Bio
I began teaching Spanish in 2005, upon earning a Bachelors of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. I also attended Central Michigan University, where I earned a Masters of Arts degree in Education. Currently, I am enrolled in Clark Atlanta University, where I am working on a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
I am a member of several professional organizations including, American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP), Foreign Language Association of Georgia (FLAG), and Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). I was fortunate enough to be awarded an AP Teacher Scholarship to Spain in 2009 by the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) as well. More recently, I have been recognized by Project GRAD as a 2010 Exemplary Teacher and by my peers and students as 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year at Carver High School of Health Sciences and Research. Currently, I'm a Spanish 2 teacher and Instructional Coach at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, where I have been teaching for the last 6 years.
I am originally from Brooklyn, New York, and I currently reside in Smyrna, Georgia. Culturally, I am African American and Puerto Rican. However, Spanish is my second language; I developed my love and passion for the language as a teenager. Apart from teaching Spanish, I have also had ESL teaching assignments at Gwinnett Technical College, where I instructed adult learners. Additionally, I have been a certified DUI Instructor for the State of Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that all students can learn Spanish, and effective World Language teachers address the individual needs and intelligences of the students to ensure that occurs. It is necessary to incorporate varied and meaningful activities in a student-centered atmosphere in order to keep students engaged in the learning process. I feel it is equally important to be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Spanish language and culture because it will evoke enthusiasm in the students.