MS. De LA CRUZ

Ms. Yandira De La Cruz is an ELA teacher whose classroom is built on safety, structure, and unconditional belief in every student. She creates an environment grounded in mindfulness, patience, accountability, and love — and she means it when she says she will forgive a student a hundred times if that's what it takes. Before joining BCHS, Ms. De La Cruz taught ELA and occasionally instructed yoga — a practice that informs her calm, grounded approach to both teaching and life. Students learn quickly that she is non-confrontational, relatable, and serious when the moment calls for it. She also walks the walk: Ms. De La Cruz left high school in 11th grade and had to complete her diploma at YABC Kennedy — which is exactly why she understands her students on a level that goes beyond the classroom. Her message to every scholar is direct: "The sky is not the limit — the only limit is your mind." She believes teenagers succeed when adults care.