My name is Flor Ivonne Lopez. I grew up in Nogales, Arizona, where I attended school from kindergarten up to graduating from Nogales High School.  I received my bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language.  I also received my masters' degree from the University of Arizona in Library and Informational Science. My goal was always to attend the University of Arizona, since visiting the university's campus when I was in elementary school.  

I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was very young because I loved to hear the stories my mother told of being a teacher. We played school all the time, but I think it was her way of helping me with my school work. I also had many other relatives on my father's side who were teachers. In fact, the majority of our family was in education.  I also wanted to be a librarian. My father loved books and my favorite weekly trip was to the library.  I was so amazed and happy to see so many books in one place. I decided to combine my love of reading with teaching. I wanted to share how fabulous it is to emerge yourself in a book and learn so much about so many things or just escape into a fantasy land in a book. I hope that in teaching that to my students I will help shape many students into life-long learners that will form good productive citizens in our community. 

I have been a teacher here at Nash Elementary for 26 years.  I have taught all grades from kindergarten to fifth grade in full classroom settings, English language learners, Dual language and mainstream classrooms. This year I will be leaving the mainstream classroom to be an English Language Learner resource teacher. I am very excited about my new role and happy to continue here at Nash.