Teacher Spotlight: How Mr. Osorno Connects History, Heritage, and Students Through Online Learning 

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 through October 15, is a time to honor culture, identity, and the many contributions of Hispanic Americans. For iQ Academy of California, Los Angeles (iQLA), it is also an opportunity to recognize educators who embody that spirit in the classroom every day. One of those teachers is Mr. Frank Osorno, a high school history teacher who uses his own background and experiences to inspire students and connect them to the lessons of the past. 

Building Connection Through Shared Stories 

Mr. Osorno began teaching at iQLA in 2024 after years of working with students in traditional in-person classrooms. The move to online learning gave him a new perspective on how students engage with history and with each other. He often invites them to connect lessons to their own lives and share their perspectives with classmates. 

“Sharing my story with my students, and hearing theirs, creates a connection that goes beyond a textbook,” he explains.  

In one class, a student tied her home country’s history to a lesson discussion, sparking conversation and curiosity among classmates who might not have otherwise encountered that perspective. These moments, Mr. Osorno says, show students that history is not only something to study but something they are living and shaping. 

Inspiring What’s Possible 

For Mr. Osorno, teaching is about more than covering the curriculum. It is also about showing students what is possible. “For my Hispanic students to see someone like me, from their background, now a teacher, it shows them how far they can go,” he says 

Representation, he believes, is powerful. His presence in the classroom reminds students that their voices, their heritage, and their goals matter. 

Creating a Safe and Accessible Learning Space 

For many Hispanic families, barriers such as transportation or long work hours can make attending traditional school challenging. Mr. Osorno says online learning helps remove those obstacles and opens new possibilities for families. Parents can remain engaged, students have more freedom, and families can be assured that their children are learning in a welcoming and supportive environment. 

He also makes himself available beyond class time, meeting with students on Zoom, answering questions by email, and ensuring no one falls behind. “Online learning lets students reach out beyond class time. That accessibility changes everything,” he says. 

Celebrating Identity and Progress  

For Mr. Osorno, teaching is about more than lessons in the classroom. It gives him the chance to highlight the contributions of Hispanic Americans in his history lessons while also showing students that their own stories are part of that ongoing legacy. To him, education is both a celebration of identity and progress, and an opportunity for students to take pride in who they are as they shape their future. 

Through his teaching, he demonstrates that culture and education are deeply interconnected and that both can serve as a source of inspiration for the next generation.