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2011
Laura Perez
San Jose USD
Laura F. Pérez was born to José Fiesco and Francisca de la Torre, on October 8, 1953. She is the sixth child of seven brothers and sisters. She attended elementary, middle, and high school in
Mexico. At the age of seventeen, she traveled to Los Angeles, where she worked as a nanny and attended high school for one semester. Laura returned to Mexico after one year. At the age of 21, she began working at “Telefonos de Mexico” as an international operator. She continued working there for seven years until she married Fernando Pérez, who lived in the United States. After marrying, she returned with her husband to the U.S.
Shortly after marriage, she had her first child, Fernando Julian. The couple decided that one of them had to return to college and obtain a degree. Fernando, her husband, went to school while Laura became a stay-at-home mother. The family continued to grow with the birth of their second child Iliana, four years later, and then Stephanie, two years after that.
When her youngest child, turned one, Laura began working in the food service department for San José Unified School District. After a few months, she realized that she enjoyed the school environment and applied for a position as a Bilingual Instructional Aide. After working two years as a permanent employee for San José Unified, the family decided to return to live in Mexico. The plan did not turn out and the family returned to San José after two years. While looking for a school for their children, Laura and Fernando found out about the Spanish Language Immersion program at River Glen Elementary School. After a time as a parent volunteer, the school administration recruited her to work as a bilingual instructional
aide. Laura continued to work at River Glen Elementary for 14 years until funding for her position was cut. After River Glen, she moved to Anne Darling School. Laura currently serves as a Program Assistant/Primary Language Specialist; a position she has held for six years. Due to the requirements of “No Child Left Behind,” Laura has returned to school and has completed 48 college units, primarily in the area of Early Childhood Education.
Not only is Laura a dedicated public school bilingual employee. She is also a proud mother of three bilingual children. All three of her children have graduated from a four-year university.
2011
Enedelia Castillo Rios
Ventura USD
I was born in Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, Mexico where I received my primary and secondary education. When my father moved the family to the United States, he allowed me to complete career training in Private Accounting. At age fifteen, I came to the United States and entered the
public school system at Ventura High School in Ventura California. It has been, by far, the most challenging and difficult time of my life. I was enrolled in English courses, yet my primary language was Spanish.
At the time, there weren’t any bilingual support programs, only sink, swim or survive programs! I would come home every day and cry for what seemed forever. I felt shut out and isolated. I thought that I would never reach my goal to get a higher education. My choices were limited. All I know is that it served me as an inspiration to not give up, but to move
up and on. I graduated and went on to Ventura College.
One of the most vivid criticisms was that I had a heavy accent. While these criticisms affected my self-esteem somewhat, I found strength and wings to soar and do better. I realized the struggles for students just like me. It was then that I became more interested in working with children in order to help them learn the English language, for I knew when they came to this country, they faced similar struggles like me. I wanted to share with them that they could do it and not be discouraged in their efforts. I felt I was able to be a role model and be an example to them and a means to motivate them.
When I started working for the Ventura Unified School District in Ventura California, it felt very comfortable and natural for me to work as a para-educator. I was happy to be able to fulfill my goal and in the public school system. At the time I had my real estate license and took on the second job of para-educator. It has been the most rewarding and gratifying for me. In my capacity, I have been able to motivate children and let them know how special and important they are. The role of para- educator has allowed me to touch many lives, sharing my own story and achieving successful outcomes for English learners. There are many students from the past who continue to call me to join them in their graduation.
I have raised two daughters and two sons. My experiences have served them to rise above their own expectations. My first daughter is now a teacher. I have learned much from my own children, but most importantly, from working with children as a para-educator. I would do it all again, only it would be as a teacher.
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