Spanish teacher Daniel Reyes is a mentor that students recognize not just inside the classroom, but from the impact he’s made all around Norwood High School. Reyes, who is a college prep, honors, and AP Spanish teacher, is also an advisor for the club WAVE.

Now in his 11th year at NHS, Reyes became a teacher because he enjoyed teaching students about culture and new languages. That passion is clear throughout his Spanish classes and in his involvement outside of them. 

WAVE, which was formally referred to as AWOD (A World of Difference), now stands for “We All Value Everyone.” The club focuses on creating a safe environment for all students. “We try to spread awareness on social issues and prepare classmates to contribute positively to the world with emotional awareness, respect, and thoughtfulness,” Reyes said. 

Reyes explained that WAVE helps students grow in ways that the classroom sometimes cannot. “Through peer lead activities with the freshman, students learn about discrimination, empathy, marginalization, helping them recognize and reduce bias within themselves and each other,” he explained. 

Before becoming a teacher, Reyes switched careers after realizing how much he enjoyed sharing his culture with students. That passion also extends to the Spanish department’s upcoming Costa Rica trip. Although he will not be attending this year, he has in years past. Reyes emphasized the importance of language immersion, explaining that being forced to use the language in a real-world environment helps students become global citizens and see beyond their own community. 

“What I really enjoy seeing is students outside of the school environment,” Reyes said. “Seeing how they really are and how they interact with each other is really rewarding.”