One of my mother's most poignant childhood stories strongly influenced my desire to become a teacher. Newly arrived from Mexico City, she entered first grade speaking no English and was promptly escorted to the nurse's office, scrubbed down from head to toe, and sprayed with insecticide. She was then seated with other new immigrant children in class, and insecticide was sprayed down the aisle separating them from the rest of the students. The humiliation of this experience influenced her entire life. As a result, I vowed as a little girl that I would make sure that no more children suffered the cruelties that schools sometimes commit in the name of education.

My student teaching happened so long ago that the university couldn't find an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher at the secondary level who could serve as my master teacher, so I created my own program working with English language learners at a local middle school. I was shocked to find they had all been placed in special education classes, the accepted practice at the time. Other challenging assignments include teaching in the migrant labor camps south of Miami, in the District of Columbia Public Schools, and in a Oaxacan middle school. Each served as inspiration to find better ways to educate children.

I have been teaching high school English and English Language Development (ELD) for the past 20 years in San Bernardino, Calif., my hometown — where I swore I would never live again after high school graduation! In 2000, I helped open a wonderful magnet school for the visual and performing arts, the first and only new school built on the poorest side of town in 42 years. I'm fortunate to work with an administration and staff who are passionate about students. Most see the potential Einsteins hiding inside our students, who also happen to be the lowest-performing and poorest in our already poor, urban district. I have not only come home, but know that this is where I was always meant to teach.

I earned both a bachelor's degree and "licenciado" from Elbert Covell College, an experimental college at University of the Pacific in California (during hippie days where anything experimental was considered good for the soul). Most of the students at Covell were from Latin America, so the school was total Spanish immersion. I finished with three majors: Latin American politics, teaching English as a second language, and Spanish. I also hold a master's degree in bilingual/bicultural literacy from California State University, San Bernardino, and am an adjunct professor there. The energy and fresh ideas of my graduate students inspire me.

In my spare time, I like to read (I am an English teacher, after all!), spend time with family and friends, go to underground art exhibits featuring work by artists from all over the world, ride my motorcycles, travel, and seek out new adventures.

Knowing how exciting this next year is going to be makes it easier to leave behind my family: two handsome, bachelor sons; three married daughters; and five grandchildren. They and my students help me stay young at heart and encourage me to live life to the fullest.