COE Alum Receives Hispanic Teacher of the Year Award
MEMPHIS, Tenn. 鈥� Since 2019, the Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce (MLCC) has given out the Hispanic Teacher of the Year Award to teachers from the Latin/Hispanic community in the Mid-South. This year, the award was given to University of Memphis alum Mario D铆az.
鈥淚 was very happy when I received the news,鈥� D铆az said. 鈥淚 know (teachers) all work very hard, and I was just happy to be nominated. To win, that was a plus for me.鈥�
According to MLCC, the award nomination process is made by self-submission and/or nomination from the community. D铆az, a fourth grade math teacher at Grahamwood Elementary School, was nominated by a co-worker and later nominated himself after being encouraged to do so. He was selected from six finalists.
鈥淢r. D铆az distinguished himself among many exceptional candidates,鈥� said Talia Palacio, a member of the MLCC Board of Directors. 鈥淗is essay highlighted an exceptional commitment to teaching, strong academic preparation鈥nd extensive community advocacy.鈥�
鈥�(Students) want to learn even more when they see that their teacher is motivated,鈥� D铆az said. 鈥淚 learned that motivation鈥hen you show them motivation, they care for learning.鈥�
D铆az, a native of Cordova, was a first generation college student, graduating from UofM鈥檚 College of Education (COE) in 2018. Six years into his profession, he attributes his success to the COE and the preparation the program gave him. It鈥檚 also inspired him, in part, to stay in the Mid-South as he builds on his teaching career.
鈥淭he program is beautiful,鈥� said D铆az. 鈥淭he (COE) teachers are very dedicated to showing you how to run your classroom鈥here have been other offers from Texas and Florida, but I just want to help my community鈥t鈥檚 a beautiful thing to be able to give back to them.鈥�
鈥淭he Latino population in Memphis has doubled in the last 10 years,鈥� added Palacio. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always humbling to have teachers who reflect our student body educate our students and share aspects of their cultures with them and their peers. This award emphasizes the value of celebrating and honoring Latino educators.鈥�
MLCC is a Latino business community focused on economic and community growth in and around the Memphis area.