Alexandra Fuentes

ELL Biology & Ecology High School Teacher in Alexandria, VA

Alexandra Fuentes teaches high school ELL Biology/Ecology at TC Williams International Academy in Alexandria, VA. Previously she taught biology for five years at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy in Washington, DC. She is a Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellow Alum, a Knowles Science Teaching Senior Fellow, and a Teacher-in-Residence with Teach Plus where she is helping to coordinate a Teach Plus alumni network. She was a panelist at the 2013 NBC Education Nation Teacher Town Hall, has written several op-eds, and was featured in a Q&A article by Anya Grottel-Brown titled “Bridging the Gap Between Teachers and the Media.” She also co-directed a high school musical production of RENT, co-founded a mentoring program for advanced students to work with scientists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and facilitated the Mentors in Medicine pre-med enrichment program at the DC charter school where she started her teaching career. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Why do you teach? I teach because education can change the trajectory of children’s lives, and because I believe a child’s access to educational opportunities and quality teachers should not be determined by their zip code.I teach Biology because it is more than a collection of facts. It is a field that needs young people with new ideas and fresh perspectives to propel us forward. Whether my students go into science or another field, it is a privilege to work with them to help them uncover their passions and rethink what is possible for their futures.I teach because the field of education demands top talent and grit, and because teachers are the ones who are best positioned to advocate for the policies and best practices that our students need.

What do you love about teaching? I love how challenging teaching is. I am constantly problem solving: How can I make the content relevant and interesting? How can I craft a lesson that will get every student to engage in the work? How can the experiences students have in my class push them to rethink what is possible for their own futures? What can I do today in my class to show students that they have unique ideas and talents that can make the world a better place?? Teaching isn’t a job for just anyone. It is a profession that demands top talent akin to the kind of applicants who pursue careers in medicine and law, but even tougher.

Was there a teacher who inspired you? I had many wonderful teachers growing up starting with my mother, but I did not think that I wanted to become a teacher until I volunteered in a preschool during college. It was then that I saw the insatiable curiosity that preschoolers have when they first enter school, and I wondered what could be done to sustain or rekindle that curiosity as kids move through middle and high school. I was also influenced by my grandma who wanted to become a teacher but lived in a time and circumstance that made that dream impossible.

Jennifer Bado-Aleman

English High School Teacher in Gaithersburg, MD

Jennifer is currently the English Department Resource Teacher at Gaithersburg High School, in the Montgomery County Public Schools system. She received her B.A. from the University of Maryland as a double major in Secondary English Education and British and American Literature, and a citation from the University Honors Program. Her M.A. (also from the University of Maryland) is in Secondary English Education with a focus on Rhetoric and Composition. She believes strongly in the importance of literacy and writing ability, and works to close the gap between different ethnic and socioeconomic groups when it comes to writing aptitude and literacy skills. In 2007, Jennifer was named the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Teacher of the Year for the Washington, D.C. area metro region. In 2011, Jennifer became a National Board Certified Teacher for her skill in teaching English Language Arts for Adolescence/Young Adulthood. In 2012, she served as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education in D.C. She has been an educator for twelve years and is also currently on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Education Association, where she advocates locally for elevating the teaching profession.

Why do you teach? I teach because education is about empowering young people and giving them access to opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Having effective, caring teachers throughout my schooling changed my life in very real and positive ways. Every student deserves that opportunity.

What do you love about teaching? I love that my work has meaning because I am a teacher. There are these amazing moments of private learning that happen in the classroom, both for me and the students, and those moments change us. When I get to witness that moment of understanding for a student, it is an all-encompassing kind of joy that we get to share. I can honestly say that I love my work, even in the worst moments, and for that, I’m grateful every day.

Hector Ibarra

Middle School Science Teacher in West Branch, IA

Hector’s storied career in the classroom came to an end after 34 years of teaching middle school science. Even though he is no longer in the classroom, he is the Director of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Society science club. He mentors students in national contests.  His guiding philosophy as a teacher has been to teach “for the moments yet to come.”

When he was not in the classroom, Hector worked on many projects that earned national acclaim. His programs include work on the environment, water conservation, and energy. He has been fortunate to receive national honors including participating in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program. He is most proud of the national awards his students have won in national contests that include eCybermission, Siemens, Christopher Columbus Award, Lexus, and ExploraVision. Over one hundred and fifty students have made presentations in fourteen metropolitan cities and in Tokyo and San Jose, Costa Rica. His program was also selected for four President’s Environmental Youth Awards and five SeaWorld Environmental Excellence Award. Since 1993, a team of four students have been finalists in 37 contests and selected as national winners in 21 contests. Since 1995 Ibarra has led a team of three meteorologists, who serve as mentors for teachers in an NOAA NSF long distance-learning Internet undergraduate professional development course in meteorology. In 2010 Ibarra was appointed to a 4-year term to serve on the National Assessment Governing Board. In 2011, Ibarra was appointed Ambassador of Public Health and Environmental Education for the State Hygienic Laboratory, and was hired to teach on a contractual basis at the Berlin Blank Talented and Gifted Program at the University of Iowa.

As a native Spanish speaker, Hector owes much to his fourth grade teacher, Ms. Olson, who helped him learn English during that school year. In doing so, she also sparked his efforts to excel in the classroom. Her dedication inspired him to give back to his community as well. Her influence and the influence of many other teachers led Ibarra to decide to be a teacher when he was in middle school.

Why do you teach? I teach because teachers inspired me to be a life long learner and the importance of learning.   As I have been helped by others, it is part of my responsibility to help students and colleagues succeed. Teachers represent many things. Christa McAuliffe said, “I teach, I touch the future”. I believe this saying truly communicates the importance of teachers. It is through the messages we send as teachers that students develop an excitement for on-going learning. Every student is valued and important. Every student has the right to learn, to achieve, and to succeed. These are beliefs that I represent. Preparing students to be life-long learners is fundamental to our role as teachers. Teachers have a responsibility to help all students work to their full potential at the earliest age possible. Through additional and early help, steps can be taken to aid students in the classroom as well as help them with skills which will enrich their lives and provide them with not only important classroom skills but good interpersonal skills.

What do you love about teaching? I love teaching because working with students allowed me to create opportunities that open the doors for students and teachers to grow, excel, and showcase their talents. I really enjoy interacting with students and colleagues. Everything begins in the classroom. It is here that teachers impact all students. The classroom is where students come to love to learn. Many students want to know more and investigate community issues that are researched and entered in national contests. Many of these projects are community service oriented.  Involvement creates many opportunities for students, providing new and unique learning opportunities. I have come to realize how important it is to get students involved and make a difference.

When you were a student, was there a great teacher who inspired you? I have been very fortunate because my life has been touched by so many outstanding teachers. My first outstanding teacher was my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Myrtle Olson.   Up until fourth grade I did not speak or understand the English language very well. Up until fourth grade, school wasn’t a happy place nor an enjoyable experience for me. I do not remember any good events from K-3rd grade. The summer before fourth grade my family had been in a boating accident and my sister drowned. My sister meant many things to our family for she was the only one who really understood English.   But my fourth grade year would be a wonderful learning experience and the major turning point in my life. Ms. Olson, my fourth grade teacher, was a very caring person. She was the first person, other than my mother, who believed in my abilities and helped instill in me confidence and self-esteem. My junior high and high school years were also filled with outstanding teachers who challenged me to do the best I could. By tenth grade I was positive I wanted to be a science teacher. Mr. Gilbert’s biology class was great! I really enjoyed his teaching style. I wanted to teach like he taught.  I especially liked working with children. Because I was helped by so many teachers, I learned the importance of getting involved, to instill the love of learning in one’s life, and helping to build a student’s confidence. I valued the importance of teaching as an enjoyable career in which I believed I could make a difference. Teachers can help children and see the impact of their efforts spread like ripples on a pond. There is no other profession that can impact the lives of all children like teachers can.