Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Flores

Ms. Flores has always enjoyed helping others learn. Her interest in teaching began in high school, when she volunteered at her local elementary school. She loved being able to help students understand new concepts and seeing those “Oh, I get it!” moments. For Ms. Flores, teaching is more than just standing in front of a classroom. It is about helping students reach the moments when everything finally clicks.

Ms. Flores hopes her students remember her smile and the conversations they share. She especially values the moments when students come to her to talk about what they are going through. She enjoys building connections with her students and loves when former students reach out to her years after graduation. If she could change something to make classrooms more enjoyable, she would find more ways to get students involved in activities like spirit weeks. She also wishes students had more opportunities to take art and cooking classes. Her goal for the school year is to ensure every student learns something, even if it is small. 

When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Ms. Flores said she would tell herself to finish school sooner. Outside of the classroom, one of her bucket list items is traveling to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. One of her favorite memories as a teacher is watching students graduate and seeing them return to visit during graduation season. Ms. Flores also enjoys trying new things, whether trying different foods or exploring new ways of teaching. One tradition she enjoys at the beginning of the school year is using icebreakers. Although students may be shy at first, she loves watching them warm up, laugh, and get to know each other. Her favorite movie is “Grease,” and she enjoys songs with dancing and listens to many different genres. Overall, Ms. Flores hopes her students will remember her as someone who is always smiling, always listening, and always making time to connect with them.