LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Tiffani Cortez

Position: Computer and Robotics Teacher
School: Harmony School of Innovation
School District: Harmony Science Academy DFW
City, State: Waco, TX

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Tiffani Cortez was nominated by her colleague, Noey Meza

Ms. Cortez has been teaching engineering for Harmony Schools since 2011. She also serves as the Robotics Program Director, STEM Coordinator, and the Honor Society Advisor. She coaches six of her school’s eight robotics teams, including two all-girl FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams, three other FTC teams, and one FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team that has competed in the FIRST World Championship twice. Ms. Cortez also started an afterschool STEAM club for high school females, who work on hands-on projects in a more collaborative atmosphere outside of class time. This allows the girls to develop their skills using power tools and completing problem-solving activities. They have been trained in the Sci-Girls curriculum and have hosted several STEM events around the community for other younger girls to get hands-on STEM practice.

Before Harmony, Ms. Cortez taught at University High School for a year. Prior to teaching, she worked in the Engineering Department at Central TX Iron Works as a drafter/detailer, creating 3D models of steel structures for oil rigs and other plants around the world. For the past four years, she has been teaching 3D printing and modeling at Texas A&M during the summer to teachers in professional development and middle and high school students at summer camp. She taught the Autodesk and Adobe design software at ITT Tech for five years before they closed.

In 1998, Ms. Cortez moved to Waco from Richmond/Rosenberg, TX, to attend Baylor for Psychology, but wound up switching her major to Interior Design. She did not finish at Baylor, but obtained an Associate’s degree from Texas State Technical College in Architectural Drafting and Design, and a Bachelor’s from Tarleton in Engineering Technology. She is about to finish her Master’s degree in STEM Education at Texas A&M.

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Comments (9)

Joel Carrillo Posted over a year ago

She has impacted my like in such a a good influential way. So far she is my favorite teacher not only because she understand us teens but because she shows you aspects of things we don’t realize. Mrs. Cortez makes everything easy to understand and puts you in big measures where that can be outgrown. I feel like she changed my life completely ever since I walked in her class. Thank you Mrs. Cortez

Samuel Beyhan Posted over a year ago

Congrats. You deserve it

Kenz Love Posted over a year ago

Mr. Cortez was my high-school robotics mentor. More than anything Ms. Cortez donated her time and patience. She was a good mentor in that she was involved just the right amount. Some other robotics mentors wanted to do the whole project for the kids and others didn't want to spend their valuable time watching kids make robots. Ms. Cortez strikes a perfect balance between these by being present for us when needed and taking care of logistical behind the scenes work while letting us learn and work on our projects without overbearing intervention. I appreciate her taking time out of her personal life to allow our robotics teams to succeed and for us to grow as students.

Blanca A Centeno Posted over a year ago

Ms. Cortez is a wonderful mentor and teacher! She inspires her students to excel and has very high expectations for them. She works after hours and on the weekends very frequently. If you drive by the school and a car is there, it is more than likely Ms. Cortez's car! She genuinely cares about her students and they know it. She has touched the lives of many students in more than one way. Alumni return to visit her and are willing to continue to help her out with events whenever possible due to her endless support for others!!!

Kara Posted over a year ago

Tiffani Cortez has transformed the robotics program at Harmony Waco. She took the program from a few teams all the way to 11 teams! She also has encouraged girls in STEM and has successfully started multiple girls robotics teams and girls STEM programs. She really does live her life for her students and encourages them all to succeed!

Alma Ramirez Posted over a year ago

I have never met anyone as amazing and inspiration as Tiffani Cortez. She created an all gorls FTC at our school to expand the engineering field to women. I know that with her help, I will continue to grow as person and I know I will accomplish great things. Tiffani has helped me, and has continued to help, with so many problems in my personal life and in my school life. She has given me a brighter outlook on life. I truly do believe that without her guidance, her ears, or her personality, I will not be alive today knowing that I can do so many things in life. Knowing that no matter what happens I will succeed. Knowing that no matter what happens, I will continue to have a teacher, a mentor, an inspiration, in my life helping to guide me in the right direction. Not only helping me with my education but helping me with my personal life. Tiffani Cortez is definitely a life changer. To end this, I just need to say “thank you Tiffani Cortez for taking time to heal my wounds and to help me expand my knowledge”

Vivian Posted over a year ago

Ms.Cortez is an outstanding teacher. She is very dedicated to her students and is willing to help them in any way. She is very out going and this allows students be comfortable expressing them selves allowing them to thrive in learning. She is always able to make time for her students.Thank you Ms.Cortez.

krissy Posted over a year ago

Mrs. Cortez is an amazing engineering teacher as well as an inspiring robotics coach/mentor. She is always there when anyone needs help and refuses to left a student be left in the dark. Mrs. Cortez is a bright light shining education into kids minds and filling their hearts with a burning passion to strive on and continue learning.

Mariela Razo Posted over a year ago

Ms Cortez never fails to inspire something in all of us each and every day; whether it be through her accomplishments, or her advice or even through her wild and sometimes wacky hair and nails. She demonstrates all that I hope to be one day: independent, driven, and unapologetic. She brings the fun to all things STEM and is a great advocate for it as well. I never even gave a real thought to a career in Engineering or Technology because I didnt think it was “for me.” But, as stated before, Ms. Cortez inspired me and a group of other girls by taking us to two conventions related to Women in STEM. She didn’t have to go out of her way just to teach us something she could have done through a conversation. But she did. That’s how Ms. Cortez does things. She’s not going to just preach how amazing is, she’ll show you!