Elisamaria Heredia, multilingual teacher at Alamosa Elementary
The day was a long one for Elisamaria Heredia. She was finishing up at Tuesday evening’s Lectura en Mi Familia event, which celebrates the classroom achievements of the Alamosa School District’s significant bilingual student population, when she was called to the stage.
Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., the affable director of the Adams State University School of Education, awaited her as she hurried along from the back of the school gymnasium to learn why she had been summoned.
The evening had celebrated 60 bilingual students from the elementary school up through the high school level and Heredia, as the Alamosa Elementary School multilingual teacher, has had a major impact on all the students through their school years.
For her work in the classroom, Garcia saved the best award for last, if you will, when he presented Heredia with the Adams State Educator Highlight Award. She felt overjoyed and took the crystal plaque she was given and read it aloud to herself at the table where she sat as the Mi Familia crowd scooted home.
“Yesterday I was listening to a keynote speaker who said, ‘A teacher has a call or is crazy, and I think I have both. I have the call and I am crazy, too,” she said, finally able to rest for the day. “I am so happy. I am overjoyed.”
It’s been quite the school year for Heredia. Back in September she was named a finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year for her instruction in multilingual education. She became the first teacher in the Alamosa School District to be named a finalist for the coveted award.
“Her work with multilingual learners, both in the classroom and across her district, reflects a deep commitment to helping every student thrive. The fact that she now teaches future educators — including some of her former students — is a beautiful full-circle moment that speaks to the profound impact she’s made over her career,” Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova said at the time.
The fact it was Garcia who presented Heredia with the Educator Highlight Award was another meaningful moment for the multilingual educator. She is also an adjunct professor at Adams State and to have the head of the university’s teaching program honoring her was another memorable first.
“What a nice surprise from Adams State,” she said. “I’m here for a different reason. I’m here helping for the multilingual family night. This is my 25th year for this event.”
Then she got an award and the night became even more special.
If you know an educator doing exceptional work in the San Luis Valley, make a nomination for the Adams State Educator Highlight Award.
Past EHA Winners
Presley Garcia, Monte Vista special education teacher
Nick Dionisio, Alamosa High English teacher
Aaron Miltenberger, Boys & Girls Club executive director
Anna Bishop, Center High School CLD teacher
Phyllis Vigil, Sierra Grande first-grade teacher
AlexAndria Moore-Guenter, Moffat Schools secondary counselor
Omar Gonzalez, Alamosa Elementary visual art and music teacher
Leanna Brazel, Alamosa Elementary kindergarten teacher
Freddy Lawrence, Alamosa Elementary custodian
Joe Guenther, South Conejos School District
Katie Turner, Del Norte math teacher
Edwin Mondragon, Monte Vista High School agriculture teacher
Aaron Williams, GOAL High School English teacher
Miriam Baines, Alamosa High School biology and math teacher
Rachel Kellum, Moffat Schools art teacher
Darlene Pinales, Sargent School District, food service staff member
Upward Bound summer faculty, Adams State University
Erika Henderson, chemistry teacher Alamosa High School
Jay Sarason, aviation teacher, Sargent High School
Domingo Estrada, director, Semillas de la Tierra
Lisa Lucero, preschool teacher, Moffat School District
Scott Honeycutt, ASD’s transportation director and chief safety officer
Annette Sisneros, fifth-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary
Taylor Hubbard, K-12 art teacher, Centennial School District
Lauren McKinney, science teacher, Sangre de Cristo Schools
Amanda Stagner, business teacher, Alamosa High School
Laura Hegey, third-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary
College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) staff, Adams State University
Student Support Services, Adams State University
Kelly Reynolds, second-grade teacher, Sanford Elementary
Pat Naranjo, literacy and math lab instructor, Centauri Middle School
Nikol Kelley, language arts teacher, Centauri Middle School
Elona Medina, technology and media teacher, Alamosa High School
Elena Sopala, first-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary School
Cheri Jones, MTSS coordinator, Ortega Middle School
Bonnie Schweizer, fourth-grade teacher, Alamosa Elementary School
Kristie Duran, counselor at Sanford Schools
ABOUT THE EDUCATOR HIGHLIGHT AWARD:
This monthly award recognizes Adams State University School of Education alumni, prominent local teachers, and other educators working within or hailing from the San Luis Valley. In so doing, Adams State University hopes to build familiarity with the community as a serious destination for future educators.
