Gabriela Torres named MCC’s Teacher of the Year
By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post
Ask any parent whose son or daughter is taught by Gabriela Torres at Hancock High School, and you’ll hear stories illustrating why she has been named the Midway Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.
“Ms. Torres is very passionate. Her passion radiates from her,” says Garfield Ridge resident Cindy Patino, whose daughter, Alondra, is a special needs student at Hancock. “(Torres) goes above and beyond for her students.”
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| Gabriela Torres, MCC Teacher of the Year 2024. |
Patino nominated Torres for the award.
Before enrolling at Hancock, Alondra (who is autistic) “could be sluggish, a kid who didn’t really want to do much and who often kept to herself. But since starting at Hancock with Ms. Torres, she has changed for the better. Now she goes to school happy every day. She hardly ever misses a day of school. She’s making friends. She’s participating in sports (via Hancock’s connection with Special Olympics). It’s wonderful to see.”
In fact, “the whole school has been amazingly great for Alondra and for her education--not only Ms. Torres, but the other teachers, the classroom assistants, gym teacher, caseworker--everyone has been very supportive. They’ve fostered an inclusive environment for Alondra and the rest of the students.”
Midway-area roots
Torres grew up in West Elsdon, attending Pasteur School and Curie High School, where she graduated in 2011. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University and a master’s degree from the University of Illinois.
From an early age, she knew she wanted to teach. In fact, she was chosen as a Golden Apple Scholar—a statewide program that provides tuition assistance to talented high school students, in an effort to steer them into careers in education.
Torres recalls that she was “very surprised” when she heard she had been nominated for the MCC Teacher of the Year award.
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| Gabriela Torres, MCC Teacher of the Year 2024. |
“When I found out, it was right around report card pick-up. I learned that I was nominated by a parent of one of my students. That was very gratifying. The award means a lot, but even more when I think the nomination came from a parent.”
At Hancock, she teaches children with low-incidence disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome. Her classes focus on teaching life skills like shopping, cooking and doing laundry. The goal is to move her students towards living as independently as possible as they approach their adult years.
Her classes are small by design. Just 13 boys and girls are in her program, ensuring quite a bit of individual attention.
Torres is assisted by four paraprofessionals, and she is quick to credit them with having a hand in her students’ success in school.
While Torres acknowledges that her work can be life-changing for her students, she says they change her life for the better, too.
“I learn from them. I’m inspired by their resilience,” she says. “They love going to school, and that helps make me love going to work every day.”
She says the MCC award “may help raise awareness about our [special needs] students, perhaps especially among businesses in this area. These kids have a lot to contribute—and often that can mean as employees—whether now or in a few years, when’re they’re adults.”
She adds that Hancock has a wealth of “phenomenal teachers. I think one of our teachers should be nominated every year for this award.”
When she accepts the Teacher of the Year award at the Midway Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner-dance this month, she will be accompanied by her husband, Omar, as well as her parents, Agata and Jose.
MCC President Mary Ellen Brown says the Chamber’s members “are pleased to know that such an inspiring, effective educator is right here in the community. Schools are an important part of the Midway area. Not only do they help educate and motivate children who will one day be our community’s workforce, but good schools help make the Midway area attractive to people looking to buy a home, as well as business owners looking for a good place to set up shop. That’s why we established the Teacher of the Year award. We recognize that and want to encourage that.”
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