As Mrs. Shoe/Sra. Zapato, I love living with my adventurous husband and our beautiful daughter. An aficionado of lifelong learning as well as international and domestic travel, I have lived and taught on three continents. I've also visited numerous countries and recently added Iceland and Finland to my list. In most of these countries, I engaged in adventure travel (hiking, ziplining, deep sea diving, etc.) to learn about the country and culture firsthand. I also strive to challenge myself in the classroom. Before finishing my second graduate degree in May 2016, I completed a BG International Scholarship, KDP National Scholarship, and two Fulbright grants. In my spare time, I prioritize family and friends, explore culinary novelties, translate, volunteer, and lead professional development for fellow educators. This website contains pictures of foothills and mountains in places I have visited and explored; the peaks serve as an inspiration to me because they represent a challenge climb that I have accepted and taken. Regardless of what is ahead, I know that a solution always exists; one must strive to find the opportunity or action that will allow individuals to rise above adversity and obstacles to achieve success (which has many faces, characteristics, and context-specific definitions). I sincerely care about students and their holistic well-being. In my student-centered classroom, I do my best to differentiate and accommodate.
“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options.
You can climb it and cross to the other side.
You can go around it.
You can dig under it.
You can fly over it.
You can blow it up.
You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there.
You can turn around and go back the way you came.
Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.”
― Vera Nazarian
You can climb it and cross to the other side.
You can go around it.
You can dig under it.
You can fly over it.
You can blow it up.
You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there.
You can turn around and go back the way you came.
Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.”
― Vera Nazarian