Vanessa Granados, a sixth-grade Reading Language Arts teacher and bilingual coordinator at Sgt. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School has been selected for the 2026 Teaching Shakespeare Institute, hosted by the prestigious Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.
Granados is among a select group of middle and high school educators from across the nation chosen for this institute, which focuses on bringing Shakespeare’s works to life through research-based instructional practices. Participants will engage in an intensive study of Shakespeare’s works as well as classroom-ready instructional strategies. The institute will take place from June 28 to July 17, 2026.
“It is both humbling and affirming because being selected for an institute of this caliber shows that the work being done is valued beyond the classroom. This honor represents an opportunity to grow professionally while bringing nationally recognized scholarship and practices back to my classroom and my Puentes community,” Granados said.
In 2026, Granados was honored as Teacher of the Year at her school and was also recognized as an Elite 8 finalist for Socorro ISD’s Teacher of the Year award in the secondary school division. The winners of the elementary and secondary school Teacher of the Year awards will be announced on May 8.
Granados said she plans to apply the strategies learned at TSI to engage all learners, including newcomer students.
“Shakespeare is complex, yet timeless and relatable. The institute will give me the tools and strategies to make Shakespeare accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all learners,” said Granados, who has been teaching at Puentes Middle School for nearly four years.
She added, “My students are insightful, emotionally intelligent, resilient, and very curious. These qualities are reflected in the themes Shakespeare explores, such as identity, belonging, power, love, and conflict. With the knowledge and experience gained from this institute, I aim to help my students see themselves in the text and recognize that their voices and lived experiences belong in literature.”