Jefferson 1st Grade Teacher, Ms. Vargas, Wins Amplify “Science of Reading Rookie Award”
GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — From student, to Paraeducator, to Secretary, to 1st Grade Teacher. And now, an award-winning educator.
That’s the story of Ms. Johanna Vargas; a young 1st Grade Teacher at Jefferson Elementary who is hitting the ground running in championing student growth in her classroom.
Ms. Vargas was recently recognized with the Amplify “Science of Reading Rookie Award” for her work as an early-in-her-career teacher who champions student literacy. The national honor salutes her outstanding commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction and her passion for transforming the lives of her young learners.
The Amplify Science of Reading Star Awards honor educators, schools, and districts that have successfully transformed their literacy instruction by implementing evidence-based practices grounded in the Science of Reading. Specifically, the "Science of Reading Rookie" award recognizes a teacher in their first three years of teaching who is already making significant strides in empowering students through these proven reading methods.
And for Ms. Vargas, it’s a full circle moment.
Before stepping into her own classroom as a teacher, she was a young All-Star scholar herself as a Jefferson student. Continuing her journey into adulthood, Ms. Vargas previously served as a bilingual paraeducator and the school secretary at Jefferson before going back to school to earn her teaching credentials.
Today, she walks the same halls she did as a child, but now she carries the keys to the future for her own class of first graders. Now, year two into teaching her own first graders, Ms. Vargas has become more than a champion of reading – she’s become an advocate for all who enter her classroom. Because, as she puts it, reading is a lifelong skill set that everyone deserves to have.
“Everywhere we go, you know, reading comes up, and reading is a big skill that we need in life.” Vargas said. “Stepping into the classroom, I see the big need. I see the potential that my students have, and I see that they can do really big things. And I always tell them, ‘Reading is going to be one of the skills that you're going to need from here on wherever you go’.”
Drawing on her experience as a former English Language Learner (EL) herself, Ms. Vargas is fueled by unlocking literacy for her 1st Graders. Through the proven approach of the Science of Reading, her students gain the foundational skills to become confident, independent readers, and lifelong learners.
Having grown up in the same community, learned English herself through the EL program, she sees herself in the eyes of her students.
“I see myself in them. I really do.” Vargas reflected. “I mean, no, English was not my first language. English was actually my second language. And it was difficult to learn English… You know, I don't want language to ever be a barrier for them [my students]. I want them to actually, like, embrace it and be able to share what they know, and I don't want them to ever feel stuck… I want them to be able to show me to their best potential what they can do, and grow that confidence.”
In Vargas’s classroom, literacy isn't just a curriculum topic – it’s an adventure. By implementing the Science of Reading, she provides her students with the keys to unlock the world around them.
In her classroom, she strives to provide a nurturing, family-like environment in which students feel comfortable learning together and celebrating milestones both big and small. Professionally, she focuses on using the Science of Reading to plan lessons intentionally and connect classroom data to specific literacy components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Above all, Ms. Vargas – along with curating fun in her classroom – builds strong relationships with students, viewing their unique backgrounds and languages as strengths rather than barriers to their academic success. And along the way, helping each student cultivate a love of reading.
The Science of Reading Star Awards recognize educators who go above and beyond to make evidence-based instruction a reality. For Ms. Vargas and her rich history with Jefferson Elementary, earning the Science of Reading Rookie of the Year Award affirms the passion and purpose she carries with her into her teaching. Not just for her, but for her family too, as well as her students.
“This opportunity is really amazing. It's a big honor for me and for my family as well.” Vargas said. “I was a first generation student. I'm the first teacher, first one to go through university and everything. So it's… it's a really big achievement.”