Indian Lakes Elementary second grade teacher Mary Nazareno is a finalist for citywide Teacher of the Year.
At the age of 6, Nazareno moved with her family from the Philippines to Virginia Beach, where she attended VBCPS.
She credited her teachers with inspiring her to become an educator.
“Their kindness and compassion were unforgettable,” Nazareno said. “They understood the challenges of immigrating to a new country.”
Nazareno graduated from the Mathematics and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School and earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Master of Teaching in elementary education from the University of Virginia.
She is currently grade-level chair, serves on the Principal’s Advisory Committee and is one of the school’s community engagement liaisons.
Since 2019, she has taught a variety of student populations in second and third grade, including inclusion, gifted cluster and English language learners.
“Education brings people together from different backgrounds and walks of life to learn and grow together,” she said.
Nazareno believes in building strong relationships with students. She offers a “lunch bunch” reward for students to join her at lunchtime and often attends their extracurricular activities like dance recitals and soccer games.
Her students become immersed in real-world learning. On “Market Day,” they create a product or service, assuming the roles of both producers and consumers.
“Every student is engaged because they want to be successful,” she said.
Gifted resource teacher Elizabeth Samuelsen said her colleague’s versatility as a teacher allows her to successfully meet students’ needs.
“Ms. Nazareno has a strong desire to see all of her students succeed and an eagerness to collaborate with colleagues to see this happen.”
Samuelsen also commended Nazareno’s efforts to enhance cultural awareness. She regularly exposes students to books featuring diverse characters and serves as co-chair of the “Culture and Climate” committee.
She has coordinated programs and assemblies as part of Black History Month, Filipino Heritage Month and more.
This past year Nazareno helped create a school science lab, transforming an empty classroom into a functional space for enhanced science instruction.
“Because of Ms. Nazareno’s hard work, our teachers can now easily access the materials they need to teach science, and our students have a fun and exciting space to experience hands-on learning,” Samuelson said
Principal Dexter Warren commended Nazareno’s dedication to students’ learning and for leading her team with organization, vision and empathy.
“Ms. Nazareno consistently steps up to challenges, embraces growth through professional development, leads with dedication by serving as a teacher leader in our building.”
