Insights

This is part one of our Q&A series with the Essential Educator Award winners. Read on for more from our Miami-Dade County Public Schools winner Sofia Inguanzo-Perez.

What made you want to become a teacher?

My passion for education began as a camp counselor at Belen Summer Camp when I was 15 years old. I grew up every summer there and enjoyed the rapport between the campers and the counselors. As summer faded, I continued to love working with children throughout my high school and early college years and began as a paraprofessional within the M-DCPS ranks to get hands-on experience in the classroom to see if that is where my heart would take me in my career. It was magic! It felt so right to be in the middle of the action at a school. Inquiry with the students became second nature to me and the thrill of watching them understand a concept that was difficult to them, was awe-inspiring. Immediately, I enrolled at Florida International University in the Elementary Education program where I treasured the professors, courses and colleagues that would in turn become life-long mentors and friends along the way. Education has transformed my life, not only as a mother and wife, but also as a guide to many pre-service teachers, colleagues and fellow educators in the field. Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center has been my outlet for creativity for me to pursue my other interests in education, such as coding and robotics.

What have you learned about your profession in the past year?

Empathy is the ultimate way to describe how this journey has led me into a new perspective on life and education as I knew it. I have learned more about kindness, humility and patience than I had in my past 18 years as an educator. Kindness, not only with the students, but the parents, in understanding the battle they are facing when many lost their jobs and homes last school year. At our school, we were constantly informing the parents and students of food distribution sites to pick up meals for their families and donating home goods to help them get through this tough time. Humility was presented in so many manners when students’ internet connections went out or they were attending class in various relatives’ houses since their parents had to work and no one could take care of them. I worked with the students and parents to solve issues over the phone and email. This became our job after we had taught students all day. Everyone was so on edge and nervous. Our job as teachers was to calm them and make them feel safe in a time of uncertainty. Patience is still rearing its head on a daily basis with online learning struggles. Yet, we are teaching and giving our kids a sense of normalcy. I have faith we will give these students the activities and memories they deserve despite the storm around them by providing love and compassion.

What has been the greatest challenge this past year?

The greatest challenge this past year has been to have the kids remain engaged in spite of the constant distractions around them at home for my MSO (My School Online) students. I have had to look for interactive and content-rich virtual labs and activities to keep the interest of the students for a 2-hour block of instruction online. Through ExploreLearning Gizmos virtual labs and other virtual interactive lab activities, it has allowed me to give the students the hands-on experience necessary to master benchmarks of instruction without leaving their home. One of my biggest challenges was how to have the students manipulate and explore scientific tools and concepts to be learned without being in the classroom. I am truly grateful for virtual labs and how they have allowed me to overcome this struggle with our students.

What has been the greatest reward this past year?

The greatest reward this past year has been to see my students flourish in the face of adversity, regardless of the current situation due to the COVID-19 restrictions in our schools. We have survived a year and it has made the students stronger and braver. This will enable them to be more empathetic to others and to have a positive perspective on situations. There is always a silver lining to all situations, especially during a pandemic. Teachers are people put on Earth to enhance that silver lining and to celebrate our students’ efforts, rather than to focus on the negativity around the world.

How does it feel to be honored with the Essential Educator award?

I am still in shock about this grand honor that I am receiving. I am so humbled by the fact that district personnel have chosen me to represent the 4^th largest school system in the United States. Every day, I wake up and love coming to work. I adore my students and colleagues, as if they were my family. EBT K-8 Center is a special place, which makes me want to be a better teacher to my students every day. I love teaching Middle School Science, Biology and Coding. The students’ curiosity is my fuel. This fuel takes my teaching to places I never dreamed they would.