A Moment with
A MOMENT WITH
NADIA
LOPEZ
BY LEISA GRACE WILSON
W
e all know that teachers matter,
chances are, your life was greatly
impacted by a teacher and that
is why you decided to become a
teacher yourself. Even if you are not a teacher,
you may have the highest regard for teachers,
knowing how hard they work to make the lives
of children better, but sometimes you meet
that special teacher, who has dedicated their
entire life, to transforming the lives of their
students and their community. Nadia Lopez,
Founding Principal of Mott Hall Bridges
Academy, is one such teacher. Dr. Nadia Lopez
is a pioneering teacher and school leader
whose work has transformed the life chances
of many children in her community. Due to
her work in education, Nadia has appeared
on the Ellen Show, visited President Obama,
and received the Medal of Distinction from
Barnard College. In 2015 a HONY fundraiser,
raised $1.4 million, to provide Nadia’s
students with college trips and scholarships.
Dr. Lopez is also a Black Girls Rock Change
Agent, TED Fellow and author of “The Bridge
To Brilliance” an inspirational account of the
creation of a path breaking inner-city middle
school in Brooklyn, New York.
Nadia was born and raised in Brooklyn.
Both of her parents believed in the power
of education and made it the number one
priority in their household. Growing up poor
in Central America, her mom from Guatemala,
and her dad from Honduras, believed that
knowledge is the greatest wealth anyone
could ever posses. She attended public
schools from early childhood, through
to high school, and then graduated from
Wagner College with a Bachelor’s degree
in Nursing. She loved learning and applying
the holistic approach needed to help people,
but she quickly realised that nursing wasn’t
her calling in life. Nadia eventually became
a teacher, after giving birth to her daughter,
Cenné, because she wanted to be a positive
influence in the lives of children, like so many
educators were for her.
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Sep - Oct 2017
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After The Bell