Tell us why you became a teacher

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I was inspired by some of my teachers who left a lasting impression on me. They were enthusiastic, creative, fun, patient, and truly believed in their students. I remember and appreciate them as a student, and since I became a teacher, I try to bring a bit of each one into my own class.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have had many memorable experiences in my 21 years of teaching. In my new role as a Spanish Enrichment teacher, I love seeing both my students and other children around the school greet me in Spanish with an enthusiastic “¡Hola!” or “¡Buenos días!” It warms my heart and brings a big smile to my face to hear their excitement and pride in using Spanish to communicate. I feel like this is the beginning of planting the seed for language learning.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would first buy Spanish instructional materials to enhance the language and culture learning in my class. I would also love to take my family on a once-in-a lifetime trip to Spain for both personal and professional reasons. My family heritage hails from Spain and the roots of my Puerto Rican culture stems from the Iberian Peninsula. This trip would give me the unique experience to study and learn firsthand my cultural heritage and the opportunity to enhance my teaching as a Spanish educator.