From Mall Manager to Math Mentor: Dr. Brandi De La Cruz Named Tennessee Teacher of the Year Finalist

Dr. Brandi De La Cruz with her Collierville High School Teacher of the Year award plaque.

Dr. Brandi De La Cruz never set out to become a teacher. In fact, she once dreamed of becoming the next Martha Stewart. But what began as a spur-of-the-moment decision to leave retail eventually blossomed into a celebrated career in education—and now, she’s one of Tennessee’s nine 2025–26 Teacher of the Year Finalists.

Currently teaching Algebra II and dual enrollment Calculus at Collierville High School, De La Cruz is known for her vibrant classroom culture, deep student connections, and unwavering belief that any child can do math.

An Unconventional Path to the Classroom

De La Cruz earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Mississippi Valley State University, graduating magna cum laude. She landed her first job as a retail manager, but a chance encounter with a teacher changed everything.

“I was managing a Finish Line store and unhappy I had to work Thanksgiving,” she recalled. “The very next day, a teacher walked in and mentioned how desperate her school was for a math teacher. I thought, why not?”

By Monday, she had accepted a position at a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, teaching math to high school seniors, most of whom had already failed it once. The experience proved transformative. She soon enrolled in a graduate program and later completed her Ph.D. in education at the University of Mississippi, where she studied how the COVID-19 pandemic affected student learning.

A Teacher Who Meets Students Where They Are

Despite her accolades, De La Cruz doesn’t pretend to have always been a math whiz.

“I wasn’t a strong math student myself,” she admitted. “My best friend’s teacher even gave me a sympathy C.”

It’s this honesty and a deep well of empathy that helps her connect with students who struggle. On the first day of school, De La Cruz hands out a “test,” but it’s not about numbers. Instead, students learn about her as a person: a mom, a Texas Longhorns fan, and a baseball lover. 

“I want them to know I’m human,” she said. “Then I ask them to write me a private letter about anything they want me to know. Some share grief. Others share anxiety. That’s how we become a family, and once they know I care, they listen.”

A Classroom Philosophy Rooted in Belief and Belonging

Dr. De La Cruz teaches what she calls the “De La Cruz Team,” not just a class. Every student, whether in special education or preparing for college calculus, is treated with the same respect and encouragement.

“My motto is simple: Every child can do math,” she said. “Even if your mom failed math or you’ve failed it before, I believe in you.”

One former student even returned to her classroom recently as a student teacher from the University of Memphis.

“She said, ‘I’m becoming a math teacher because of you.’ That was one of the proudest moments of my career,” De La Cruz shared, audibly beaming.

Expanding the Definition of Success

A passionate advocate for career and technical education (CTE), De La Cruz wants to see more schools—especially in rural or underserved communities—develop local business partnerships that lead to real-world opportunities.

“We shouldn’t push every student toward two- or four-year colleges,” she said. “Some are meant to be welders, mechanics, or restaurant managers, and they need math, too.”

At Collierville High School, students already benefit from partnerships with major companies like FedEx, but De La Cruz believes this model should be statewide.

“If I’m named Teacher of the Year, I want to champion stronger CTE pipelines and business relationships in all public schools,” she said.

Investing in Educators, Too

Outside the classroom, De La Cruz also invests in her fellow educators. Three years ago, she founded Collierville’s “morale committee,” a support system for new teachers to vent, collaborate, and access the resources they need to thrive.

“Teaching isn’t a solo sport,” she said. “Use your people. Veteran teachers want to help. And don’t give up. I doubted myself for years, but sticking with it is how I got here.”

Looking Ahead: The Future of Math Education

As a finalist for Tennessee Teacher of the Year, De La Cruz is focused on solving a problem familiar to educators statewide: time.

“There’s so much to cover before the end-of-course (EOC) exams,” she said. “And those scores are 15 percent of a student’s grade. But if we had more time, or better yet, more relevant curriculum, students would see how math applies to real-life jobs, even in trades.”

Her vision? A math education that shows students how variables translate to managing a McDonald’s, fixing a car, or running a landscaping business.

Final Thoughts: Advice for the Next Generation of Teachers

What does Dr. De La Cruz hope students walk away with after a year in her classroom?

“That they’re more confident. That they know they’re capable of more than they believed. And that someone truly saw them.”

And to new teachers hoping to make a difference, she offers this advice.

“Lean on your colleagues, give yourself grace, and know it’s okay not to be perfect. The impact comes from staying in it.”