Middle school teacher Dr. Riya Nathrani has been selected the 2022 Teacher of the Year for the American Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands. Photo Credit: Riya Nathrani

I am always eager to share information about exceptional educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Dr. Riya Nathrani, a middle school teacher who has been named the 2022 Teacher of the Year for the American Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Riya teaches career technology, computer literacy, automation, robotics to seventh graders at Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School in Afetna, Saipan. Her employment in CNMI public schools has spanned seven years.

In her classroom, Riya explores her passion for using digital tools and research-based practices to design lessons and activities. And she does this not only for her students, but also for her colleagues. She is a lead instructor for her district’s educational technology program, through which she showcases best practices for using technology and to enhance learning experiences for students.

In addition to her selection as Teacher of the Year, Riya earned the Education Technology Teacher of the Year award for supporting technology advancement in 2020. She also garnered the Environmental Champion Award for designing environmental conservation projects in collaboration with environmental nonprofit organizations.

A beneficiary of the DACA system, Riya was raised in the Northern Marianas and graduated from public schools there. After high school, she attended Northern Marianas College, where she was named the valedictorian of her class when she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Education. She earned her Master’s degree in International Teaching from Framingham State University in Massachusetts. In 2017, she was selected to participate in the Teacher Ranger Teacher program. The purpose of the program is to provide teachers an opportunity to learn about National Park Service educational resources and themes.