Spanish Lake Elementary named Jennifer Meneses and Frances De La Torre as Teacher and Rookie Teacher of the Year, respectively.
Meneses, a Miami Lakes resident, is committed to SLE and to the community. For Meneses, it is exceptionally important to keep the lines of communication open amongst all involved in a student’s education. She feels parental involvement is indispensable to student success and the success of a great school.
As an educator, she volunteers her time to further enhance the learning of children as well as expanding her own personal growth. She offers educational sessions to students in the mornings and the afternoons which consist of small group instruction to target needed skills, enriching the learning process, and guided time for projects.
Meneses is the product of Miami Dade County education. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Barbara Goleman Senior High, and Florida International University. She graduated magna cum laude from FIU where she was a member of Florida Key Honor Society. At SLE, she is a gifted teacher, Social Committee chairperson, and Math Bowl League advisor.
SLE previously named Meneses as a Rookie Teacher of the Year and are now proud to have her honored as this year's Teacher of the Year.
Rookie Teacher of the Year, De La Torre, was born in Havana, Cuba, and began her education there. She worked hard, was successful, and became a physics teacher at the university. Seeking a better life for her husband and her son, they moved to the United States in 1997.
She began her new life in Miami cleaning offices for FPL and attending English classes at Miami Dade College. She met a teacher from Mae M. Walters who inspired her to return to the field of education. She followed her passion in the education field and became a paraprofessional in 2003. She was and still is a math tutor.
With drive and determination, she became a certified teacher. She continued her educational journey with receiving her master’s degree from Nova University in 2006. She has happily made Spanish Lake Elementary her home.
De La Torre possesses a keen sense of humor, a genuine willingness to help others, and is respected by the entire staff and community. She is a life-long learner who produces life-long learners, and puts in the necessary time for students to always be engaged in a relevant and interesting curriculum.