This year, Clarkston Junior High welcomed a new face to the world languages faculty, Señora Valdez-Garcia. Originally from a city in Mexico on the border with the U.S., she grew up surrounded by North American culture. When she moved here, she faced the challenge of learning English, which she found surprising.
“I was born in a city in Mexico on the border with the United States, so North American culture was always familiar to me,” Valdez-Garcia said. “The most surprising part for me was the challenge of learning English, since in the border region Spanish is spoken more often than English.”
Her journey into teaching began after working at the elementary level for four years. She wanted to teach older students and continue growing professionally.
“I was looking for the opportunity to teach at the secondary level to continue growing professionally and to share my first language with Spanish II students,” Valdez-Garcia explained.
Her passion for teaching sparked in 2017 when she discovered Dual Language programs in Illinois, inspiring her to pursue bilingual and Spanish certifications.
“What I love most is helping students discover the richness of the Spanish language and culture,” she said.
Her cultural background influences her teaching style. Having learned a second language herself, she understands the importance of patience and perseverance. She shares her experiences to help students see that making mistakes is part of learning. “I like to share my own experiences as an English learner so my students can see that making mistakes is a normal part of the process,” she explained. She also uses examples from her life in Mexico and the U.S. to connect grammar and vocabulary to real-life situations.
Her goal is for students to develop confidence and trust in themselves. She recognizes the insecurities that come with learning a new language and wants students to feel supported. “I want my students to learn to trust themselves and their knowledge. They already know a lot of Spanish, but sometimes they feel insecure—and I completely understand, because I’ve also felt nervous about mispronouncing words or making grammar mistakes,” she said. “But those things are part of the learning process. What matters is that insecurities don’t hold us back.”
Adapting from elementary to secondary teaching has been a big adjustment, especially on the administrative side. “Moving from elementary to secondary has been a big change, and I am still adjusting, but I really love the experience,” Valdez-Garcia said.
Looking ahead, she hopes her students will feel more confident and inspired to continue learning Spanish. “By the end of the course, I hope my students feel more confident in their Spanish knowledge and prepared for the next level. Learning is a lifelong journey, and I want them to feel inspired to keep going,” she shared.
We’re lucky to have Senora Valdez-Garcia at CJHS, guiding students with patience, passion, and a deep love for language and culture.
