Annette Sisneros, 5th-grade teacher at Alamosa Elementary
Annette Sisneros was sending her fifth-grade class off to their music lesson this week when Curtis Garcia and the entourage from the Adams State School of Education arrived at her classroom at the Alamosa Elementary 3-5 building.
Sisneros is familiar with Garcia. He was principal in the Centennial School District when Sisneros was teaching in San Luis, her hometown.
Now he was arriving in her Alamosa Elementary classroom to recognize her work as an instructor and to present her with the Educator Highlight Award from the Adams State School of Education.
The Educator Highlight 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.
That’s how small the world of education is in the San Luis Valley. There’s always a relationship, and it’s usually always with Adams State and the role it plays in producing teachers for the school districts across the San Luis Valley.
“Being an educator means I’m helping to create our future,” said Sisneros in speaking to the importance of the job. “I’m helping to create the next generation of adults, the next generation of problem solvers and lawmakers, and the future of our world.”
Sisneros earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Adams State. She’s been in the classroom for 18 years and has been at Alamosa Elementary since 2019. Her husband, Antonio, is also a teacher, and her father, Amos Bernal, taught for 36 years.
Here’s an exchange with her following the award presentation:
What changes have you seen in your career as a teacher?
“Education has definitely changed. How we teach, what we teach, everything has changed because the world has changed. We went from always just teaching with paper and pencil to now using individual devices. We’ve changed the way we teach because we want them to see big pictures. It’s not just about how to multiply two numbers, but what does that actually look like, what does it mean? We’ve taught this idea to really think because real-world application, especially in math, is being able to see the bigger picture. And so a lot of the math is geared toward higher levels of math, but really how can they apply what they’re learning in third, fourth, fifth, sixth grades to be an adult. Where do they see it in the real world? The same thing with science. The same thing with literacy.”
How do you see students today like the kids you have in this class versus students you had when you first started? Or is there any difference?
“There is a big difference. Students today have access to the entire world, which even 20 years was not as much, because they have devices at their disposal. They are really seeing much more of the big world, the whole world. It’s trying to get them to make connections. What is happening in the world, what are the changes in the world, what’s going to be expected of them, and they’re able to see that. Fifteen years ago they may not have seen that, even 10 years ago, but I have kids now who we’re talking about something and they’re opening their Chromebooks and Googling it. They want to tell me something new. Did you know this? Did you know this? So they’re becoming more interested and they’re wanting to know. They come in with so much information and it’s all at their fingertips.”
Each month Adams State recognizes an educator from around the Valley through its Educator Highlight Award. Garcia and the staff at the ASU School of Education look for nominations from community members and the schools.
To make a nomination of your favorite teacher, or school administrator, or even the custodian and cafeteria worker in your school, follow this link to submit the nomination.
The Educator Highlight 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.
Here’s a list of all the educators who have presented with the award from Adams State School of Education.
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 Review of Awardees
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
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. Nominate an educator HERE.