TEACHERS SAY:

There’s a really strong sense of community. Everyone’s identity is celebrated which develops good energy amongst everyone. We then bring that energy into the classrooms and it manifests!

-Kamden Teixeira, Behavior Interventionist

Not only have I learned so much throughout the year, but I also love the impact that I have on the scholars that I work with.

-Brittany Correia, First Grade Lead Teacher

The importance of building relationships with scholars and families is very important to me … no other school in this district puts such a high emphasis on this.

-Amber Autry, Kindergarten Lead Teacher

I believe in Alma and its mission and vision. I have grown more professionally and in my teaching practices this year than I ever have in previous workplaces. I love the opportunity to be a better teacher and leader for our scholars.

-Matthew Pimentel, 8th Grade Math Teacher

The amount of growth I’ve made in a year makes me feel like I did the right thing in choosing Alma and I can’t wait to continue to grow as not only an educator but a person in general.

-Isabel Hernandez

Alma has given me the tools to better my own learning and become a more effective teacher since I have been here… Alma is not just a place to work, it is a place that I feel that I am giving back and making a difference by being here.

-Shannon

Mello, MLL Specialist

EMILYMARI RODRIGUEZ, Multilingual Learner Coordinator

“It is vital for our scholars to see an increase in diversity of Latin American people working as educators to critically improve the educational outcomes of our Latinx scholars and create that strong relationship between student and educator.

As a former MLL/ESL student, I had Latinx teachers that truly changed my life for the better. Not only were these educators invested in me on a daily basis, but they were also helpful and passionate about what my overall educational/personal goals were. These teachers did not give up on me.

I believe that having an educator that represents the Latina in me, marked me to the highest potential growth to excel and be the very first generation in my family to ever graduate high school and college to now, a Latin educator.”

“The Greek philosopher Aristotle loosely defines the soul as ‘an important essence that gives (us) the potential to grow.’

Alma del Mar has been striving to develop the soul of its scholars; that is, to give you the tools you need to meet the potential for growth that all of you have. Projects such as Passages have helped you to see the course that you were set upon the day you walked through Alma’s doors for the first time.

This, however, is not about endings but about beginnings. This is about looking ahead to the next stage of growth. Growth looks different for each of us. You have experienced successes and failures; and you have proven how resilient you can be in the face of challenge. Remember that you have the ‘soul of the sea’ inside you and that your soul cannot be destroyed, nor can its light be diminished.”

“I explored numerous public arts and education institutions in and around Raleigh, N.C., to see how these institutions address issues with the provenance of their collection, artistic commentary on on-going political and social issues on a local, national, and global scale. I spent hours in quiet art museums, full of strangers from around the world while still being able to explore the art, make connections, design projects for our scholars, and find inspiration for my own practice and future works.

I saw multiple artists’ struggle with race, love, and identity as told through portraiture, sculpture, and video. I marveled at Rembrandt van Rijn’s copper etching plates. A local musician/folk historian performed songs on his fiddle and banjo that were taught to him by older generations of local musicians going back to the 1700’s. I experienced in the museums. I am excited to put some of what I learned from the museums of Raleigh into practice in my own classroom!”