Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. You could say they are in a class all their own. On this episode of the Supercast, we meet two award-winning teachers who go above and beyond every single day. They are educators credited with changing lives and having a significant impact on their school communities.

We're here with Andrea Hinojosa, a teacher here at Copper Hills High School, and we're talking with her about an award she was just nominated for by a colleague. Tell us a little bit about that.

Andrea Hinojosa:
It is the Life Changer of the Year Award.

Anthony Godfrey:
And is that now at a national level? Is that what I understand?

Andrea Hinojosa:
Yes, it is. I think there's about 800- 900 nominees nationally.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, teachers are life changers there's no question about that. So I'm really excited that you're nominated. Tell me about what happens now. When do you expect to hear back whether you've advanced?

Andrea Hinojosa:
I think the timeline is May. They've got a committee that goes through the applications of former winners. That's my impression. And they go through the applications or the nominations and they choose the winners.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, from everything I've heard about you, you have a great shot at it. And either way, it's an honor that someone would think of you that way. I know that you're changing lives just based on what I've read about your teaching. Tell us about what you teach here first of all.

Andrea Hinojosa:
I teach AP US History and US History II, so I teach juniors.

Anthony Godfrey:
I always loved teaching juniors when I was at the high school level. What do you love about teaching and teaching history specifically?

Andrea Hinojosa:
So AP US History is definitely my happy place. I love that course because it keeps me challenged as an educator. I can't afford to be complacent because we have that exam that keeps us all kind of on our toes. So I just, I honestly, I love lesson planning, like getting in the zone and planning out how things are gonna go even down to the minute. It's a creative process that I really, really enjoy. And that class in particular, because it's not so much me telling the kids what to think, but how to think. So it's not a lecture based course 100% of the time, right. Because they have to learn how to analyze the documents. They have to learn how to extract the information. They have to learn how to think like a historian. So strategizing how to help them develop those skills. But then I also kind of really like the game of how to help them earn more points on the exam, right? It's kind of like a puzzle and I really enjoy kind of strategizing and creating, oh, this is gonna sound so nerdy, but like geeking out over building proficiency skills. That will, you know, help them get the most amount of points with the, this is also gonna sound awful, the least amount of effort. Because in this timed environment where they only have 60 minutes to collect these seven points, so, how can we max that out with without overexerting ourselves, if that makes sense.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think it's great that you focus on strategy and content because it really is about both. And if you're just thinking content the rest of your life, then you can't make the most of what you know, or even your skills. Strategy is a really important part going forward.
Tell me, does it change a lot from year to year what you're gonna be cover