We try not to get too sappy in the midst of popular sappy holidays (we’re looking at you, Valentine’s Day), but we can’t help but join the masses and use it as a way to recognize folks we feel affectionately about — like Anne Torres, a supremely committed English teacher at Lowell High School. We are so inspired by Ms. Torres’ work, and are so excited to announce her as our February Teacher of the Month!
Ms. Torres is known by colleagues and students as an instructor who comes up with creative and engaging curriculum. She ensures that students are regularly collaborating so they can learn from, encourage, and challenge one another. s. One colleague says, “She focuses her curriculum around culturally responsive teaching and uses a plethora of instructional strategies to ensure that her students not only grasp the content, but also gain a much deeper understanding of the material and make connections to real life experiences/events.”
She also ensures that she is more than a teacher to those in the Lowell community. She works hard to foster personal connections with her students and fellow staff, deepening her positive impact on the community as a whole. One colleague says, “She makes it a point to get to know her students, so she can set a strong foundational relationship for later when students might be struggling in her class and need the guidance of a trusted adult.”
Establishing herself as a leader outside of the classroom, Ms. Torres has taken on the role of Lowell’s activities director—a role in which she helps to support and run the student government body. Working with these students, she helps plan more cultural events, activities, and celebrations than any other school in San Francisco. “She is often at school until 4:00 p.m., and whenever there is a school activity, she is the first staff member there, and the last to leave,” says a colleague.
Above all, Ms. Torres has shown a care for and devotion to her students, which allows her to have a huge positive impact on all of the people that she works with. “Ms. Torres cares about the well being of her students, and you can see that through every lesson and every assignment,” says one student.
A huge congratulations and thank you to Ms. Torres for all that she has done for her own school community, as well as the many ways that she has inspired the many people outside of it.
Read more about our Teacher of the Month Program and how to nominate a special teacher in your life!