UVA Wise Alumna Wins District Teacher of the Year Award

Michelle Guzman, a 2017 alumna of UVA Wise, is a lifelong learner. She spends her days in the classroom dedicating herself to the successes of her students. That’s why, last month, Danville Public Schools (DPS) announced Guzman as the DPS Teacher of the Year. Guzman, who majored in mathematics and minored in leadership studies and education at UVA Wise, cites the College as the place where the foundation was laid for her teaching journey. 

UVA Wise sat down with Guzman to reflect on her time at the College, her teaching career and her brand-new teaching accolade. 

What led you to attend UVA Wise?

I did a campus tour with Gear Up. Once I got there, the small town feel of the College felt like home to me. Plus, I had a lot of friends that were also planning to attend.

Are there any memorable experiences from your time at UVA Wise that have impacted you?

Some of my most memorable experiences at UVA Wise were with my math cohort. It was really nice to befriend a group of people within my major so that we took the same classes and spent time together studying. Being involved with Greek Life was also nice because I was involved in a community that truly felt like family. I also had a really good experience being involved with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, where I learned a lot of valuable skills. 

Why did you choose to major in mathematics?

When I was in middle school, I wasn’t getting the subject at all, and it really frustrated me. However, once I made it to high school, my teachers really made math very accessible and easy to understand. Being offered a different perspective changed how I saw the subject entirely; it stopped being hard and became easy and fun. From there, I fell in love.

How has UVA Wise shaped your teaching career?

The education professors taught me how to adapt to different students’ learning needs, as well as the overall concept of preparedness. Having to compile several lesson plans for class came in handy once I encountered that in my professional career.  Knowing how to pinpoint specific learning objectives and essential skills that I planned on teaching really helped me succeed.

The entire mathematics and computer science department were also wonderful to work with.

Walk me through your path after graduating from UVA Wise.

Once I graduated from the College in 2017, I landed a position at Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia, where I taught for four years. While I was there, I completed my master’s of education in education leadership from George Mason University in 2021. After I earned my second degree, I decided that I wanted to be closer to family, which is what led me to DPS. I originally taught seventh grade at Westwood Middle School before joining Galileo Magnet High School in 2022, which is where I currently teach.

Talk about your involvement in your current position at Galileo Magnet High School.

I serve on our social committee, and I am also the sponsor for a club called Progression Over Perfection, which is dedicated to both the academic and personal success of students. I am currently on our curriculum and development team, which helps develop course content that aligns with the standards of the state. And, I also coordinate our afterschool peer remediation tutoring program.

What is your favorite lesson to teach?

Right now, I currently teach Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, which are all honors classes. I enjoy teaching units like linear functions, function transformation and different construction projects. I really enjoy adding interactive projects and games, as well as and incorporating different aspects, such as art, into the lessons. Seeing students become invested in the material and genuinely enjoy themselves in my classes is what I love the most.

What did being chosen as district teacher of the year mean to you?

It was a shock to my system because I haven’t been at Galileo that long. I can’t stress enough how nice it has been to be involved with and welcomed at a school like this. It means so much to me to represent the Hispanic population in winning an award like this, to show that it is possible to do awesome stuff! Being chosen as for an award like this gives me reassurance that I am making an impact in our students and in our community. Teachers go through so much; we have a lot on our plates at any given moment. To know I am still making an impact little by little means the world to me. I work with an excellent group of educators, and it was an honor to simply be thought of.

How will you harness the momentum receiving this award has created and put it back into your teaching?

My goal is to make mathematics available to everyone, with a special focus on English-language (EL) learners. Being an English-language learner myself, I had excellent EL teachers growing up and I want to be the same to my students. 

The practice of establishing relationships with students is so important to me. If you can’t connect with a kid, you won’t be able to successfully deliver the content they need. This award has allowed me to still see that my involvement with students inside and outside of school matters, so I intend to keep that up. Being a teacher, I am a lifelong learner, so I want to always keep asking how I can better myself each year. I am blessed with the opportunity to bring my knowledge and skillsets to work alongside other wonderful educators to make small changes that make big ripples in the long run.