My guest today is Sonya Romero, more commonly know as The Hero Teacher featured on Ellen in March of 2015. Her Ellen interview has more than 8 million views and climbing. Sonya has won several awards for her humanitarian efforts including a Congressional Award. Before Sonya entered the classroom she began her university studies in journalism and communications but went back to obtain a second bachelors in education. In 2004 she completed her masters and is currently working on her PHD. Sonya is Executive Vice President of Albuquerque Federation of Teachers and helps create content for the professional development courses they provide. You can find Sonya in her kindergarten classroom most weekdays at Lee Wallace Elementary in Albuquerque, New Mexico where her mission is to make every child feel safe. She accomplishes this by meeting each student's basic needs first by ensuring all children are fed and have comfortable clothes. Once that foundation is established she finds it much easier to build the love of learning into her students. In this interview we talk about how to build those important teacher/student relationships, solutions to help students the are negatively impacted by poverty and how her life has changed after being featured on Ellen. Researching and speaking with Sonya makes me want to work harder and give more. She is such a positive and generous spirit it's hard not to be transformed just listening to her speak so please enjoy this conversation with Sonya Romero.