Profile
Grades 6–8, Spanish

McKinleyville Middle School, McKinleyville
McKinleyville Union Elementary School District, Humboldt County

Serving in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, where she learned that not every child has the chance to get an education, was a driving force behind Nora Wynne's decision to become a teacher. She saw teaching as an opportunity to make real and positive change, and because of these experiences, she in now a middle school Spanish teacher with a passion for active learning, social justice, and equity for all students. Her learning environment encourages her students to take risks with language as they actively speak, read, write, and listen in Spanish. She makes certain that "my students on the margins have an ally in me." She sees each student as multi-dimensional, unique, and valuable. Students in Ms. Wynne's class learn to be critical thinkers and active participants in our democracy, as they learn and experience diverse perspectives in a multilingual world.

Music is integral to her highly interactive classroom culture, and the students look forward to Wednesdays for Musica Miercoles and their song of the week. They eagerly discuss cultural elements within the song, and this connectivity exposes them to linguistic and cultural diversity. Mania Musical de Marzo, (March Madness of Music!) is a music tournament of the entire month. Students read and talk about the lyrics, watch the music videos, and then write about their opinion of the songs. Nora believes that music is a powerful motivator and relevant to her students who now enjoy Spanish beyond the walls of her classroom.

To guarantee her students are engaged with online learning, Nora reaches out to marginalized students through phone calls home, and serves as a needed translator and link to the non-English speaking families at her school.

Ms. Wynne's students are encouraged to read local bilingual news. She engages them in cultural exchanges with students from Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, and Ecuador, who give presentations to her classes. These real-world interactions help student delve into complex immigration issues and develop empathy for the less fortunate.

Nora believe that her greatest accomplishments have been the "deep and lasting connections" she has made with many of her students, as she watches them go out into the world and make positive changes.