New America School-Las Cruces teacher is NM Teacher of the Year

Lorynn Guerrero, who teaches English language arts at New America School-Las Cruces (NASLC), has been named 2022 New Mexico Teacher Of The Year  (TOTY).

The announcement was made Oct. 22 by New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) Sec. Kurt Steinhaus.

“Ms. Guerrero’s efforts on behalf of her teenage students in Las Cruces have been nothing short of extraordinary,” Steinhaus said. “New Mexico is fortunate to have her as our 2022 spokesperson for the teaching profession and our representative in the national TOTY competition. Her dedication and high standards will serve as a model to all of us in the coming year.”

 Steinhaus presented the award during an Oct. 22 ceremony at NASLC, a state-chartered high school with 257 enrolled students, 98 percent of whom are economically disadvantaged, NMPED said in a news release.

 “It's kind of unbelievable to see that I’m the recipient of the New Mexico 2022 TOTY because I think all the teachers in New Mexico do an excellent job, so I’m very honored to be chosen,” Guerrero said after learning of her selection.

 The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association is the title sponsor for the state TOTY program for the fourth year and will contribute up to $25,000 worth in support and professional development opportunities to the winner.

Guerrero, who grew up in Las Cruces, began her teaching career in 2006 in Hatch, where she taught both middle- and high-school students. She joined Las Cruces Public Schools in 2012, first teaching at Organ Mountain High School, before moving to NASLC.

Guerrero’s father was an educator, and Guerrero always intended to follow him into the profession but worried that her dream would be derailed when she became a mother at age 17, the NMPED news release said. The Graduation Reality And Dual Skills (GRADS) program at her high school kept her on course and motivated her to bring the GRADS program to NASLC in 2020. The associated child-care center opened in August with its first client, a 2-month-old infant.

“Ms. Guerrero is an outstanding teacher,” NASLC Superintendent and Principal Margarita Leza Porter said in her letter nominating Guerrero for the award. “Her increased level of rigor, the setting of high expectations and continual reflection on her teaching sets her apart from other educators,” the letter said.

 In addition to teaching, Guerrero is working on a master’s degree in educational administration, which she expects to complete in May 2022, NMPED said. Her bachelor’s degree in secondary education is from New Mexico State University. Guerrero also has a teacher of English as a second language endorsement from Eastern New Mexico and an advanced placement certification in literature and composition from New Mexico Highlands University.

Guerrero uses her 12^th-grade English classes to help students prepare for college or career.

 “I reiterate that as their teacher, I’m going to help them be prepared for anything they choose,” Guerrero said. “I tell them it’s their choice if they want to attend college after high school, but I have them fill out applications to our local community college and to access a scholarship portal. My main goal for them is to be able to support themselves and their future families with a career they love. It doesn’t have to be college-geared, but any job takes additional education and training.”

The New Mexico TOTY award was established in 1963. Each year, all New Mexico school districts and charter schools are invited to nominate teachers for the award.

Each year’s winner represents New Mexico in the national TOTY competition and acts as a spokesperson for the state’s teaching profession, NMPED said.

Guerrero was one of two finalists for 2022 New Mexico TOTY from Las Cruces. The other was Monte Vista Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Robbi Berry. A third finalist was Stephanie Noll, an English language arts teacher at Peñasco High School in Peñasco.