Blind Educator of the Year Award Presentation
Presented by Robin House
ROBIN HOUSE: Thank you, and good morning President Riccobono, Board of Directors, and members and guests at the National Federation of the Blind. It is my privilege and my honor to present the 2023 Blind Educator of the Year Award. To help me during this presentation, we have a Spanish interpreter, Shalmarie Arroyo Mercado, who will be interpreting the recipient's comments and my comments as well.
I also want to share that the Blind Educator of the Year Committee gets together and makes this important decision, and I want to thank them for their work. The members of the committee this year include Vernon Humphrey, Cayte Mendez, Melissa Riccobono, and Adelmo Vigil.
I want to provide a bit of history about the Blind Educator of the Year Award. This award is presented and has been presented for over thirty years now and began with the National Organization of Blind Educators. The importance and prestige of this award means that we don't award it every year. We only award it in years when a suitable candidate has been nominated and the committee agrees on the recipient.
Again, it's my pleasure and privilege to be able to announce the 2023 Blind Educator of the Year. Let me tell you some information about him. He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in special education from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in San German.
He holds certification in visual impairment from the Central University of Bayamón. He teaches Braille, orientation and mobility, and blindness skills to students. Additionally, he works with children K-12 in the special education program and mainstream education. He provides Braille instruction to parents and caregivers at the Lola Rodriguez de Tio School.
His philosophy of blindness is in line with the National Federation of the Blind, and he has been involved in the organization for many years and has been instrumental in building and rebuilding the Puerto Rican affiliate.
In terms of the educator that he is, he believes in his students' strengths, abilities, and capabilities.
Fun fact: he is also a mechanic, involved with the Boy Scouts, and has two sons. The 2023 Blind Educator of the Year is Tomás Cintrón.
Congratulations, Tomás. We have a plaque in both Braille and print, and I will read the inscription in a moment. And to go along with the plaque, we have a check for $1,000.
Here we go:
BLIND EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
PRESENTED TO
Tomás Cintrón
In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the teaching profession
YOU ENHANCE THE PRESENT;
YOU INSPIRE YOUR COLLEAGUES;
YOU BUILD THE FUTURE;
July 3, 2023.
[Applause]
TOMÁS CINTRÓN: Good morning to all. In 1992 when I became blind, I thought my life was over. But I met the National Federation of the Blind Puerto Rico affiliate and my vision about blindness and my own life changed. In 1993 I came to my first convention here in Texas. So now in 2023, it's my thirty-year anniversary of being initiated to the philosophy of liberation and living it throughout those thirty years.
When I decided to become a teacher, it was because I wanted my blind students to have the opportunities I did not have when I was growing up and in school. When I decided to become a teacher, it wasn't only to be a good teacher but to give my students the security, opportunity, and equality that we practice in the Federation. So for me, I am not only proud to be a part of this big NFB family, but also to contribute to the Puerto Rico affiliate by being its current first vice president. All of this I do to help Hispanics in Puerto Rico to achieve and live their dreams. Thank you. [Applause]