Alexia Herrera

2023 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Recipient

“From there on I always asked her questions and she always responded in the same way, and I will never forget the feeling of just being looked at directly into the eyes and given so much grace for questions that a lot of people might consider unimportant or ‘stupid.’”

Growing up in a predominantly Spanish-speaking household, Alexia Herrera found that she needed to ask a lot of questions to learn. However, when she sensed her teachers’ annoyance, she began to remain quiet, and by middle school was falling behind. Then she entered Mrs. Zelt's math class. Mrs. Zelt's patient, humble approach to teaching gave Alexia the confidence to engage again, transforming her feelings of shame and defeat into excitement at what she was able to achieve. A firm believer in the power of scaffolding, Alexia’s goal as a teacher is to nurture her students’ growth by always meeting them where they’re at.

Here is Alexia's story about Mrs. Zelt, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2023 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.