At Aurora Science & Tech High School, Spanish teacher and cross-country coach Eunice Torres (affectionately known as Profe Torres) is more than just a teacher. To her colleagues and students, she’s a source of energy, encouragement, and consistency who makes AST HS a joyful place.
Heather Ayluardo, AST HS campus director of curriculum and instruction, describes her as “professional and full of energy every day. She’s the sort of person you can’t help but smile at, whether you’re observing her class, watching her coach cross country, or learning from her modeling in PD. She’s a bright light that makes work happier for all of us.”
That light shines in big and small ways across the AST HS community. Profe Torres can often be found in the halls, cheering on students to arrive on time, offering high fives, and sharing supportive words or hugs. She balances kindness with high expectations, ensuring students know she believes in their best.
That passion translates into results. This year, Profe Torres achieved a 90% AP pass rate, one of the top three scores in the DSST network. Her success is rooted in a belief in every student’s potential, making sure they feel supported both academically and emotionally every step of the way.
“Her AP pass rates are the result of intentional planning to make every student feel welcome and supported, both academically and socioemotionally,” Ayluardo shared. “She narrates to and rewards effective academic moves, helping her students learn from both her modeling and one another. Each lesson consistently references AP Classroom, the exam structure, the rubric, and clear CFS.”
Profe Torres’s presence makes AST HS a stronger, happier place for students and staff alike. As Ayluardo puts it, “Profe Torres is the glue that holds our staff together! She is kind, joyful, full of energy, and intentionally searches for the positive in every situation. Working with her makes us all a little better.”
Profe Torres’s blend of joy, rigor, and care creates an environment where both students and staff can thrive. As Heather shared, “she's a bright light that makes [school] happier for all of us!”