Personal+Statement


 * Personal Statement **

I grew up in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. The Caribbean Rain Forest was my playground.

My school curriculum was modeled after the USA system, but instruction and content delivery followed a more student-centered model. Students were responsible for their own learning, while teachers functioned as lecturers, mentors, and facilitators.

We were poor, having small resources for books and supplies. The teaching, however, was first-rate. Early instruction in reading; and languages (Spanish, English, French, German, and Latin) were presented as energetically as Mathematics, History, and Science. It was in these early years that cultural awareness and acceptance of others was inculcated.

It was my Third Grade teacher who motivated me to learn Spanish and English as my primary languages; a choice that I have never regretted making. She was a barrier-breaker, teaching me to over-come my academic and social obstacles. Because of her, I am the teacher I now am. Because of her, I have always wanted to be that kind of teacher in my students’ lives.

The learning experiences in those classrooms with unglazed windows and doorless doorways gave me a passion for travel, adventure, and exploration beyond the confines of the Island. Early admittance to the University of Puerto Rico also broadened my cultural experiences, since most of my classmates were from other parts of the world. For instance, my roommate was from Saudi Arabia. We talked in English, I helped her with her Spanish, we compared notes on Islam and Catholicism, deserts and rain forests. Both of my daughters, when they came along, got Arabic names.

Joining the United States Army in the mid-eighties brought a wonderful opportunity to work in Japan, Guam, South Korea, and Germany, as well as to polish my English skills among speakers of the various regional North American accents.

Following this service, I returned to the USA to finish my college education. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Secondary Education with a Middle School Endorsement, a Master of Library Service, and post-graduate certificates in administration as Supervisor, Principal, and School Administrator. These credentials led to 20 years as a middle school Spanish teacher and high school librarian, with various accreditation projects for the Superintendent thrown in.

During my four years in Europe at the Wrocław International School, I earned certificates as a Middle Years Program Coordinator (Category 3), an MYP Reader and Consultant, an MYP School Evaluator, and an MYP Workshop Leader.

The lifelong friends and colleagues are part of the fringe benefits of being an international educator.