Why did you decide to become an educator?
I decided to become an educator because I wanted to help, teach and empower my community. I live in a community where 80% of the population speak English as a second language, and 10 % speak English as a third language because their mother tongue represents a minority in their native country. I taught adults for four years through a General Education Development program offered in one of the local schools in the area. I learned to admire my students for the sacrifice and effort that they showed attending class after working for eight hours or more picking vegetables from the fields and under the sun. My happiest memory from those years is the pictures of their graduations. Currently, I am helping them to educate their children working as a first grade teacher in a bilingual elementary school. I hope that I am helping to close gaps for the community.
What do you love about your school?
After seven years working for the same team and welcoming new members every year, I love how this school has turn into a second family for me. It is not only the staff, but the smiles of the students every morning that make me feel like I am at home with my family. My former and new students make me feel welcome every morning, and my team makes me feel essential and comfortable everywhere. Also, I love to teach my first language and have the opportunity to teach language learners how to embrace and respect different cultures through our bilingual program. In this school, I had seen my students grow and flourish through learning in different seasons of their lives, and that is a unique experience for any educator (from K-7th grade).
Why is it important that lower income children can attend a school of choice?
The fact that lower income children can attend schools of choice helps them to have an equal opportunity to succeed in their education.
