MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– University High School social studies teacher Erica Diaz has been selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Diaz said she came to Morgantown about 20 years ago to be a broadcast journalist and fell in love with Morgantown and the teaching profession.
“Actually, I’m originally from Rochester, New York, and came to Morgantown for college to be a broadcast journalist, and I fell in love with it and stayed, along with my husband,” Diaz said.
As a social studies teacher, she said her students are very empathetic and willing to learn. The students are capable of learning about serious historical events and understanding how those events have shaped our world.
“As an educator, whether we’re talking about history or current events, I think our job is to give kids the tools to think for themselves, and I think they appreciate that,” Diaz said.
As a teacher, she’s shared classic, important art and has even traveled to Morocco to meet with teachers across the world. She said her students see the world in a positive light and seem to be willing to listen.
“I was able to interact with teachers from abroad and across the United States for a coexistence professional development,” Diaz said. “I also participated in a World War I seminar about women in the war, so those are some of the fun things I get to bring back to the kids.”
Diaz was very clear that she is one of many hardworking educators in the county. Many others work to help students and help them grow to be productive adults.
“We all just come in every day hoping to do our best and do what’s right for kids,” Diaz said. “Help educate them and put them out into the world to be good contributing citizens, so I think all teachers deserve the recognition besides myself because they’re all working so hard every day.”
Diaz also works with the new journalism program at University High School. The students follow and report on athletic teams, newsmakers in the school, and the weather.
“We report on different things within the school—they do packages and voiceovers,” Diaz said. “We’re trying to get the weather going so kids can connect with each other in school.”