD) center-based program. Tiffani is an exemplary educator with over 10 years of experience working in center-based classrooms. Her dedication to our district is so strong that after moving to Texas, she enthusiastically returned to Aurora Public Schools because she considers it her favorite district. In the 2024-2025 school year, Tiffani took on the challenge of successfully opening the ASD program at Jewell, creating a nurturing and effective learning environment for our students. She is an unwavering advocate for her students, tirelessly working to ensure they receive the education and support they deserve. No matter what challenges arise, Tiffani maintains a relentless focus on what is best for the students. Her passion extends beyond her own classroom, as she continually advocates for all ASD programs and the needs of both the teachers and students within those programs. We are so proud to have Tiffani Mabray on the Jewell team, demonstrating commitment and excellence every day.
Keep the love going, APS staff! Nominate a barrier breaker for the next Powering Potential Award!