At Colorado鈥檚 Greeley West High School, there are dozens of teens fresh from a Central or South American country. Dozens of first-time English learners, often not even proficient in the language of their home country. And dozens of kids newly enthusiastic about learning, thanks to a young, energetic teacher named Caleb Flores. 

The Milken Family Foundation is enthusiastic, too. This year it awarded Flores, 鈥�16, M.A. 鈥�21, one of its $25,000 Milken Educator Awards, the only one awarded to a teacher in Colorado. This national teacher recognition program empowers recipients to 鈥渃elebrate, elevate and activate鈥� the K-12 profession. 

At a school where almost 20% of the student body speak no English or have only limited proficiency, Flores teaches English language arts, reading and culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) material. Among other things.

鈥淢r. Flores鈥� class has been a great help when learning a new language. The way he teaches classes is not only creative but also fun. There is no better way than to learn in a meaningful and social way.鈥濃��

鈥擪aren鈥疺icente Vicente, 11th grader, Greeley West High School

What makes a great teacher? Karen and her classmates know. Flores takes a swing at it: 鈥淪omeone who can inspire students day after day to be better, who is excited to see diversity as an asset and be a champion for equity and access, who sees each child holistically in all of their promise.鈥� 

Does he fit his own description? Before deciding, consider the story of young 鈥淛os茅.鈥� 

Four years ago this fall, Jos茅 was an incoming ninth grader. Shy and withdrawn, he never had schooling back in Guatemala. After arriving in Greeley鈥嗏�斺�唚here he was staying with a cousin鈥檚 family, working and sending a little money back to his family in Guatemala 鈥� he struggled with his grades. Flores encountered Jos茅 every day in two classes. 

Soon came a family meeting at school鈥嗏�斺�唅n Spanish. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not seeing the best habits. What can we do?鈥� asked Flores. And to Jos茅, with his aunt, uncle and cousin standing behind him, he said, 鈥淵ou have unlimited potential.鈥� 

鈥淚n class, I set the expectation that they can鈥檛 fail.鈥�

鈥擟aleb Flores

With the family鈥檚 blessing, Jos茅 soon quit his job and focused on school with the confidence of someone who feels strong, supportive arms around his shoulders. 鈥淲hen students are aware of a target and know what they鈥檙e being asked to achieve, they rise to the occasion,鈥� said Flores.  

These days, Jos茅 chats with Flores all the time鈥嗏�斺�哹ut in English only. After graduation this spring with a proud family behind him, Jos茅 has his sights set on community college. 

鈥淐aleb is a wonderful example of a bilingual, multicultural teacher who embraces that willingness to pay it forward and go well beyond the classroom in dedication,鈥� says said Dr. Aldo Romero, director of 网曝吃瓜-based Cumbres (or 鈥渟ummits鈥�) Teacher Preparation Program, which is a co-curricular scholarship and support service program for education/CLD majors. This spring, Romero asked Flores to give up part of a Saturday to speak at the Cumbres graduation reception. 鈥淪铆, I鈥檇 be happy to!鈥� was his response. 

As part of the curriculum, Cumbres assigns CLD students as mentors to six Denver-area school districts. These mentors meet one on one with Greeley high schoolers under Flores鈥� supervision, which 鈥渉elps offer a safe haven to be themselves and vent,鈥� he said. In turn, his language development classroom becomes almost a second homeroom, where Flores learns each student鈥檚 backstory鈥嗏�斺�唚ho doesn鈥檛 have laundry facilities at home, where that cut on an arm came from, who needs a winter coat.  

鈥淭he more I get to know my students personally, the better they work and learn,鈥� Flores said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of what has inspired me to become a trusted adult, and that鈥檚 what makes it all worth it.鈥�  

Recognizing the pressures on these teens鈥嗏�斺�唄is grandparents immigrated from Mexico, and his parents struggled in school鈥嗏�斺�咶lores makes sure to celebrate milestones. His team puts together an awards night with speakers and refreshments. It honors not just seniors but all CLD students who have stood out as leaders. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a blast to host every year,鈥� Flores said. 

There are holiday parties and interdisciplinary projects that capture students鈥� interest. Each May, a mini graduation ceremony from Level 1 English rewards kids with a certificate and photos. 鈥淕ood for the soul,鈥� the Milken awardee pronounces all this. 鈥淚t makes us all feel accomplished.鈥� 

Given his passion for and excellence in teaching, it may come as a surprise that Flores didn鈥檛 always see himself teaching high school. Business was his original plan. One imagines Flores鈥� parents and grandparents gathering around behind him much as Jos茅鈥檚 family has, pulling for him, seeing their own goals in his future. 

鈥淭hey are the reason I got into this profession,鈥� he reflects, citing his 鈥渋ntrinsic motivation鈥� in aiding newcomers to the United States. 鈥淓ducation is a great equalizer. I鈥檝e seen it change the trajectory of lives in my own family.鈥� 

Today, social media often tells teens that education isn鈥檛 valuable, laments Flores. 鈥淲e tell and try to show them that education gives people a great chance to reach the goals they want for themselves, to get them to their best potential.鈥�