2019 Teacher of the Year:
Elliot López Machado
Elliot Lopez Machado is a teacher of Environmental Sciences at Juan Ponce de Lion High School, in Florida, Puerto Rico. His decision to become a teacher was grounded in a belief that everyone can learn, but not everyone learns in the same way. His teaching approach is grounded in both a deep understanding of pedagogy and an understanding of the contextual reality of his students and the Puerto Rican community. He aspires every day to engage his students (“echarle ganas”) and teach them not to fear challenges.
Lopez Machado founded the Center for Environmental Studies, which partners with the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, Colegio Saint. Michael's College-VT and the University of Vermont. Lopez Machado has a Bachelors in Secondary Science Education from the University of Puerto Rico and a Masters in Environmental Education from the Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico.
