Hometown
Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate education
Artsof Education, Secondary Level, History, University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras Campus
Employer
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and Edgewood College
Job title
Bilingual Resource Teacher and Dual Language Immersion Coordinator at Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School for MMSD, Adjunct Professor for Edgewood College
Were there specific experiences and skills that helped you get your job?
Being bilingual has been one of the skills that has helped me in my career. In the leadership position of DLI coordinator that my principal has given me, the knowledge of bilingual education and language acquisition has been an asset.
What are your career aspirations?
I aspire to be a dean or an assistant principal.
How are you using what you learned in the Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation Program (WIPP) on the job?
The learning of the WIIP has been valuable. It has helped me develop my role as a coordinator and understand how the school system works from other perspectives, such as allocation, scheduling, hiring processes, and how to change the school culture to a more positive one.
What experiences shaped your decision to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership?
As a teacher, I was always attracted to being a school leader because, being bilingual and having a diverse cultural background, I understand and empathize with the students, and I want to facilitate their learning.
What attracted you to the WIPP? Did you consider anywhere else?
What attracted me was the online format and the flexibility to take classes at home due to work and family commitments.
What was your most rewarding experience at the WIPP?
The most rewarding experience was doing the practicum hours at my school. It provided me with a new lens of how things work in school and an understanding of the principal role that many teachers are unaware of.
What was your most challenging experience at the WIPP?
There are a lot of readings and journaling for the practicum, but I believe that it prepared me and allowed me to reflect on the work I was doing and what I could do in the leadership role.
Why would you recommend the WIPP to a prospective student?
The program is exceptionally well-structured and offers valuable experiences for those who aspire to become leaders. The instructors are highly accessible and provide support whenever needed, enhancing the overall learning experience.
What awards or honors have you received since graduating from the WIPP?
After the program, I found that the knowledge I gained significantly enriched my ability to teach and prepare future educators. As a result of this growth, I was honored to receive the Adjunct Instructor of the Year award last year at Edgewood College.
If any WIPP alumni, faculty members, or friends have helped you with your career path, who was it and how did he or she assist?
Dr. Sara Jimenez Soffa is the faculty member who encouraged and guided me to the program. She was the one who told me I could do it. My husband has always been supportive of my career path choices.
Is there anything you’d like to add or emphasize?
I was one of the thousands of people who moved from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria hit the island. For some, this move was bold and drastic, but for me, it has been a blessing. Being here in Madison has opened up more professional opportunities for me and encouraged me to embrace a path of leadership that I would not have considered in the past. I encourage others to make bold decisions and not to be afraid. Having family and friends supporting you is also a great motivator and can push you to pursue meaningful and rewarding experiences.
Favorite book, podcast, app, …
Books: anything about history, education, and memoirs. Podcast: Trevor Noah, What Now?, App: Facebook, Instagram
People would be surprised to know that I …
I paint sometimes for therapy and to relax when I have the time.