The top bilingual teacher in the United States teaches at Elizabeth Scott Elementary in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Vivian Rivera-Maysonet was selected as the 2024 Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the National Association for Bilingual Education. She is the fourth grade Spanish dual language immersion teacher at Elizabeth Scott Elementary, the only Chesterfield County elementary school to offer Spanish dual language immersion.
This is not her first big award: In 2022, Rivera-Maysonet was selected as the top Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools.
A teacher for more than 20 years, she joined the Elizabeth Scott Elementary faculty in 2020. She previously taught English in Puerto Rico before moving to the United States in 2017 after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
Rivera-Maysonet believes that building strong connections and mutual respect with students is the foundation of academic success. She wrote, “Teachers need to make real connections with students, get to know them, their community, and what makes them spark. Our students need to see their teachers involved in the community, helping others, celebrating cultures and diversity. … A teacher that is in contact with his/her students’ reality is a teacher that can be empathetic, plan for those students’ needs, and still get that content in.”
Administrators, teaching colleagues and parents all agree that Rivera-Maysonet is a star.
- From a school administrator: “She is a phenomenal educator with great passion and love for teaching and learning. … She touches hearts, makes learning fun and contributes on a daily basis to brighten everyone’s day.”
- From a teaching colleague: “Senora Rivera has taken every [community represented at Elizabeth Scott Elementary] and lifted them up as invaluable to our school. Each child feels he or she has immeasurable worth through … recognition of all heritages in our school. … There is no educator more committed or more sincere in her pursuit to reach every child in every way that matters.”
- From a parent: “Learning is a journey and Mrs. Rivera meets children where they are in their journey and propels them forward. Vivian Rivera-Maysonet is truly a gift to the education world.”
Rivera-Maysonet will receive the 2024 Bilingual Teacher of the Year award in March during the 53rd annual international conference of the National Association for Bilingual Education, which will take place in New Orleans. In this video clip, she shares how bilingual instruction changes lives.