Dr. Nora Hernandez (B.M. ’15, B.S. ’15, M.A. ’18) has known she was called to teach music since she was a student singing in her high school choir.

“I fell in love, not only with music, but with being a part of the ensemble,” Hernandez says. “Being able to share the gift of music is so exciting.”

Today, Hernandez is a music teacher at Monroe Elementary School and the middle school choral conductor at Fitz Intermediate School, both in Santa Ana, California. She also inspires the next generation of teachers as an adjunct instructor in elementary music education at Biola, where she earned degrees from the Conservatory of Music and School of Education.

Hernandez’s gift for sharing the joy of music was recognized nationally when she was named one of the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation’s 2023 Teachers of Excellence. The award recognizes educators who use music as an avenue for positive change. Hernandez was the only teacher in California and one of only 30 in the United States to receive the honor.

Monroe Elementary and Fitz Intermediate are Title I schools, located in low-income communities notorious for gang-related activity.

“The students in my choir are meant to be with me in this season,” Hernandez says. “Middle school, when kids are trying to find their identity, is the perfect age for them to be recruited into a gang. Music and the choir give them a community to belong to and a place to feel safe.

“There are stories in the Bible of God exalting the humble and people who have been rejected. This is a humble school, where many of the kids may feel rejected as ‘bad,’” Hernandez continues. “So, I’m very intentional when crafting music or a choir repertoire that talks about hope. This year, my students are performing a song that includes the lyric, ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.’ I use that to tell them, ‘You have a purpose. You can’t stray onto the wrong path because you are called to do great things.’”

Hernandez’s recognition as a Teacher of Excellence came with an honorarium of $5,000, which she invested in a conducting chair for her classroom and professional development to enhance her teaching skills. Hernandez was also honored at a gala in Nashville, where she rubbed shoulders with high-profile musical artists, including Luke Combs and Lauren Daigle.

But for Hernandez, the best part of the award was the joy of sharing it with her students.

“I told my students, ‘This is your award. I only received it because of you. You are representing your parents, your school, your community, and all of California.’ They were so honored and so proud.”

When asked to describe their experience in Nora Hernandez’s middle school choir in three words, students’ top choices included fun, family and safe.

“I feel very proud winning a national award for our school because we finally got to show everyone we’re hard-working people,” says Fitz choir member Isabella. “Choir is fun, but when it’s time to work, we focus and get the job done.”

For Hernandez, the award is recognition of the power of music to change lives.

“When they’re singing their hearts out, you can see the joy on their little faces,” Hernandez says. “And it brings me joy to see them realize what they’re capable of doing. It’s a glimpse of hope where it’s needed.”