Bilingual Self-Contained Teacher

The most significant factor in becoming an educator was my parents. My mother was the epitome of a nurturer. Always with a warm smile and happy disposition, I learned the most valuable lessons from her. She showed me that kindness and empathy are free to give but could be priceless to the recipient. Always supporting and encouraging me to try my best, my mother cultivated my love for school and was an ever-present source of motivation throughout my life. My passion for history is directly linked to my father, the smartest man I have ever known. While he was a reserved man of few words, hearing stories of his childhood in Cuba gave me a glimpse into the depth of his character. It was these instances which allowed me to see another facet of him and made me appreciate the past and the valuable lessons history can hold. I strive to continue to make them proud and share their legacy through my actions.
Passing forward the belief in my students and building their self-confidence is what I consider to be my greatest contribution and accomplishment. After almost 15 years of teaching combined with my collegiate experience, I have the pleasure of seeing my former students flourish and achieve great things. Nothing gives me deeper joy than hearing how much they enjoyed their time in 217 and hearing that my former “tiny humans” now want to become educators and make a difference as I made when they walked through my door.

I believe that being an exceptional teacher really comes from a combination of traits and dispositions, more than teaching styles. A good teacher must have the ability to meet the students where they are on that particular day and engage them in the collaborative task of learning. Difficult days can be met with strength and endurance, while the good days are the source of motivation and fulfillment. An outstanding teacher has the ability to build capacity, cultivate student strengths, and nurture self- efficacy. Personally, I try to encourage purposeful learning of material and confidence in language acquisition. Best practices in teaching are especially beneficial for bilingual students. While their experiences may be different from what is expected of their age group it does not signify that they cannot be used as the building blocks for establishing connections and affording meaning to the world around them. Exposing students to other cultures, traditions and perspectives allows them to grow and identify their own place in the world. Building this sense of community and appreciation for their background engages them on a deeper level and stays with them as they become part of a larger context.

While the completion of my doctoral dissertation focused on the transition of bilingual students into English Proficiency, the true study lies in the daily achievements of my students as they make their way in the world, knowing Ms. Dorta has great hopes for them.

Personal Assistant

From a young age, I always knew I wanted to be in education. This is because I love working with students, seeing the world through their curious eyes, and guiding them as they discover new ideas. Teaching allows me to nurture their growth, support their learning, and inspire them to reach their full potential. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a student's excitement when they finally grasp a concept they struggled with or seeing their confidence grow as they develop new skills. I believe that education is more than just delivering lessons as it is about building relationships, fostering a love for learning and encouraging students to believe in themselves. Every student has unique strengths, and I am passionate about helping them recognize their abilities and overcome challenges. My dedication to the student's development is what drives me to be the best educator I can be.

My job responsibilities mainly focus on assisting students with their assignments and individual needs on a daily basis. I do so by encouraging proper behavior in order to get them to focus on their learning. This is accomplished through creating a healthy and safe learning environment while minimizing distractions in conjunction with the classroom teachers. Two of the main characteristics I have that make me feel like I am exceptional at my job are always treating my students in a caring and compassionate manner. This allows me to directly impact their success by going out of my way to make to make sure they are achieving socially, interpersonally, and academically. The main tool I use to carry out this goal out on a daily basis is by problem solving in real time. Whenever challenges come up in their learning, I use the problem-solving skills from my training in order to assist them in overcoming their challenges. The joy I feel from seeing my students succeed is the ultimate reward and allows me to keep striving to be a better educator. With all that being said I look forward to continuing to impact students' lives for many years to come.