Tag Archives: Latino American Teachers

Teachers who were Latino Americans, or who worked with Latino American student populations.

Dr. Arlene Kramer pioneered bilingual education programs in Colorado

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Arlene Kramer devoted her career as an educator as a pioneer and champion of bilingual education. Photo Credit: Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame

There are many educators who achieve monumental contributions to their profession. One of these was Arlene Vigil Kramer, a pioneer educator. She devoted her career to championing bilingual education for non-English speaking students.

Arlene was born April 1, 1938, in Colorado. As a young woman, she attended the University of Colorado, where she earned both her Master’s and PhD degrees. In fact, she was the first Latina to earn a PhD degree in Education.

After completing her education, Arlene inaugurated her career in public schools in 1959 when she accepted a position as a second grade teacher at Spann Elementary School in Pueblo, Colorado. At the time, 80% of her students had limited mastery of the English language. To help meet the needs of bilingual students, Arlene designed the first bilingual instruction curriculum used in the state of Colorado. Her efforts ultimately led to landmark legislation in 1975 that mandated bilingual education programs for all Colorado children who were learning English is a second language. Later Arlene expanded her work in to include high school and college-age students.

But Arlene’s contributions to the contributions did not end there. She was a founding member and the first Vice President of the Colorado Association for Bilingual and Bi-Cultural Education (CABBE). She was also a member of the National Head Start Bilingual Programs Overview Board, the Child Welfare League of America, and the National Council de La Raza. In 1979, she was a co-founder of Adelante Mujer, an organization that works to prepare high school and college Latinas for their future careers. She also served as a Dean of the School of Professional Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

For her body of work, Arlene was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 2016. That same year, she was named an inductee into the Latina Legacy Circle.

 

MD teacher Edwin Perez garners 2024 Latinx Educator of the Year Award

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Spanish teacher Edwin Perez of Maryland has garnered a 2024 Latinx Educator Award. Photo Credit: Maryland State Education Association

There are many outstanding educators throughout our country who have been honored for their work in the classroom. One of these is Edwin Perez, a teacher from Baltimore, Maryland. He has garnered the 2024 Latinx Educator of the Year Award from the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC).

Edwin teaches at Parkville High School, where he has worked for three years. He instructs courses in Advanced Placement Spanish Language & Culture; Spanish IV Honors; and Spanish IV Honors for Heritage Speakers. Before teaching at Parkville, he taught in Baltimore City for seven years.

The honored educator received his award during the Latinx Educator Awards Reception held in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 8. This year, 116 educators from around the country were nominated. According to LEC community engagement director Ivan Ramirez, this is not Edwin’s first nomination for the award. “People see his impact year after year and continue to nominate him,” Ramírez remarked. “Edwin excels at embodying the Latinx Educator Values and has proven to be a leader in education.”

In addition to his work with students, Edwin serves as the Chair of the Minority Affairs Committee of TABCO (Teachers Association of Baltimore County). As an educational leader, Edwin takes his role very seriously. “My concept of leadership has evolved,” he says. “I learned that leadership is more than just a job. It is more than an assignment. It is greater than a title. It is for life. I see that successful leadership is not just a top-down approach—it must be collaborative and inclusive,” he continues. “And I have learned that training, empowerment, collaboration, opportunity, and representation are key to the success of minority leaders,” he concludes.

Edwin, who is a graduate of Baltimore public schools, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Florida State University in 2003.

NV teacher Yamilet Lopez garners prestigious 2024 Milken Educator Award

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Nevada teacher Yamilet Lopez has garnered a prestigious 2024 Milken Educator Award. Photo Credit: Milken

Teachers all over the country are getting excited to learn that the winners of the prestigious 2024 Milken Awards are being announced. Today, I am excited to share the news that one of the recipients is Yamilet Lopez, an elementary school teacher from Nevada.

Teacher Magazine has described the Milken Educator Awards as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work together to strengthen best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Yamilet teaches kindergartners at Alice Maxwell School in Reno. There she develops hands-on, enriching instruction that not only prepares her students for the transition to first grade, but also equips them with language and vocabulary skills that surpass typical kindergarten standards. And the progress her students make is measurable. For example, by the end of the school year, her young students have mastered the entire alphabet, along with each letter’s sound, and they demonstrate the ability to compose short paragraphs. Always seeking new, exciting instructional strategies, Yamilet has developed a method called “spicy writing” to teach students how to add details to their narrative writing.

Yamilet also contributes to professional development. She has participated in the Department Chair Cohort through the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP), where she plays a pivotal role in creating resources and webinars for teachers and promotes positive teacher and parent relationships within the district. Additionally, her involvement as a panelist for the school’s kindergarten town hall shows her dedication to connecting families to the program and ensuring sustained educational success for each child.

Yamilet earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2012. She says she will use her prize money to finance a Master’s degree.

 

 

NM teacher Margaret Herrera Chavez was also a celebrated artist

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There are many examples of talented classroom teachers who have distinguished themselves in other professions. Elementary school teacher and celebrated artist Margaret Herrera Chavez is a shining example of this.

Margaret was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1912, the daughter of ranchers. She was raised in Gascon, Mora County, New Mexico. As a young woman, Margaret worked as an elementary school teacher. For a time, she also worked for the Works Progress Administration.

Margaret Herrera ChavezIn addition to teaching, Margaret was a self-taught artist. She painted primarily in watercolors and oils, and experimented with printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. She later completed formal training at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She also attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque and the Instituto San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico.

The natural environment of northern New Mexico where she was raised provided the greatest inspiration for Margaret’s art. Her pieces featured mostly broad landscapes painted in light colors. Margaret’s Nuevo Mexicana art pieces were so exceptional that she was able to exhibit her work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she won several prizes. Currently, her pieces are part of the permanent collection of Highlands University, the New Mexico Museum of Art, and the Museum of International Folk Art.

In addition to her own successes, the former teacher was eager to promote the work of other emerging women artists. She was able to accomplish this as a member of the Hispanic Cultural Society, the New Mexico Education Association, and the National Education Association. She also served as the president of the Albuquerque branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

Margaret passed away in Alburquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, in 1992. To read more about this educator and artist, see Printmakers You Should Know.

NM elem teacher Magali Gomez garners 2023—2024 Milken Educator Award

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Elementary school teacher Magali Gomez of New Mexico garners prestigious 2023—2024 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

There are many excellent public school teachers who deserve recognition. One of them is Magali Gomez of Deming, New Mexico. She has garnered a prestigious 2023—2024 Milken Educator Award.

Magali teaches fifth graders at Ruben S. Torres Elementary School. In her classroom, she emphasizes project-based learning in her curriculum. For example, she teaches her students how to use data-trackers to chart their own growth as they learn new sight words; incorporates color-coded strategies for teaching math; and teaches communications skills through a hands-on journalism project that encourages students to use data-driven journalism techniques to inform their writing.

And the results of Magali’s efforts are measurable. “Her ability to adapt the latest evidence-based teaching models to relatable lessons for her students has produced tremendous academic achievement growth in reading, math, and language,” declares Dr. Arsenio Romero, New Mexico Secretary of Public Education.

Magali’s leadership extends beyond her classroom, into the school campus and the local community. She is viewed as a leader and mentor among her colleagues. She also serves as a court-appointed advocate for foster children; an honorary board member of Playsharity, a hands-on children’s museum; and an adjunct professor in social work at Western New Mexico University. As if all the were not enough, she often helps non-native English speakers with taxes or benefit applications, she cares for the homeless, and she helps migrant families adjust to their new lives in Deming.

Magali earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Western New Mexico University in 2012. She earned a Master’s degree in Social Work in 2017 and a second Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching in 2021, both from the same university.

Teacher Magazine has described the Milken Educator Awards as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work together to strengthen best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.