LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Wanda Colón-Díaz was nominated by a member of the community.

"Dr. Colón-Díaz is a dedicated educator who has made significant contributions to the field of education," said the nominator. "In 2022, she was honored as a Teach Plus Nevada Policy Fellow, where she demonstrated her commitment to advocating for a better education system to benefit her students and fellow teachers. As part of this fellowship, she made significant contributions by publishing OpEd articles and memos advocating for school funding. She furthered her professional development by participating in the Southern Nevada Writing Project, where she acquired innovative strategies to inspire her students' love for writing that she used later in creating a community project integrating art, reading, and SEL."

"Dr. Colón-Díaz's dedication to fostering holistic student growth is exemplified through her role as a Mindful SEAD coach and her implementation of an SEL Project at her school that was presented as a contribution to the Pilot of Portrait of a Nevada Learner. As part of this project, the students reflected on their strengths and set up daily goals based on College and Career Readiness skills. She used SEL strategies such as daily affirmations to support them in their change to a new mindset," said the nominator.

"As a fourth-grade lead teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in North Las Vegas, she plays a vital role in shaping the educational experience for her students," said the nominator. "She facilitates professional learning communities to analyze data and empower students to master standards, ensuring their readiness for the next grade level."

"Her influence extends beyond her classroom as she actively contributes to the educational community," said the nominator. "Dr. Colón-Díaz serves as a campus PBL Leadership Team member and is an instructor at Nevada State University. As an MSEL coach, she provides invaluable support to fellow educators, guiding them in implementing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies in their classrooms. Additionally, she co-leads the SEAD Champions Program, offering professional development opportunities in SEL and nurturing other educators to become coaches themselves."

"Her multifaceted contributions to education make her a deserving nominee for any award recognizing excellence in the field," said the nominator.