Lourdes Nuñez-Toledo spends her leisure time with her family by supporting her kids in their sport activities and traveling. She was recently reminded about the fragility and beauty of human life after reading the book American Sniper and is an alumna of Hialeah Miami Lakes High School.
In many ways, Nuñez-Toledo’s life sounds peaceful, that is, until one discovers that she leads a classroom of approximately 30 children for eight hours, five days a week. Nuñez-Toledo, a veteran teacher, was recently named Teacher of the Year by Bob Graham Education Center (BGEC).
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Nuñez-Toledo has always known teaching would be her path. She earned her bachelor’s in Psychology from St. Thomas University and master’s in Education Leadership at Nova Southeastern University.
She is currently the second grade Extended Foreign Language teacher at BGEC though she has previously taught kindergarten, first, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade and spent eight years teaching at Hialeah Elementary prior to BGEC’s opening. Nuñez-Toledo was also recognized as Teacher of the Year at Hialeah Elementary.
“It is truly humbling and rewarding to be recognized by so many wonderful teachers that I admire,” said Nuñez-Toledo.”
Nuñez-Toledo credits her success to a great learning environment surrounded by colleagues and an administrative team that hold education in high regard. Success, she says, is a team effort.
In addition to leading her second graders, Nuñez-Toledo is the Reading Liaison for Elementary at BGEC and the chairperson for the Five Star Committee and adviser for the National Elementary Honor Society. She also tutors former students during the school year and summer.
As a wife of 20 years to David Toledo, and parent of three, Nuñez-Toledo says her role as a parent has shaped her role as a teacher.
“I do feel parenting has shaped my teaching in that it allows for me to maintain a level of empathy when dealing with my students, parents and community,” said Nuñez-Toledo. “I carefully consider others and I would want to be considered.”
She acknowledges that the best things parents can do for their children’s education is being their “first teacher” by establishing a relationship that is nurtured with daily conversation and problem-solving.
“If we don’t carve time out of our day to listen to our children, we will not be raising them, the world will and that is too risky to allow,” Nuñez-Toledo said.