Esmeralda Palomares,
Excellence in Teaching Awardee
Philosophy of Teaching
I teach because it is my passion! Every time I step into the classroom,
I know I am in that special place where I can combine
love and skill to make a profound difference in the
lives of my students. Like a long-distance
sprinter in a marathon, incredible energy of determination,
honor and enthusiasm fuel my inner being, as I strive
to beat all odds of winning
the race to meet the needs of all my students with
top expectations and results in a timely manner.
I do not burn out but steadily persist
to keep my eyes focused on the prize!
The gift of an education "to give and receive" is not readily available to everyone. We are fortunate to live in a country that values the importance of a quality public education. It is an amazing opportunity to attend school and be empowered with knowledge. I strive to educate my students of this opportunity and encourage them to visualize themselves crossing the finish line and never giving up on their dreams!
Growing up I attended public school in Mission, Texas. When I graduated from high school, I knew that regardless of how difficult or challenging the road would be, I was determined to put myself through college! No one in my family has a college degree, so I had lofty goals and high expectations for myself. I wanted with all my heart to be the first college graduate in my family! By waiting tables all through college, I was able to put myself through the University of Texas at San Antonio. I remember many times being exhausted and thinking I was going to throw in the towel, but I refused to quit. Instead, my eyes were on the prize and ten years after my high school graduation, I crossed the finish line!
It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment when I graduated from
college and received my diploma. Now I could become
a teacher, and I was overwhelmed at the possibilities for the future.
As I anticipated
having my own classroom, I was eager to begin the
journey of learning with my future students. The moment their smiles
appeared and I got
a few hugs, we were off and running! As the race
began, I earned their trust and created a safe haven so they could
explore the joy and rewards
of learning. Soon opportunities to learn became endless
and the race was on!
Developing the mind of a child impacts his life and opens many windows for opportunities in the future. When my students experience frustration or barriers to successful learning, I remind them that nothing in life is easy. Success takes hard work and commitment. I teach my students to be confident and resilient so they can achieve their goals and cross the finish line as winners.
When I think of teaching my students, I want to invest in them an
opportunity to become well rounded individuals who
aspire to "be
the best they can be." I must teach my students to make connections
and to apply learning to the real world. I wish to
empower them with knowledge, a desire to learn, and
to be intrinsically motivated. My
students know that I believe in them and
that nothing is impossible. They too, can fulfill
their dreams of going to college
and become the future leaders of tomorrow!
I have been teaching for five and a half years. Each year that passes
leaves my heart full of joy knowing I have touched
the life of a child. My goal is for my students to
value their education and to go as far
in life as they can with everything they have! I
want my students to know that I love them unconditionally,
and that I am extremely proud
of each one of them. I am honored to be a teacher
who cultivates the mind, heart and character of each
student. I want my students to believe
they too can keep their eyes on the prize and achieve
their dreams for a better life!
Educational
/ Professional Background
University Degrees
- UT San Antonio - Bachelors Degree in Bilingual
Education
Certifications
- Elementary Bilingual Certification for the State
of Texas
Teaching Experience
- 2005 to Present - Bilingual Literacy Specialist
at McCall Elementary School
- 2002-2005 - 2nd grade
bilingual teacher at Loreta Hickey Elementary
- 2001-2002 -
2nd grade bilingual teacher at Barron Elementary
School
School
Principal Recommendation
Esmeralda Palomares exhibits the highest degree of professionalism and dedication 100% of the time. She serves as a bilingual literacy specialist and the team leader of the bilingual team at McCall. Her mission is to achieve academic success for all students and to develop master teachers in our bilingual classrooms. Her leadership at our campus has helped students become fluent readers and teachers to develop effective teaching strategies. Her expectations are high and the students and staff strive to reach their goals.
Esmeralda can be described as an inspiration to others because she consistently models effective teaching whether working with children or adults. She holds the students and staff accountable for giving their best effort. Her mentoring of teachers who need support has proved to be very effective. Her natural ability to motivate others and to build relationships with them positively impacts their progress. She has earned the trust and respect of the staff by supporting them and by modeling excellence in teaching every single day.
Always having the desire to learn and implement
new strategies herself enables Esmeralda to provide
the support to help her students and our staff. She
is viewed as an instructional leader at our campus
for our staff, students and parents. Her connection
with our Hispanic families builds a bridge between
home and school to involve parents in helping their
children become better readers. Collaboration with
classroom teachers and other support staff at the
campus and district levels assures that our literacy
program is effective for our students.
As an administrator, I have learned a great deal
from Esmeralda. Her integrity, work ethic, dedication,
focus, positive attitude and tireless efforts are
admired and respected by everyone who knows her.
I strongly recommend her for Plano ISD's 2006-2007
Excellence in Teaching Award. She is most deserving
of this
honor.
Sincerely,
Cathy Taylor, Principal
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