Did you know that our very own Maria Lugo was featured as “Teacher of the Month” within the June 2017 issue of Edgemoor Chuckanut Life | A Social Magazine for the Residents of Edgemoor & Chuckanut.
Below is the write-up feature…
Maria Lugo was born in Cuba. In 1962, she exiled with her parents to the US, where they first settled in New York. It was in New York that she learned to speak English.
The family later moved to Puerto Rico, where the bilingual environment helped Maria to become fluent in both English and Spanish. Maria earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, where the bilingual environment helped Maria to become fluent in both English and Spanish. Maria earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, and also earned a Ph.D. in Genetics from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She discovered her passion for teaching children 16 years ago and has been teaching ever since – the last four years being at St. Paul’s Academy. Maria currently teaches Spanish to 5th to 7th graders, as well as to Pre-schoolers, and has taught grades Pre-K to 8th grade in the past.
It is Maria’s goal to instill a love of the Spanish language through enthusiastic exposure to the beauty of the language and its many variations. She also stoves to develop an appreciation for the Latin American culture and to provide the opportunity for students to continue learning the Spanish language and culture at an advanced level.
When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, Maria replies, “I get to teach what I am passionate about, and I get to share this passion of teaching the Spanish language and culture with students at different levels of learning. The most rewarding experience is to see how the students grow in their knowledge of the language to a level of proficiency that allows them to continue into advanced levels of Spanish in their High School years. St. Paul’s Academy has provided this opportunity for me – together with an inquisitive student body and dedicated parents in a sportive role. This combination is a win-win ticket for faculty, students, and parents alike.”
Since Maria was raised in the Caribbean, she and her husband had never experienced winter or snow. Living in the United States has given them winter experiences and since their mid-twenties, they have been avid snow skiers. Maria and her husband have two children. Joey is 34, and Nicole is 27. Both are college graduates and currently work in New York City. Someday Maria would like to travel. According to Maria, it would be amazing to visit Machu Picchu, an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru.
Maria’s advice for someone who may be considering teaching is to be in love with the subject you plan to teach. Always be enthusiastic about what you are teaching, and take the time to explore your student’s learning style so that you can use this knowledge to bring out their best performance!
It is evident that Maria embodies her mother’s favorite quote, “The real secret to success is enthusiasm, dedication, and being positive!”
