Stephani Lopez Rodriguez, an ELL teacher at Amherst Regional High School, has earned high praise from her colleagues, being nominated by multiple peers for her outstanding work. Described as “warm, kind, friendly, and student-centered,” Stephani is the perfect choice to kick off our very first Staff Spotlight!
Since joining the district in the 2019-2020 school year, Stephani has made a lasting impact on countless students in our ELL program. A colleague highlighted, “Stephani knows her students and is excellent at building relationships,” a testament to the care and dedication she brings to her work every day.
Stephani’s passion for her role shines through: “What inspires me most about my work is providing my students with a safe space to be who they are without judgment. I want students to feel like they have someone at school who truly cares about them, not only as students but as people.” She also shared her love for the “strong, supportive, and loving community” within the ELL department, where students from all over the world form friendships and support one another. It’s heartwarming to see how, no matter where they are in their English-learning journey, these students have each other’s backs—proof of the incredible community Stephani and her team have built!