Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my story.

Local teacher here! I entered the ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’ contest run by Reader’s Digest this past fall aftering seeing the contest advertised online.

After submitting my initial application, I then was hand selected months later (along with 19 other teachers across the USA) to run officially for the grand prize, a spread in RD and Bill Nye, America’s favorite science teacher will meet my students.

I spent a year teaching in Madrid. Upon my return, I received tenureship working at Littleton Public Schools as a Spanish teacher. Now, I find even more joy as an ESL teacher in Boston. As a language teacher, I have the privilege of being responsible for facilitating the most human need: to be understood. Language is wonderful to teach and even more wonderful to learn: we celebrate language learners when they don’t use the correct verb, conjugate incorrectly, etc. Language education values imperfection and in imperfection, we see growth. “Perfection is the enemy of progress” rings true in many sentiments but especially when acquiring a new language. For me, language is exchanging information that is communicated by one and interpreted by another. However one arrives to getting his or hers point across – that is successful language learning!

This contest is great opportunity for a local educator to be highlighted. It also highlights the top tier education I received attending public school in Massachusetts. I always knew I wanted to work in the public school system: I believe when as a community we are united and share common values, our youngest citizens learn the skills to become global citizens. Schools are pillars of communities and it is an honor to have served many communities near and far.

Having a Massachusetts teacher in this national contest demonstrates the rigorous standards we have for ourselves and our dedication to our craft. We notoriously have one of the best public education systems in the country. The commitment demonstrated by educators ensures we continue learning, growing, teaching and supporting. Teaching is not just the content area: it is the connections we foster with our students, families, co-workers and ourselves. Our role is to support the growth of our students and provide them with skills to make informed decisions about themselves, the decisions they make and the information they receive.

Please take a peek at my profile on the linked site above and let me know what you think!

Jacqui

America’s Favorite Teacher
https://americasfavteacher.org/2025/jacquelyn-duffy