EHHS Spanish Teacher Recognized for Inspiring Students
Posted on 02/01/2023
Maria White Honored by Optimum

It’s not easy to motivate high school students to do work outside of their required class assignments, but East Hartford High School Spanish Teacher Maria White makes it look that way.

She is being recognized by Optimum and TelevisaUnivision for being a top student sponsor for their Hispanic Heritage Month Essay contest. Earlier this year, she inspired 70 of her Spanish 3 and Spanish 4 Honors students to take the time to write an essay and enter the contest.

“The essays were amazing and super creative,” said White. “They talked about a lot of different people in the community that had an influence. Some people wrote about their family members. I was like, ‘Interview them, find out their story!’ and some of them found out really cool stuff like why their parents came or their aunts and uncles came. It was really interesting to read.”

On February 1, Esme Lombard, Senior Director of Government Affairs for Optimum, visited White in her classroom to give her a $150 Amazon gift card and materials for her students to continue inspiring them. Lombard was joined by Representative Jason Rojas, Representative Henry Genga, Superintendent Nathan Quesnel, EHPS World Language Supervisor Elizabeth Peczuh and EHHS Principal Matt Ryan to congratulate White and thank her for the work she does to celebrate diversity.

Maria White Recognized by Optimum