{"id":3863,"date":"2024-07-22T15:16:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T20:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=3863"},"modified":"2024-07-22T15:22:55","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T20:22:55","slug":"2024-blue-kc-sporting-samaritan-honoree-daniela-torres-month-of-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2024-blue-kc-sporting-samaritan-honoree-daniela-torres-month-of-july\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Honoree Daniela Torres \u2013 month of July"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blue KC and\u00a0Sporting KC<\/a>\u00a0have announced Crossroads Academy Quality Hill teacher Daniela Torres as the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan honoree for July<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having just completed her fourth year at Crossroads Academy Quality Hill in Kansas City, Missouri, first-grade teacher Daniela Torres is already creating memories and changing the lives of her students in more ways than she ever could have imagined. Her charter school views her as a rising educator who continues to push her to reach new heights. On top of her daily teaching responsibilities, Torres is projected to receive an education specialist degree in administration from UMKC in the spring of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of my most proud moments is acknowledging myself and owning my worth,\u201d said Torres. \u201cI don\u2019t settle for what people think I would accept and I\u2019m always aiming for the next highest thing. My biggest accomplishment to date is committing to a two-year program to obtain my education specialist degree with an emphasis on urban schools in education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Crossroads Academy Quality Hill, Torres works with students from all different walks of life. By teaching such a young age group, she\u2019s able to help guide them into believing in themselves and valuing the many wonderful traits and characteristics they each possess, regardless of their background or early-life circumstances. Torres credits her administration for helping develop and distribute quality leadership, which she passes down to those around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince the beginning of my education career, I\u2019ve always wanted students to learn these three things,\u201d said Torres. \u201cOne: I can still make good choices, even if I\u2019m upset. Two: I can do things even if I may not want to, or it\u2019s challenging. Three: I can be okay, even if others are not. I\u2019ve found that if students are unable to self-regulate, they will have a hard time grasping content, which in turn makes it harder for themselves, and those around them, to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her journey to become a teacher, Torres obtained her bachelor\u2019s degree in elementary education from Missouri Valley College, followed by her master\u2019s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2018 from William Woods University. She also received a key piece of advice from an Instagram post that has stuck with her throughout the early portion of her career. The post read, \u2018Too many people think the grass is greener somewhere else, but the grass is green where you water it\u2019. This has motivated her to focus on the present, and those she interacts with daily, instead of worrying about things she cannot control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI advise my students that it\u2019s okay to make a mistake,\u201d said Torres. \u201cThis is how we learn to move through life and make our next move, the best<\/em> move.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s this mindset and daily approach that has benefitted Torres, her students, her co-workers, and her family and will continue to play a key piece in her education future in the many years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDaniela has poured countless hours into her classroom to make her students feel like they’re walking into their second home each day,\u201d said Torres\u2019 nominator, Kori Gordon. \u201cShe also works with young athletes in the inner city, by preparing them with long life skills and building up their stamina with a competitive mentality through 16U club volleyball. Don\u2019t ask her when she will take some time for herself, because her first response is always \u2018the kids need me!\u2019 or \u2018someone has to do it, I don\u2019t mind\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHard working and dedication perfectly describes Daniela,\u201d said Torres\u2019 second nominator, LaKesha Washington. \u201cShe gives her all to anything that she is a part of and also holds all parties accountable to bring out the best in everyone around her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDaniela\u2019s optimism and approach to educating her students is second-to-none,\u201d said Christina Lively, Blue KC Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. \u201cHer unwavering commitment to making sure each student feels welcomed, included and valued is a characteristic that stands out and illustrates how impactful she is to those in her classroom on a daily basis. It\u2019s our honor to recognize Daniela as a Blue KC Sporting Samaritan and we look forward to following her career for many years to come. Congratulations!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans are encouraged to nominate teachers and students who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n

Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs<\/h3>

Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Program<\/p> <\/div>\n

\n \n Nominate Your Teacher or Student Today!<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t
\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Was this helpful?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t