Ms. Ly Is Students' Pick for 2025 Teacher of the Year

Ms. Ly poses with some of her AP Bio students at Midwood Field. Photo: Cynthia Ly

By HAN XIN OU YANG
This year, AP Biology and medical issues teacher Ms. Cynthia Ly is the winner of the 2025 City of Midwood Teacher of the Year Award, as voted on by the students.

Ms. Ly has been teaching for seven years, with her career starting “in the most unexpected but rewarding way — with preschoolers,” she said. Those early years taught Ms. Ly the value of patience and finding joy in small discoveries.

“I remember walking into the classroom eager to share everything I knew but quickly realizing that teaching wasn’t just about content — it was about connection,” Ms. Ly said. “I learned to listen to [and notice if] they were confused or curious, and to adjust my approach in real time. Watching them have those ‘aha’ moments made all the challenges worth it.”

Later, when she taught middle schoolers, she learned to channel students’ curiosity into deeper critical thinking.

“By the time I began teaching high school and AP Biology, I had learned that teaching is about meeting students where they are, nurturing their curiosity, and helping them grow into confident, independent thinkers,” she said.

The experiences she carries with her are evident in the knowledge passed on to her students.

“Ms. Ly makes sure we understand the class materials beyond the textbook pages,” said Abiha Asif ‘26. “She makes class more enjoyable, often giving us interesting real-world facts related to each day’s topic. The class was always laughing, and she has really fostered a nurturing environment.”

“I was pushed academically as a student in her class, but Ms. Ly has always supported me if I needed to make up assignments,” said Jonathan Alvarado ‘26.

For Ms. Ly, who is a graduate of Midwood herself, the most challenging parts of teaching can be when a student seems to lose confidence or feel overwhelmed, especially in a demanding course like AP Biology.

“There have been times where I’ve had to pause a lesson to simply listen, encourage, and remind a student that one grade doesn’t define their worth,” Ms. Ly said. “But through those challenges, I’ve learned patience, empathy, and the importance of flexibility.”

Many of Ms. Ly’s students said that her positive attitude made class different and exciting.

“What distinguishes her from other teachers is her relatability,” said Luis Olvera ‘26. “She was able to connect with us, not only as our teacher but as a friend.”

Samantha Lam ‘25 said, “Even for the quieter students, she created a warm, family-like environment where everyone felt included and supported. She truly made AP Biology an unforgettable experience, and she very much deserves this award.”

“I am taking her class this year, and her note packets and interactive labs have really helped me on exams,” said Minling Mei ‘26. “Ms. Ly is one of those teachers I will remember for her creativity that shines every day.”

“Her classes are definitely the kind you don’t see very often,” said Amy Zhu ‘25. “One thing I appreciate is that she makes them fun and engaging while also educational.”

There have been many memorable moments that Ms. Ly reflects back on, like during a teaching project where students created and presented their own biology lessons. “I'm glad many of them took the assignment very seriously because they showed up dressed professionally — blazers, dresses, glasses, clipboards — the whole look. They called themselves ‘mini-Ms. Ly's,’ and honestly, they pulled it off perfectly,” she said.

Senior Xin Ying Lu said, “Overall, Ms. Ly is not only a good teacher but an inspirational one. She even encourages her students to give back to the community by making arts and crafts books for sick children.”

The years Ms. Ly has been teaching have nurtured future generations of leaders and innovators who think for themselves. She continues to make an impact in the classroom, advocating for students’ education and success. As she says, “Think like a scientist, fail like an experiment, and grow like a cell — that’s how learning happens.”