Cynthia Rios, an English at Faulk Middle School in Brownsville, Texas, earned an Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award in 2021. Photo Credit: Brownsville Independent School District

There are many exceptional educators working in American schools, and I am always delighted to share the stories of some of them. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Texas teacher Cynthia Rios, who earned an Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award in 2021 from the organization Humanities Texas.

Cynthia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary studies at the University of Texas, Brownsville. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum Instruction with a concentration in Digital Literacy at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley. She currently teaches reading and English /Language Arts at Faulk in Brownsville, Texas, since 2018. Her career as an educator spans eight years.

The honored educator emphasizes technology skills and digital literacy in her curriculum. “One of my goals when developing lessons has always been to engage students with 21st century activities that promote student learning through communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity with the use of educational technologies,” declares Cynthia. “I strive to increase their digital literacy and give them opportunities to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways,” she continues. “I believe that by developing students’ literacy, we can support their ability to critically read and navigate our ever-changing world,” she concludes.

For her work as an educator and a teacher-leader in the Brownsville Independent School District, Cynthia has earned the respect of her supervisors and colleagues. “What defines (Cynthia) as a great teacher goes beyond her content knowledge and skills,” asserts Benita Villarreal, Principal of Faulk Middle School. “She takes personal responsibility for her students’ success, and (they) know that she cares because she takes the time and energy to create technology-based, student-centered lessons that bring real-life experiences into the classroom.”

Humanities Texas presents annual awards to encourage excellence in teaching and to recognize Texas teachers who have made exemplary contributions to teaching, curriculum development, and extracurricular programming. Each recipient receives a $5,000 cash prize plus an additional $1,000 to spend on instructional materials for students. Cynthia was one of just 15 teachers who were selected from the more than 600 Texas teachers who were nominated. 

To read more about Cynthia Rios, see this article published by UTRGV, the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley.