'The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.'
- B. B. King
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I am a fish out of water. Born and raised in the enchanted island, Puerto Rico, the most beautiful spot in the Caribbean (I am biased, of course), where I used to spend lots of time free diving and enjoying this adventure called life. I am a mom to 3 amazing human beings, a teacher "mom" to several students who I am fortunate to still have in my life, and a Gigi to Eli and Amaya, who have offered me a new understanding of what love is. My hobbies are enjoying music, dancing, singing, cooking, running, and being a handywoman and a DIY junky; yes, I will build and repair almost anything. I have a Master's Degree in Education from Cambridge College and I've been an educator for over 23 years. In 2021 I wrote my first books, When I Was Invisible and Cuando yo era invisible, in which I share the moment my fifth grade teacher changed my life forever. ¡Gracias Maestra Melendez!
For 3 years, I was able to coach Instructional Coaches, while collaborating with district and campus leaders, as well as teachers, to target specific needs and improve classroom instruction through effective, evidence-based best practices that when implemented with fidelity, lead to student improvement. I was also able to provide relevant and needs-based professional learning to educators in all levels in the district and had the opportunity to present at TexTesol and Learning Forward North Texas conferences. And to top it all, I am a proud Holdsworth alumni. Currently, I am working on developing awareness of the impact of culture in the classroom through Cultural Relevance professional development. This has led to essential discussions of the need to create a sense of belonging for our students and to nurture their inherent brilliance and potential by validating their uniqueness and by leveraging their cultural capital. It is a passion of mine to drive this work in order to know our students at a deeper level, to build relationships, establish trust, and allow our students to feel connected to learning and to their teachers while affirming their identity. |
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Through my Cultural Relevance Implementation, LLC, I am able to share this impactful work with other districts while continuing to design and refine a well structure model to effectively achieve implementation and transform our students education through cultural connections.
Last year I joined the World Languages Department in Arlington ISD to promote biliteracy and bilingualism while honoring our students' cultures by becoming a Dual Language Immersion Instructional Specialist. I am excited at the opportunities available for students in this program and for my role in that effort.
Last year I joined the World Languages Department in Arlington ISD to promote biliteracy and bilingualism while honoring our students' cultures by becoming a Dual Language Immersion Instructional Specialist. I am excited at the opportunities available for students in this program and for my role in that effort.
Career highlights
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