ALAMOSA — When the Alamosa School District (ASD) saw historic progress this year in the number of elementary students advancing in their fluent English proficiency scores, it all pointed back to the work of Elisamaria Heredia, an English Language instructor at the Alamosa Elementary 3-5 school. 

For this reason, and many others, Heredia was selected by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) from a pool of 419 applicants to be one of 22 semifinalists for the 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year.  

When discussing her successes, the most recent one is noteworthy as a record number of 24 students from Alamosa Elementary 3-5 scored a four out of five possible points in their recent oral and written English language skills. 

For those not in education, a score of four out of five is one indicator in determining that the student will become proficient in English – and grade level proficiency is not adjusted for second language learners; it is the same scale of proficiency used for all students attending public school. 

“It’s getting students closer and closer to being fully English proficient,” said Assistant School Superintendent Luis Murillo, “and that’s a huge success. We haven’t had that high of a number in the time we’ve been here.” 

But even more than scores on a test, Heredia embodies what it means to be a true educator. By example, she has shown what’s possible when a person devotes themselves to a profession. 

Originally from Piedras Negras in the state of Coahuila, Mexico, Heredia came to Alamosa as part of the Bi-National Teacher Exchange program in 1999. In 2001, she accepted a position as a paraprofessional with ASD and then began on her own trajectory of education, obtaining her undergraduate degree and teaching certificate from Adams State University (ASU) in 2008 followed by earning her master’s degree, also from ASU, in 2012 followed by additional endorsements in 2012 and 2016. Last year, she was also assigned to be the K-12 Multi Language Coordinator for the entire district. As of last year, Heredia is also now an adjunct professor at Adams teaching future educators principles in elementary math education.  

In conversation, it’s also immediately apparent that Heredia possesses those rare, inherent qualities that distinguish her in her field. She speaks of her students and their families with tremendous passion, respect and an abiding confidence in what the students are capable of accomplishing when they apply themselves and do the work that is required. As far as her role in her students’ success, Heredia alongside team members Mireya Juarez and Cheryl Montoya is completely committed to offering whatever support is needed – whether it goes directly to students or to colleagues with students of their own. 

This commitment, combined with her years with the district, has cemented her place in the lives of those she has taught over the years, best illustrated in what one of her young students explained to Miss Roni, who was somewhat new to the school. As Heredia tells it, the little girl said, “Miss Heredia was my oldest sister’s teacher and then she was my brother’s teacher and now she is my teacher. So she was the teacher of all of us, including me.” 

When asked what she thinks these students learning English bring to the community, Heredia thinks for a long time before answering. “Diversity. That and the culture they bring to the Alamosa community. They’re not ashamed of their values or their origins – standing in line, you’ll hear them speaking Q’anjob al [a language indigenous to Guatemala] and Spanish. They also place great emphasis on education.” 

In speaking of “standing in line”, Heredia is referencing ASD’s annual Multilingual Night where students and their families – both present and past – come to celebrate the power of multilingualism and the incredible strides students have made on their English language journey at the school district. 

Heredia is responsible for coordinating the event and, every year, it’s grown in size with over 700 people attending this year as parents met teachers, were shown activities they can do with their children, connected with different organizations in the community, sat in on presentations by officers with the Alamosa Police Department and Fire Department and met faculty and students at ASU. 

And that night probably defines Heredia’s impact the most clearly. 

During her career at ASD, she has not only educated children and gotten to know their families, she has also influenced an entire generation of students, easily more than 1,000 over the years, with no small number of students going on to be teachers themselves.

“Every semester at ASU,” she says, “there’s at least one student in my class who was a former student of mine when they were young.” When asked what she thinks that means, she hesitates and then says,” That’s huge to me. We’re role models. We must be doing something good. They want to do what I’m doing, and that’s an honor.” 

Heredia is not about to let the conversation end without crediting those who have been of tremendous support, naming first and foremost Principal Michelle Rubidioux-Wilson. “She’s a role model to me. She provides us with the support that enables us to provide the support our students need. She’s awesome as a leader, and she’s taught me a lot.”