Milwaukee bilingual counselor named a Wisconsin Teacher of the Year

MILWAUKEE - Ana Báez, a bilingual counselor at Milwaukee's South Division High School, has been named a 2025 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year.

State Superintendent Jill Underly made the announcement during a surprise school assembly on Thursday morning, May 9.

Báez helps students who are learning English identify and remove barriers from pursuing and achieving academic success. Prior to working at MPS, she was a bilingual case manager – advocating for bilingual families to receive education about health care services.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

"I work everyday not to be recognized, I work every day to make a difference in these students' lives, because I am these students," said Báez. "I was then, I am them, they are me, and I want them to succeed."

Báez is the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants, a news release said. She grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Milwaukee Public Schools.