Vanessa Moreno, Founder

vanessa@thte.net

Though the current pandemic has changed the way we interact, it has also provided an opportunity to share our love for Hispanic and Latine cultures in new and innovative ways, reaching farther through technology than ever before! The group of educators involved in this project span the United States and beyond, and they show that though we may be far apart, we still work better together

I am eternally appreciative of my Team, which includes those who post their own files in our Facebook group, those who collaborate and create the projects we share, and those who use the files with their students. With you, we are creating culturally responsive classrooms.

I am a Bilingual Teacher in Austin, Texas. I have a Bachelors degree in Public Relations and English, a Masters Degree in Special Education, and a certificate in School Administration. I feel relationships and teamwork with co-workers, families, and students is the best approach to teaching.

In my life, my greatest accomplishment is my family. I am very proud of the time my husband and I spend with our two children, developing their talents and interests, but most deliberately, their bilingualism. I live in a community where diversity is observed and celebrated. I feel so blessed to be able to raise my family in this environment.

Victoria, Technology Trainer

victoria@thte.net

I’m Victoria, an online teacher, creative, and book enthusiast. I'm the founder of Lead from Home, a resource for anyone wishing to increase visibility and access to their consumers in the online teaching platform. Resources promote engagement through creativity. I provide Power-Up Success Sessions for one-on-one individualized coaching, from a strength-based perspective. Coaching sessions support technology skill development that center the most utilized digital applications by teachers. I have 20 years working in the field of behavioral health where I served in my latest position as a supervisor for a subacute residential facility. I enjoyed this role and learned a great deal about fostering professional relationships while supporting those in leadership to reach their respective goals. Drawing upon my experience as a leader in the behavioral health field, I develop virtual resources, and tools for teachers. Ultimately, the tips shared in success sessions and on my various social media platforms promote an educator’s unique strengths through autonomy and an increased ability to create similar tools.

I feature weekly tech tips and online teaching resources on the ‘Lead from Home with Victoria’ YouTube Channel and on The Heritage Team Extraordinaire Facebook Group. In recent weeks we have included special interviews with incredible educators, authors, and fellow creatives that candidly share their insights on current topics in education.

Responding to an increased demand for online and virtual resources I have collaborated with The Heritage Team Extraordinaire to provide support in developing interactive digital resources. These tools have become a foundation for curriculum development, supplementary resources, and research-based forums for students and teachers in the virtual world. We specifically wish to provide resources that empower our teachers and students while recognizing disparities in education from a position of inclusion.

Nikki, Editor

I am currently in year 15 of my teaching career at a high school in Delaware with a Master’s in Hispanic Literature under my belt and another in Spanish Education in progress. I still teach without a textbook (old habits die hard) and strive to create or find the absolute best resources to support my students. I asked to join The Heritage Team Extraordinaire last September after stumbling across an outstanding Hispanic Heritage Month presentation they had developed. I have a keen eye for detail and a long-standing relationship with Google Slides, so I was thrilled when Vanessa accepted my offer to become the team’s editor. Although I can’t go back in time and gift the phenomenal resources created by THTE to my first-year-teacher self, I can help ensure today’s educators have an abundance of culturally and linguistically diverse teaching tools at their fingertips.

Maria, Project Manager

¡Hola! I’m proud to say that this is my 18th year in education. I grew up in Puerto Rico and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management and a Minor in Human Resources from the University of Mayaguez, PR in 2001. I began my teaching career in the state of Wisconsin, where I completed my Bilingual Teaching Certification and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2003. I also have a Reading 316 Certification for grades K-12 from the University of Viterbo.

All my teaching experience has been in an urban setting with the Milwaukee Public Schools District. It is my belief that students in urban school settings need dedicated teachers who respect children, believe they can and will learn if properly taught, and who understand the types of homes and cultures from which children come. Currently, I serve as the School Support Teacher (SST), and in this role I am responsible for my school-based professional development but, most importantly, I engage in transformational coaching with teachers.

Veronica, Social Justice Consultant

I’m an ENL teacher who has been teaching in New York for the past 14 years. I have a Master of Science degree in TESOL, a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in Mass Communication and Human Ecology, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fashion Design.

I credit my humble beginnings and being able to overcome many cultural and personal barriers in my childhood for my resilience and passion for social justice. My father’s temporary job in migrant farm working as well as the opportunities provided by the Migrant Education Program in NY inspired me to work in Migrant Education during my summers in college. Early in my career in fashion, I decided to leave and do something more meaningful. My teaching career began in New York City through the NYC Teaching Fellows Program. I was nominated for the New York City Teaching Fellows Award for First Year Teaching Classroom Excellence. I was trained through the Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop from Columbia University while my classroom was used as a labsite.

After leaving New York City, I’ve continued my work as an ENL Teacher and have had the privilege of working in a school district that allows to me grow as a lifelong learner with wonderful students. Not only have I been a 7th and 8th grade teacher, but I’m an advisor to two clubs that support newly arrived immigrants, I teach two separate summer programs that support both K-5 and 6-10th grade English Language Learners (one which I created in 2015), and I’ve had opportunities to mentor new teachers, and provide several in-service classes and study groups to my colleagues.

Caitlin, Consultant

My name is Caitlin Lowery, and I am an instructional coach at a dual language elementary school in Texas. I have over a decade of experience in education, in both private and public institutions ranging from second grade all the way to twelfth grade. My focus as an educator is to provide equitable learning to all children through representation and inclusivity, so they may receive every opportunity to learn in a space that feels safe and welcoming to them, no matter their race, ethnicity, orientation, religion, identity, or abilities.

I am certified to teach grades Pre K-12, and hold Special Education, English as a Second Language, and Reading Specialist certifications as well. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Literacy Studies, and am currently working toward my Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. I received the Culture of Innovation award in 2020 and was named Region XIII elementary teacher of the year for 2020.

I joined The Heritage Team Extraordinaire because it offers an opportunity to collaborate with other educators to achieve a common goal -- to create high-quality, culturally responsive educational resources for any and all educators wanting to increase the representation and inclusion in their lessons.

Esmeralda, Art Consultant

My name is Esmeralda Perez-Rodas. I’m a Special Education Teacher. I have been teaching for 18 years. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a minor in Spanish, a Masters in Special Education, and a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education. I have a passion and a love for teaching.
Being part of this team has given me the opportunity to learn, grow, and meet new people from all over and to make a difference for our students and teachers.

Beth, Consultant

Hi, my name is Beth. As a bilingual educator for over 28 years, I am keenly aware of the inequity that exists in our educational system. In my years as a coach, principal, and adjunct professor, I have become clearer about my purpose and my ‘why.’ I believe education is a basic right for every child, and as a first generation college graduate, I know the great impact educators have on students.

I started my career as a bilingual educator fresh out of UCLA, thinking I was a ‘sabelotoda,’ but then Proposition 227 hit, and a part of my heart died. I was that person who placed flyers on windshields telling others why bilingual education was a good thing. From there, I became a Language Arts Specialist until the funding ended. I finally found my niche in building dual immersion programs and disrupting the status quo. Today, I am currently the founding principal of my second dual immersion school.

After receiving my doctorate from Pepperdine University, I knew I needed to help find ways to recruit more bilingual teachers to the dual immersion cause. I researched bilingual credential programs and was able to get my foot in the door in a new program at a Cal State School. I teach Bilingual Methods in Science and Language Arts part-time and also help as a special consultant writing mentor modules for bilingual teachers.

To me, language and culture are beautiful and things to be valued and shared.

Deysi, Lead Collaborator

¡Hola! I am Deysi Hurd, and I was born in El Salvador and grew up in sunny, southern California. I am a daughter of immigrants, wife, mom of 3 boys, and a teacher of world-changers. Six years ago, my family and I relocated to Seattle, WA and I assisted in planting a new school in our area. While there, I taught, was a member of the Board of Directors and served as a Human Resources liaison.

Currently, I am a Spanish Immersion 2nd grade teacher in the Seattle, WA area. This is my sixth year teaching but prior to that I spent most of my career in Human Resources in Training and Development. My undergraduate degree is in Business with a concentration in Organizational Management and I am currently in a Teaching and Leadership graduate program.

I am passionate about culture, cooking, cultivating world-changers, mentoring, learning, creating, and advocating for change.

I am extremely humbled, excited, and blessed to be a part of The Heritage Team Extraordinaire.

Rosalie Asia, Lead Collaborator

I am the proud daughter of Puerto Rican parents and was born and raised in New Jersey. I was privileged enough to spend most of my summers with my family back on the island, which gave me extra appreciation for our beautiful language and culture. I was the first college graduate (and later, first to earn a Master's Degree) in my family. I was a history major with an English minor. After college, I spent 3 years working with the Newspaper in Education Department at the New York Daily News and then joined Teach For America in New York as a 6th grade teacher in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. After that, I joined KIPP NJ and worked my way through a variety of roles - teacher, department chair, instructional coach, and curriculum writer. However, when I got married and had twins in the same year, I realized that I needed more time at home. I taught and ran the students of color affinity group at Independent School in New Jersey while dabblling in consulting and remotely facilitating professional development for educators in LAUSD. Presently, I am working as a Curriculum Specialist for an education company. I greatly enjoy creating educational experiences where students from a variety of backgrounds can see themselves represented in their curriculum. This is one of the many reasons that I am so happy to be a part of The Heritage Team Extraordinaire.

Amy, Board Member

Hi I'm Amy! I was born in Dallas and when I was nine we moved out to a small east Texas town to become the first Mexican family at my school. I graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio in 2001 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice.

I have worked in a call center environment since 2006 and have been involved in the start up of two call centers, working in every aspect from product development, creating training materials, facilitator, and agent management. In my free time I love to travel and spend time time with my large family and two fur babies.

Monica, Board Member

Hello! My name is Monica Espinoza Lopez and I am a proud daughter of migrant parents. Everything I am is because of their guidance and unconditional support, especially when it came to my education.

I’m originally from Houston, Texas but eventually made San Antonio, Texas my home. Teaching and leadership has been a passion of mine ever since I can remember. I graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2001 with a B.A. in English and History. After thirteen years of teaching, I decided to go back to school to pursue my Masters. In 2018, I graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Masters in Catholic School Leadership.

In my career, I’ve taught Middle School ELA (English Language Arts), Social Studies, Math and Science. I’ve also held an administration position as Vice Principal for three years and have been part of leadership teams for schools I taught at. I currently teach 5th Grade at a Catholic School in San Antonio.

I come from a family of educators and am honored to continue the legacy of teaching to our students (also known as ‘my kiddos’) with love, laughter, and joy.