CUIN Alumna Christina Torango Receives Beginning Teacher of the Year Award - University of Houston
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CUIN Alumna Christina Torango Receives Beginning Teacher of the Year Award

Christina Torango with her Students at Pugh ElementaryTeaching & Learning alumna Christina Torango has been named the recipient of the 2016 Beginning Teacher of the Year Award from Pugh Elementary.  This means Torango will also be eligible for the 2016 Houston Independent School District (HISD) Beginning Teacher of the Year. She teaches third-grade math and science to students on Houston’s east side in Denver Harbor.

Torango said the award is one of the most exciting things she has ever received. It has also motivated her to be a better teacher. She feels the award is not just for her, but is a collaborative relationship she shares with many people.  “It [the award] means the world to me! I am more than honored to not only have a profession that I love, but to be recognized by my colleagues for the passion I have for teaching,” said Torango.  If I didn’t have the education UH provided, the support from my administrators, the collaboration of my colleagues, and the love from my students, I would not be the teacher I am today.”

Christina Torango with her Students at Pugh ElementaryWhen asked which University of Houston, College of Education (UH COE) professors inspired her the most, she admitted it was all of them. But she wanted to highlight a few who really shaped her into the teacher she is today. Torango said that she would not have been able to graduate if it was not for visiting assistant professor Christine Beaudry, director of UH Teacher Education, Amber Thompson and visiting assistant professor Shea Culpepper.

“Dr. Beaudry helped me learn that in life, it’s better to be happy and not right.  She also helped me with lesson planning,” said Torango.  “I can write effective and efficient lesson plans now. She also makes herself available to all of her students all of the time.”

"Christina’s tremendous capacity and commitment to support her students' as well as her own development reflects the best of what we do as educators," said Beaudry.  "It is wonderful to see her being recognized for her efforts."

Torango noted that Thompson treats everyone like family. “I have never felt so comfortable and so loved by any other professor,” she said. “Dr. Thompson is truly an amazing person. I am still trying to figure out how she does everything.”

“Christina is a true example of the kind of teacher every student should have,” said Thompson. “Her passion, intelligence, and caring disposition will, no doubt, have a major impact on the lives of the children she teaches.”

Torango said that Culpepper had the best sense of humor and was always challenging her students. “I have never learned so well, nor had as much fun learning with any other professor,” she said.

"Christina's greatest strength was her unwavering commitment to her own learning as a teacher,” said Culpepper.  “She approached every opportunity with an eye towards becoming the best teacher she could be for her students."

“Something that all three professors shared was an obvious passion for teaching, a genuine desire to help students become successful, and complete selflessness,” said Torango. “They always made themselves available for their students, whether it was school related or not. I am so thankful for having them. I would not be where I am today without them. A million thanks to them!” 

Torango is also thankful to have an amazing and supportive principal at Pugh Elementary, Claudia Romano who is a great leader, and she also noted that HISD recruitment manager, Jeff McCanna is a positive, genuine and caring educator.  But ultimately, Torango’s biggest inspiration is her amazing son Maddox.  “Without him, I wouldn't be me! He's my biggest and best supporter,” she said.