Michelle Turonek
2017
Pontotoc, MS
Pontotoc City Junior High School
![](/sites/www/files/styles/unsung_hero/public/unsung_hero_portraits/MS_Michelle%20Turonek.JPG.webp?itok=5qBjfYex)
Turonek’s innovative teaching idea, “Dramatic Spanish!,” focuses on creating a unique and adapted Spanish curriculum which merges technology and film production to engage Spanish learners. The Voya grant will provide the school with props, costumes, and recording equipment necessary for producing new and original theater productions in Spanish each week. Turonek believes that this teaching strategy enables students to use their artistic and creative ideas to bring to life original stories, while simultaneously increasing understanding and comprehension of the Spanish language.