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[MUSIC] My name is Linda Ontiveros. I'm 25 years old. I was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona, and I'm lucky enough to be a teacher here in my hometown. Growing up, both of my parents were undocumented. And my dad he has been a farmer his whole life. It was hard. All of the sacrifices that my parents made and that I made. [MUSIC] And we lived in this trailer park, and we lived there up until like two years ago. I love my job but at the same time, at one point I'm going to want to own my own home. And live my own life that's not attached to living with my parents. Do I want to move to a district that pays more? Do I want to move to a different state that pays more? Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life? So I'm going to be interviewing Lynette Stant. She is Arizona's Teacher of the Year. She is also a big advocate for culturally responsive teaching and STEM education. I think I can ask about some of those challenges that Arizona teachers have that maybe other teachers and other states might not have. And just getting to know a little bit about more about her and how she's helping those children in maybe lower socioeconomic areas. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; [FOREIGN]. I teach third grade on the Salt River Indian Reservation. And there's this assumption that because I'm Arizona's 2020 Teacher of the Year, that I'm an expert. There are many times in my 15 years that I said, that's it. I'm throwing in the hat, I'm out, I can't do this anymore, my plate is full of so many things that I have to do. You know it's just, you know the teacher plate, it's full. And, I've really had to reflect about why I became a teacher. My answer is, this was my plan B. I didn't go to college. [LAUGH] To become a teacher. I actually went to college to become an attorney. &gt;&gt; Wow. &gt;&gt; And then all of a sudden I was gifted this child, my daughter Taylor, and put in the position of being a single mom. And I had to figure out what do I do next? And I centered myself. I centered my teaching, specifically to teach Indigenous children. And as I began to grow as an educator. It became my passion. My Plan B. Little did I know was was my calling. &gt;&gt; I feel like one of the challenges that I have which I'm sure other Arizona teachers have this challenge as well is basically teacher pay. Like I'm struggling so much with that. That I don't know if I'm going to stay here. Or if I should stay here because of that. &gt;&gt; Absolutely. That is not an uncommon thing to hear. I get why young people want to leave this profession for a profession that pays a whole lot more. And provides more benefits. Before I applied for Arizona Teacher of the Year. I was really at a crossroads of leaving the classroom. I was burning out and as I journey on as a teacher and I come to those points of I just, I'm done, I always take myself back to my foundation. Why did I go into this, or why am I doing it? It's about relationships, building relationships with kids. And building relationships with families, as brown women, our brown children need that. They need those connections. They need to see people who are from that community who say, if you work hard, this is what you can do. You have to have a passion for this field. Because your rewards are definitely not monetary. &gt;&gt; What does it feel like for you to be like the Arizona Teacher of the Year? What do you think that represents? &gt;&gt; I showed my mom the images posted on social media. And I was like look. And I was like, is that really my name? And I showed my mom. And in Navajo, she said. My child [FOREIGN] this is what we pray for. This is what we ask the holy people for when we pray for our children. And her and I had this moment, this bonding moment. And I didn't really know what that meant until the following day. They had this huge assembly for me when I got back to school. And they made this big announcement. It was wonderful. And some of the kids had made me cards. And it was really great. But just like a movie, the crowd parted. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; And down the middle of the crowd parting is this little girl and she has this paper in her hand. She's running as fast as she could to me, hair flying all over the place. And she jumps in front of me and she says. You're just like me, you're like me. You're Navajo like me. And it wasn't until that very, very moment that I realized the impact that having this title really meant. And I really love what I do. And I really love teaching the students that I do. And yes, it gets hard. And yes, there are nights when I go home in tears. And yes, there are nights when I am frustrated. But it always comes back to I love what I do. And if I leave, who is going to take that place? Who is going to be their role model? Who is going to teach through a cultural lens with them? To be able to connect with a young teacher, you refilled my cup. So, even though you're feeling like I don't know where I'm going to go with this. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Just your presence, just yourself as an educator, you are refilling, whether you know it or not. &gt;&gt; Well I think you refilled some of my cup as well. So thank you so much. &gt;&gt; You're welcome. [MUSIC] Even though she said there was times where she felt like she was ready to throw in the towel. She always found that one reason to stay and it ended up being her kids. And, I could get a different job and not be an educator and make that much more money. But, am I going to be doing what I love? I feel like it just makes me feel good that there's educators out in the world that are so passionate like she is. I want to be like her. [MUSIC] 

What does it take to become Arizona Teacher of the Year? Arizona educator Linda Ontiveros sits down with the 2020 recipient, Lynette Stant, to hear about her path to teaching, from a planned career in law to being a single mom and educator. As a Navajo woman, she centers her teaching practice on culturally responsive teaching and building relationships with her indigenous students and families.

Arizona’s 2020 Teacher of the Year on culturally responsive teaching

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