Michael Hernandez's Professional Record, Credentials, and Statement
This page answers questions about Michael Hernandez’s professional record, conduct, credentials, employment history, and facts about his work.
Who is Michael Hernandez?
Michael Hernandez is an award-winning teacher, author, and speaker in Los Angeles. He is the author of Storytelling With Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity (ISTE 2024) and the Uncheatable Assessments course, workshops, and framework. He was a high school teacher at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach Unified for 26 years, starting in 1999, when he founded the school’s Media Arts department.
Michael was named a Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year in 2015, a rigorous process which involved being nominated by a colleague and being confirmed by the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Directors. In 2014 Michael was named the National Broadcast Journalism Adviser of the Year by the Journalism Education association. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Digital Innovator, and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow.
What is Michael Hernandez’s professional record?
In 2019, a student publication published an article with claims about his work. A thorough investigation by the school district found that no complaint in the piece written by students was substantiated, and no disciplinary action was taken. Michael returned to the classroom where he continued to teach high school students at Mira Costa High School for another seven years, where he remained a teacher in good standing. During this time, his students continued to win national recognition, and acceptances to top film and journalism universities. In 2021, Hernandez was recognized as a Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. Michael Hernandez continues to maintain a California Teaching Credential in good standing.
Hernandez chaperones students at the National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C.
Hernandez designs and leads digital storytelling trips for students and teachers to countries like Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala.
What is Michael Hernandez known for?
Michael Hernandez is known for innovative teaching and learning strategies, project-based learning, and implementing student-centered learning experiences focused on digital and civic literacy. He keynotes conferences, leads workshops for educators, and presents at conferences around the world.
For years, he has led students on multi-day field trips across the U.S. to attend the National High School Journalism Convention. He has also designed and led week-long digital storytelling trips abroad where he works with students and teachers to create documentaries and non-fiction stories in countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Guatemala, and Mexico. His books, articles, podcast and newsletter share inspiring, practical advice for educators, and how to respond in productive ways to the challenge of artificial intelligence.