WORCESTER, Mass. — Jennifer Adams is a third-grade teacher for the Dual Language Program at Worcester’s Chandler Magnet/La Familia Elementary. While the field narrows this week for the Reader’s Digest: ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’ competition, she’s focused on finishing up a mural in the school’s main hallway.

“I love that it's right here in the middle. And eventually, we're going to have an acrylic sign made which will have the new name of the school because we just merged together two schools, La Familia and Chandler Magnet.”

Adams is in her 17th year of teaching elementary students. She grew up in Worcester and is a product of Worcester Public Schools herself. The Dual Language teacher is hoping to inspire students with the mural she’s been working on for months.

“I think there's a lot of value in the kids seeing me paint because they're seeing exactly how much time," Adams said. "This is probably my 25th hour now working on it. So, them seeing the progress from just a stencil, to now what it is and eventually the final product; I think that's teaching the kids a lot and patience and time and really working hard to reach your goals.”

Now another goal for Adams is being named ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’. After entering this year’s contest, she’s in the top 15, and voting for the top 10 ends this Thursday (April 18). Adams said it would be an honor to celebrate the career she loves.

“To be America's favorite teacher, I think really would bring everything full circle that I've traveled to different places, but this has always been my career," Adams said. "I went to UMass Amherst, I got my masters in elementary education, so it would be a fulfillment of my dreams.”

Adams has taught in various places in the U.S., including a school in Puerto Rico where she painted a mosaic that still stands. She said celebrating the diversity of her students and their families has been a major part of the career which brought her back to her hometown of Worcester.

“One of the biggest things for me is really the diversity of the community and that's one thing I'm going to include in the mural," Adams said. "Each of these is going to turn into a flag of the students and teachers that work at this school. So, really representing the multiculturalism that we have here, and that's definitely the most important part of Worcester to me. I just feel like the city offers so much culture.”

Voting for the top 10 of the Reader’s Digest: ’America’s Favorite Teacher’ contest ends Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m.

The winner will get a trip to Hawaii and a cash award.