Miami Lakes Middle School (MLMS) Science teacher Efrain Valdiva was nominated to be Lifechanger of the Year, a prestigious award given to teachers who go the extra mile.
Born in Nicaragua, Valdiva fled in the 80’s to seek political asylum in the U.S. He came to this country with no family or support system, but he wanted to work his way to the top to be able to bring his wife and children over to him. He went back to college and earned a Master of Science degree, and began teaching at an alternative school for at-risk youth.
In his time teaching there, Valdiva honed qualities that makes him the outstanding teacher he is today. His focus in gaining trust and respect from his pupils makes the topics he teaches relevant and practical enough to gain the student’s attention and interest.
For the last 14 years, Valdiva has been teaching at MLMS and has even given back to the community by teaching a General Education Development (GED) program at American Senior High for adult education.
Being nominated as a Lifechanger of the Year is no easy feat. To be nominated, the educator must have a certain list of qualities – they make a positive impact on student’s lives, they enhance a school’s culture or pride, they demonstrate leadership skills, possess a record of excellence and show commitment to building a nurturing environment for their class. For more information about Lifechanger of the Year, visit lifechangeroftheyear.com.