Medellin is 2020 Teacher of the Year for Region 20
The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time for students and teachers alike. And for Belinda Medellin, a technology teacher at CAST Tech High School, another layer of excitement was added when on Wednesday, she was surprised to find that she has been named the 2020 Secondary Teacher of the Year by Education Service Center, Region 20.
Medellin’s eyes filled with tears as representatives from Region 20 and the District surprised her with balloons, a plaque and a $250 gift card in front of a classroom full of students.
“We would like to thank Ms. Medellin for making learning in her classroom both memorable and impactful,” said Dr. Jeff Goldhorn, executive director of ESC-20. “She serves as a role model for teachers across our region and I commend her in her belief that education should always be looked at through the lens of opportunity with a forward-thinking mindset.”
This recognition at the regional level makes Medellin eligible for consideration for Texas Teacher of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher, and finalists for the state distinction will be announced later this month.
“She puts so much work into her classes to make sure we are getting scholarships and are able to go to all these great colleges,” said Ava Carranza, a junior who is currently taking AVID with Medellin. “It’s not surprising to me that she got this because she is really dedicated to teaching and puts all her effort into it.”
Earlier this year, Medellin was named one of SAISD’s three 2019 Distinguished Teachers of the Year. “My experience as an educator has been a journey,” said Medellin. “I was about to quit teaching before I came to CAST Tech. My dad is the one who found this job; he saw a big article in the newspaper about CAST. Now, I have an amazing principal, an amazing team, and amazing kids. It really takes a whole team to educate kids, and I am just honored to receive this recognition.”
In addition to her excellence in the classroom, Medellin developed a user experience, or UX, pathway for her high school students, with the help of industry partners. The Texas Education Agency approved the pathway this past spring, making CAST Tech the first high school in the nation to offer a four-year UX track.
“What’s really amazing is she’s realizing that the work that she has done is having a ripple effect across Texas,” said Melissa Acala, principal at CAST Tech. “She just got a call this morning from another campus that is getting ready to institute the UX course and will be following the TEKS that Belinda helped write for the course. It’s exciting to see the ripple effect outside of this campus and outside of this city.”
Medellin has 12 years of teaching experience, including two years with CAST Tech High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music and theater from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis and her master’s degree in teaching and learning with technology from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.