Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight – Johanna Bridges

The Bangor School Department is proud to highlight student achievement and teacher lead awareness initiatives throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mrs. Johanna Bridges was recently recognized by Maine World Language Teachersfor her project that focuses on the impact of local Hispanic people in Maine. Mrs. Bridges teaches Spanish at the William S. Cohen School to grades six through eight. She interviewed forty individuals from around the state and created a Bingo game for her students. Each day she introduces her students to two Hispanic Mainers; students then check their Bingo cards for keywords from their lesson to win fun prizes at the end of the month.

When asked why Mrs. Bridges created this project she responded,

"First, I want to thank everyone who shared with me their biographies. I want to share with my students the diversity we have in Maine. I want them to see a different story from Hispanic immigrants than the one they see in the media. I want them to know that in Maine there are Hispanics that are thriving and contributing to our state. I want to break down stereotypes about Hispanics in the US."

Mrs. Bridges' project has been shared as a teaching resource state wide and brings awareness to local Hispanic immigrants and their accomplishments.