LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Laura Quiroz-Torres was nominated by her colleague, Nora Galvan.

Mrs. Quiroz-Torres is a great librarian who makes her school's atmosphere attractive to parents, students, and the community. She promotes a barrage of literacy activities that make the library buzz with knowledge and reading skills.  She promotes activities such as Donuts for Dads, Muffins for Moms, Granolas for Grandparents, and Book Character Pumpkin Contests. For the contests, she used up-to-date technology to create a virtual voting platform that made it easy for all judges to judge. She also promotes national, state and local events such as National Hispanic Month, Dr. Seuss, Martin Luther King, etc.

Mrs. Quiroz-Torres is committed to being a leader at school as well as at the district and state levels. She presents new technology applications to teachers, students, and fellow librarians.  She is always willing to help patrons with research projects, recommend a new book, and promote reading initiatives and 21st Century Learning.  

Awards received for her labors include the following:

• 2017 Donors choose Lets Code in the Library $662
• PSJA Mini grants
• 2013-2014 Anaya Cafe Book Club $500
• 2015-2016 Yearbook club $1000
• 2016-2017 Butterfly Interactive Garden $928
• 2017- 2018 The Science Behind it Cotton Candy! $500
• 2017-2018 Let's Get Acting! mini Grant $1000
• 2017-2018 Anaya's Beautification Coordination $1000
• 2018-2019 Capstone Reading Initiative 1,000
• Model & Master School Renaissance (2012-2013 and 2013-2014)
• Empowering Educator Award Renaissance (2014-2015 and 2015-2016)
• Renaissance Royals School/Library (2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019
• UTRGV Top Reader Award at Festiba 2018
• 2015 Laura Bush Grant Recipient $7,000
• National Blue Ribbon School Recipient 2018
• Spirit of PSJA Recipient 2019
• Spirit of PSJA Finalist

"PSJA ISD has dynamic librarians who are LifeChangers, including Mrs. Quiroz-Torres," said Galvan.