**PAULA T.**
Hola! My name is Paula and I teach Spanish, bilingual math, and ESL to elementary students. In addition, I teach Spanish as a world language to middle schoolers. I have been teaching for 8 years: 3 years in Colombia and 5 years in a dual language school in North Carolina. I hold a bachelor's degree in English/French Foreign Language Teaching and I am currently pursuing a North Carolina teaching certification in Spanish Foreign Language Teaching.

My approach to teaching is student-centered, interactive, and collaborative. What got me into teaching was my love for learning, which I hope to share with you.

A random fact about me is that I love plantains in any and all presentations! We’ll be a great fit if you love learning and are willing to work with me to achieve your learning goals.

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**MONICA**
My name is Monica and I teach Math and Spanish to K-12 students. As a native Spanish speaker, sharing my language and culture has become my passion. I was born and raised in Asturias, Spain where I attended Universidad de Oviedo and obtained a BA in Hospitality Management. I also have certifications in teaching and as an early childhood director certification. I have been teaching pre-kindergarten for the last 12 years and have over 15 years of experience teaching Spanish to both children and adults.

My students love listening to music in Spanish, learning about cultural differences and traditions, and learning how to have fun while acquiring a new language. I believe that a good education shapes not only minds, but hearts as well. By learning about different languages and traditions - especially at a young age - students develop an appreciation of cultures and incorporate that respect into their daily lives and futures. Learning a new language can be intimidating, but I believe that my enthusiastic approach to teaching Spanish enables students to acquire language skills in a manner that keeps them interested and motivated. 

I understand that every student has different strengths and weaknesses in their learning processes; therefore, I am committed to differentiating instruction and creating a variety of opportunities for my students to achieve their goals. Nevertheless, learning a language involves repetition, constant work, memorization skills, and you willing to try your best!

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*MARIA* (ages 3-10 years)
¡Hola! My name is María. I was born and raised in Asturias, España. I teach Math and Spanish to PreK-6th grade students. I have been teaching for 20 years all over the world - in Europe, Asia, North and South America - as well as online. I spent 11 of those years teaching in bilingual programs in the United States. I am a fully certified Spanish and Elementary School teacher. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Primary Education, Bilingual and ESL teaching endorsements, and a Master’s Degree in Innovation and Research in Education. I am also an accredited examiner from Instituto Cervantes, Google Certified, and Microsoft Innovative Educator.

I believe that the best way to learn a language is by having fun. That’s why I encourage my students to move, play, act, and get hands on! This allows them to experience a meaningful, creative, and engaging learning environment that relates to their own experiences and interests. My classes are designed to deliver creative and innovative lessons that get my students excited about learning Spanish. 

What got me into teaching was discovering that it was an opportunity to help others, make a difference in children's lives, and apply my creativity every day! I fell even more in love with teaching when I realized that this was a job that I could do from anywhere in the world!

When I am not teaching, I love to spend time on the beach, swimming, hiking the Asturian mountains, going to the movies, and spending time with friends and family. We’ll be a great fit if your goal for your child is to communicate fluently and with confidence in Spanish, and to become an open-minded citizen of the world while having a great time!

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**MARYNIA**
Hello! My name is Marynia Rivera. I teach Spanish as a Second Language and bilingual classes. I have taught reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies to students from 3rd-6th grades in a Spanish and bilingual classroom setting.

I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, both from universities in Puerto Rico. I am also a certified bilingual teacher for PreK-6th grades in the state of Texas. I have been teaching for fifteen years, ten of them in Puerto Rico, and the most recent five years in Texas.

My approach to teaching is centered around interactivity and differentiated instruction. I prepare my lessons by trying to encourage students to actively engage and participate in their classes. I also like to integrate strategies that respond to the diverse learning styles and needs of my students.

What got me into teaching was that most of my family members are teachers (including both of my parents); so, I grew up with their fabulous examples and love for this profession. When I was a child, I remember playing like a teacher with a small board and always saying that I would be a teacher when I grew up. I never doubted my career path and always knew I wanted to become a teacher.

A random fact about me is that I and my daughter share the same birthday! If you want to learn another language, have fun, and discover something new in every class, I’m ready to be your teacher!

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