Lee Perez is a 5^th-8^th grade English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska. Perez holds an Associate of Arts degree from Mid-Plains Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He holds two teaching endorsements which are grades 7-12 Social Sciences and PK-12 ESL. Perez has taught for 15 years in the very diverse urban Omaha Public Schools district. He started his career at Marrs Magnet Middle School teaching 7^th grade World Studies for the Dual Language program for 12 years. He has spent the last three years teaching ESL at Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School. Perez also coaches boy’s cross-country and track and field at Buffett. Perez has received several recognitions for his efforts as teacher. He was the recipient of the 2021 Award for Teaching Excellence through the Nebraska State Education Association and was also named a Cox Communication Omaha area Education Hero. He is also a part of the Commissioners of Education’s Teacher Advisory Committee, the Hispanic/Chicano representative for the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee and a member of the National Education Association’s Teachers of color cohort. Perez is passionate about multilingual education, culturally responsive teaching pedagogy, and being an advocate for more English Learner training and awareness for all teachers. Perez also believes in diversifying the teaching workforce in Nebraska and nationwide by recruiting and retaining more teachers of color.

“My objective is to foster all my students with positive problem-solving skills that they can adapt to in uncomfortable situations. I want my English Learners to obtain linguistic proficiency, but I also want them to be good citizens that use a new language to embrace diversity and a collectivist mindset. Good teaching isn’t always about effective lesson planning, data, assessments, or observations with administrators. It’s about ‘empowering’ our students to be the best versions of themselves socially, emotionally, intellectually, and academically.”

“My message is that kindness should be our new ‘pandemic’ and that I challenge myself and my colleagues to create an environment that is safe, kind, inclusive, and accepting of all students. It is important to embrace diversity and be a lifelong learner willing to learn and adapt to students who are different from ourselves. We should acknowledge that being different is special and these differences should be showcased during learning. Colleagues, we must proactively seek out multiple diversity opportunities outside of our comfort zones. Getting to know our diverse students of color on a more personal level helps us make that special bond. This will require us to experience new and different perspectives and worldviews. These relationships we will build with our students will translate into better academic success. Attend a Quinceanera, observe the Day of the Dead, eat some new delicious foods at Vietnamese New Year, see the beautiful lights during Diwali, fast before a Ramadan celebration, and join me in seeking out more social opportunities. Investing our time and energy into getting to know our students on a personal level is something that they will remember going forward with their lives. Learning our student’s cultures can help us gain a better understanding of where they come from and what obstacles that they have overcome. This quote from former high-school cross-country coach Joe Newton sums up my message, in life, it’s nice to be great, but far greater to be nice.”