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My passion and
commitment to
improve how children
learn, in particular
children of
underserved
populations stems
from the values
inculcated by my
mother, a former
teacher and nurse.
This passion also
springs from my
older brother who is
an elementary school
teacher and from my
own experiences of
working with kids at
Seattle Public
Schools. As a
teenager I had the
privilege to work as
a counselor in
summer camps for
children from
low-income families.
This early
experience in my
life exposed me to
and gave me a deep
perspective about
the social and
economic nuances
within my culture
and community.
I was born and
raised in Chile and
moved to the United
States in 1998.
I have a Bachelor of
Science in Marine
Biology from the
University of
Concepci?, Chile. I
completed my
professional
practicum at
Plymouth Marine
Laboratory, England
and University of
?ea, Sweden. After
I finished my
undergraduate
degree, I worked as
a Research Assistant
for the University
of Hawaii,
University of
Concepci? as well
as for a Chilean
government
institution. During
that period I had
the opportunity to
teach an
Introductory Marine
Biology course at
the University of
Magallanes. I also
worked as a
volunteer with an
organization for
blind people,
providing reading,
counseling, and
general assistant.
Currently I am
enrolled in a
Masters in Teaching
K-8 program at
Heritage University.
At my current
position as Spanish
Instructional
Assistant in the
Seattle School
District, I have
worked for five
years with k-5
immigrant and
mainstream students,
as well as their
families. Being a
bilingual educator
and working with
kids from all ages
and different
socio-economic and
cultural
backgrounds, has
been one of the
greatest experiences
in my life.
Each of my
experiences in
public education has
given me a clearer
understanding of the
developmental stages
undergone by
students and has
helped me discover
ways to provide them
with what they need
during those
different stages. As
an educator, I have
also learned
strategies for
channeling a
student’s
frustrations into a
positive learning
experience, as well
as the importance of
listening carefully
to what the student
has to say. However,
there are still a
lot of incalculable
matters that I want
and need to learn in
order to become a
more reflective and
effective future
schoolteacher.
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