Shanda Ortega
Position: Missouri Options (Mo-Ops) Coordinator
School: Park Hill High School
School District: Park Hill School District
City, State: Kansas City, MO
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Music that Describes Shanda
Shanda Ortega was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
Ms. Ortega works with students who often need to improve in a high school setting and need the requirements to graduate. Maybe they are in her class because they got off on the wrong foot and didn't figure out school quickly enough. They may not be set up for success at home. There are many reasons why Ms. Ortega gets students in her Missouri Options (Mo-Ops) class, but she is one of the biggest reasons they prevail.
Ms. Ortega sees no boundaries when she sees these students. She does not see students for what society has labeled them to be, "unsuccessful." Instead, she loves them for who she knows they can turn into. She provides them with tough love. She will help them see that an excuse is just that. She fills their cup so they can see their potential, thus allowing them to obtain their high school diploma.
Her spirit is contagious, and her determination to help students is remarkable. Her strength to keep seeing the good and taking on the tough days is admirable.
All this and more! Shanda is an awesome teacher, friend and human! So glad to have been able to work with her!!
I am lucky not just to call Shanda my coworker but also my friend. Her charisma and humor is matched only by her efforts to do the best she can to support some of the most vulnerable populations at our high school. She routinely goes above and beyond to give every student the best opportunity that they can have to maximize their potentials, no matter what hands life has dealt them.
If that wasn't enough, Shanda is an infectious source of optimism and humor which is hard to come find anywhere, especially in a profession that can be so demoralizing and underappreciated.
I am sure the other nominees are wonderful humans also, but I am equally sure none of them deserve any recognition more than Shanda.
One in a million for sure!
Shanda Ortega was my Grandsons teacher through high school. He had special needs and it took someone special to connect and inspire him to learn. Shanda always went out of her way to understand her kiddos. She connected to them and dug deep to figure out how they learn, what do they struggle with and find that personal connection to help them be the best they can be. She made it a priority to be inclusive and make each student not only know, but believe they were important, they mattered and they could succeed. She was a one of a few very special people that touched my Grandson's life during High School and someone we will always remember as having an impact on him. I continue to watch her achievements and how she inspires all students, especially the ones who are harder to reach and inspire. She never gives up.
Shanda is one of the best teachers out there. She works her tail off and has touched countless lives. The MO Options program is a great opportunity for students but some don't always appreciate that there is this path that they need to take to change their trajectory. I feel that Shanda was made for this role! She can reach just about anybody and cultivating relationships is her passion. She cares so much! However, she doesn't just stop there. She motivates students to do what they need to get done and her quick wit makes her classroom fun. She's a gem that I'm fortunate to have worked alongside at Park Hill and will forever call a dear friend!
Shanda, you are a rockstar! We are lucky to have you…all of us!!
mrs ortega my absolute favorite human on this planet. youve done so much for me & carrillo and we are so blessed to have had you as a teacher! you deserve the absolute world so congratulations on this amazing award!
Congratulations Shanda!! The recognition is very much deserved. Shanda is the kindest person I know. She will help anyone at anytime. She stays connected and supports her students even after they graduate. She truly wants them to succeed.
Thank you for making such a difference.
You have always been a loving, caring person. You deserve so much recognition for all you do for the people around you. Congratulations!
I’ve known Shanda since she was in the seventh grade. Today she is the same sweet, kind, and loving person. She works hard and cares about her students,friends, and family. I’m so proud of her. She deserves to be celebrated and we are lucky to have her in our lives.
So proud of you Shanda. Well deserved
As Shanda’s husband I have seen the countless kids that come into her class having given up, beaten down by life and unlucky circumstances, that turn around, change their attitude and outlook on life. They begin making plans for the future, start applying to trade school, junior college, or start planning a career in something they enjoy but thought was out of reach.
The kids leave her class high school graduates, ready to attack life and not give up just because they get knocked down. These are the kids living out of cars, on friends couches, sleeping anywhere their family can manage to stay. Instead of turning to crime they see a way out of their situation through work and education.
Shanda makes everyone she meets better than they were before.
Shanda, you are the definition of a role model and a true leader! Your caring heart speaks volumes both in the classroom with these kiddos, in the community, and in your family. To know you are to absolutely love you, Shanda! Congratulations on your nomination for Life Changer of the Year, as it is much deserved! Proud of you!
Well deserved, you have worked so hard and have so much compassion to help others.
Congratulations Shanda. This is awesome.
She is all that and so much more. The love and support she pours into her students is genuine and endless. She has such an incredible gift.
Shanda has always been a kind loving person. She would do anything for anyone. She has a heart of good!! Love that girl!
This is so amazing and very accurate! Shanda is my sister and is 13 years old than I am. It is obvious to all how much she cares for her students and wants the best for them. While she and I were dealing with a family matter, she still made sure her students were prioritized. She was calling and checking in on them to make sure everything was set up. Even though she couldn’t be there physically, she was showing her support for them to succeed. She will go out of her way to help her students and show them that they are loved and that they can do more than they believe.
