Boca High instructor's care and comfort earn her teacher-of-the-year kudos —and a trip to Disney World

Near the Batman and Harry Potter posters, Aurora Dominguez has built a safe space in her classroom — a snug library with bean bag chairs for students who need a stress break. Pop music blasts from the speakers as teens file in before school to talk about their hopes and dreams.

Her room is full of superheroes — and not just the ones on the wall, Dominguez says.

But this year, Dominguez has been recognized as a caped crusader in her own right, first landing the title Boca Raton High School’s Teacher of the Year and then becoming one of only 50 teachers in the country to be honored by Disney.

“It’s all about being there for my students and understanding their time in high school,” Dominguez said. “We’ve all been there.”

The journalist-turned-teacher was among those plucked from a field of 5,800 applicants nationally who submitted stories of how they use imagination-powered learning in ways that drive change in the lives of students and communities.

Dominguez is in school to teach them advanced writing and thinking skills, but she brings more than lesson plans to the students. She is able to relate the stress and struggles that sometime walk in with them.

The 40-year-old has struggled as well. She has bipolar disorder, and knows first-hand how mental health, when unaddressed, can interfere with life.

“Even though I go to therapy and I’m on medication, I don’t see it as a stigma,” Dominguez said. “I see it as something that helps me be better every day, especially for my students.”

That’s why each day, Dominguez emphasizes the importance of self-care — which can be anything from spending time with friends, to reading a book, watching a movie or just being present. This is why she has a “time out” spot and bean bag chairs in her classroom, where students can bring a computer and work or just take a moment.

“Yes, school and exams are important, as well as homework and grades; but, they need to be mentally healthy before they can work on their daily lives,” Dominguez said.

She’s also flexible with them and makes sure to gauge how they’re feeling before setting deadlines.

“Because to me, anxiety and stress cause me bipolar episodes,” Dominguez said. “Since I understand this, I make sure to work with them and be there for them.”

Like her colleagues across the country, Dominguez said she's seeing more students grappling with mental-health issues such as depression and anxiety, while still trying to juggle school work.

Dominguez says she can relate.

When working as a journalist, the constant deadlines were challenging. And so was keeping up with so many celebrities — she covered the cast of "Jurassic World” in Hawaii in 2015, and wrote about the likes of Joe Jonas, Bella Thorne and the band The Killers.

“Although I met amazing people and had amazing experiences as a journalist, it didn’t leave enough time for me, and I felt overwhelmed and lonely,” she said.

She was in her 20s when the really high highs and really low lows made her realize she needed help. Eventually Dominguez was diagnosed with bipolar. Getting help made her stronger, and, she said, vaulted her to this most recent honor from Disney.

Dominguez was shocked to learn that her essay describing her teaching strategies had landed her in an elite winners circle.

“It’s such an honor, especially since I went from the newsroom to the classroom, and it was such a career change,” said Dominguez, of Hollywood. “I fell in love with teaching as an adjunct college professor and have not looked back since. I love this job and my students.”

As a reward for her motherly advice and expert teaching, Dominguez will be treated to four days at Walt Disney World Resort over Memorial Day Weekend. The stay will include time in the parks, sessions with Disney executives and the company's renowned "Imagineers."

“She just has something about her that connects with the students,” Boca High Principal Susie King said. “She goes out of her way to make sure that the students are happy and understanding the lesson. She meets the students where they are.”

Having overcome adversity herself, when Dominguez sees one of her students struggling, she talks to them when there’s a break in her teaching. She might refer the tougher cases to a guidance counselor. She said she can’t help but be a mother to her students.

“Sometimes they get a little hesitant, but I tell them it takes bravery, it takes courage,” Dominguez said. “You need to keep trying. That first meeting is not going to be the meeting that fixes all your problems. It takes your inner strength.”

With encouragement from her husband, Sebastian, the Puerto Rico native took a job at Boca Raton High in 2015 after teaching at various colleges.

“I still remember that first day at Boca High like it was yesterday,” Dominguez said. “I’m so happy to be here and adore being a Bobcat, and the doors it has opened.”

From the beginning, she’s taught underclassmen in college prep courses, such as AICE and Advanced Placement, where stress can run high.

Her winning Disney essay detailed her creative ideas and “the importance of differentiating lessons” for all students, to meet them at their level.

Next year, she plans to become adviser to the school’s news newsmagazine, allowing her to exercise her journalism skills.

For now, she’s thrilled to depart for Disney on May 26, where visits to the theme parks and chats with the creative geniuses behind the scenes await.

Dominguez has always enjoyed engaging with the people around her. Her favorite parts of the day is in between classes, when she stands at her door, cracking jokes with colleagues, friends, and students. Greeting them daily “is a blast,” she said.

But Dominguez said she gets the biggest charge helping students when they're down or feeling lost.

“My students know I understand mental health struggles and that they can count on me if they're having a bad day,” she said.

Her ultimate superhero power: giving her students hope.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca High teacher Aurora Dominguez  one of 50 chosen for Disney World trip