Tag Archives: Latino American Teachers

NM teacher Margaret Herrera Chavez was also a celebrated artist

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.

CA elem teacher Ofelia Valdez-Yeager served her local community

Posted on by

Former California elementary teacher Ofelia Valdez-Yeager also served in many capacities in her community in many capacities. Photo credit: Hispanic Lifestyle

Many excellent classroom teachers go on to influential positions within their community. This is true of Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, a former elementary teacher from Riverside, California.

Ofelia was born in Tayoltita, Durango, Mexico, in 1947. The following year, she moved to Tijuana with her family, and ten years after that, they relocated to Montebello, California.  When she enrolled in American schools, she couldn’t speak English, but education was an emphasis in her home, so by the end of the year she finished at the top of her class. Once she graduated from high school, Ofelia began her college yeas at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), in 1965. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 1969, and her elementary teaching certificate in 1971.

Ofelia inaugurated her career as an educator in the Cucamonga School District as a bilingual-bicultural Follow Through teacher, focusing on grades K-3. In those early years, she also worked as an Upward Bound residential tutor and counselor, a high school counseling assistant, and a bilingual resource teacher. Having married Ley Yeager in 1969, she also raised a family during those years.

In 1992, Ofelia was elected as the first Latina board member for the Riverside Unified School District. While in this role, she increased the school district’s outreach to Spanish-speaking families, thereby improving access, equity, and inclusion for Latino students. In her later years, this Chalkboard Champion also helped to raise $3 million to establish The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in Riverside, which opened in June, 2022.

For her work in the community, Ofelia has earned many accolades. In 2016, she garnered both the UCR Distinguished Alumna of the Year and the UCR Alumna Service Award. In 2019, she garnered the Mission Inn Foundation’s Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award, and in 2022, she was named the Athena Award recipient.

Sadly, Ofelia passed away on Jan. 7, 2024, days before her 77th birthday.

Nevada teacher Liz Barnum garners prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award

Posted on by

Elementary teacher Liz Barnum of Las Vegas, Nevada, has garnered a prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

I always enjoy sharing the story about a talented educator who has earned accolades for her work in the classroom. Today’s story is about elementary school teacher Liz Barnum of Las Vegas, Nevada. She has garnered a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2023.

Liz currently teaches third graders at Katherine Dunn Elementary School in Sparks, Nevada. She. has taught there for the past seven years. In her classroom, Liz creates a positive and supportive classroom environment, and she recognizes the value of building strong relationships with her students and their families. Her curriculum includes student-led discussions, partner talks, and visual strategies to support her literacy goals for vocabulary and comprehension. In fact, almost all of Liz’s students are functioning at grade level by the end of the year, regardless of where they started.

In addition to her work with her youngsters, Liz collaborates with colleagues to improve school culture and student outcomes. She has served as a mentor teacher, a new teacher liaison, and as the Chair of the School Organizational Team.

Liz sometimes speaks about her humble beginnings. “Being the daughter of an immigrant family, receiving a free public education was a huge privilege,” she says. “In my family, doing well in school and continuing to higher education were hailed as a huge accomplishment. With opportunity at my doorstep, I wanted to become the first generation in my family to receive a college degree,” she continues. “It felt like a natural progression to pursue a career in education with a focus on English language learners,” she concluded.

The Milken Educator Awards are hailed by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” For more than 35 years, the program has recognized excellence in the world of education by honoring top educators around the country with a $25,000  cash prize. The honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary professional educators from all over the country. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Connecticut teacher Miguel Cardona now serves as US Secretary of Education

Posted on by

Former Connecticut elementary teacher Miguel Cardona now serves as the US  Secretary of Education. Photo credit: Hop, Skip, Drive

Many excellent educators also make excellent politicians. One of these is Miguel Cardona, an elementary school teacher from Connecticut who is currently serving as United States Secretary of Education.

Miguel describes his Hispanic heritage as “half Guatemalan and half Portuguese.” As a child growing up in the Projects in Connecticut, he spoke only Spanish, which gave him a unique insight into the experience of students who identify as “English language learners” across the country today.

Miguel earned his Bachelor’s degree at Central Connecticut State University in 1997. He earned his Master’s degree in Bilingual/Bi-Cultural Education from the University of Connecticut, and in 2011 he earned his PhD in Education from the same institution. In addition, he completed the requirements for a certificate in the Executive Leadership Program.

Miguel inaugurated his career as a fourth grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden, Connecticut. By 2003, when he was only 28 years old, he was named the principal of Hanover School, also located in Meriden. He was the youngest principal serving in the state. In 2012, Miguel garnered the 2012 National Distinguished Principal Award for his state and the Outstanding Administrator Award from the University of Connecticut’s NEAG School of Education. He’s also a published author. He has published several articles in such prestigious publications as the AASPA Perspective, the National School Boards Association, District Administration, and the Scholars Strategy Network.

From 2015 to 2019, Miguel served as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in his home town. He also worked worked as an Adjunct Professor of Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut. In August 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont appointed Cardona as the state’s Commissioner of Education, the first Latino to ever serve in the position.

President Joe Biden nominated the former elementary school teacher for the post of US Secretary of Education, and a coveted seat in the President’s Cabinet. On March 1, 2021, Miguel Cardona was confirmed to the post. He was sworn into office the next day by Vice President Kamala Harris.

To read more about Miguel Cardona, click on this link to Hop, Skip, Drive.