Adjunct Professor and Senior Faculty
"Teaching is the bridge to connect with lives and aside from sharing knowledge, one can impact individuals in other aspects." Linda Santiago
"Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education." M.L.K.
Background
Teaching has been instilled in me since I was in sixth grade when in the future teachers club in PS 20 in Queens, NYC. My career began at 19 as a tutor for a private university. Born and raised in NYC after graduating from Flushing High School I developed most of my professional career in “La Isla del Encanto” better known as Puerto Rico to later relocate to Florida. Have served as a committee member to validate items specs for the 2023 Florida Department of Education English Certification test and the 2022 BEST K-12 English test. Teaching online hybrid courses in PRCC for the past eight in PRCC ESL Graduate Program. Prior to PRCC worked at other universities in the island such as UMET, Inter American University, UPR and POPAC teaching English courses. Developed K-12 English curriculum for private companies. As a district English facilitator supported ESL educators of 26 schools as well as contributed to the island in developing test items for island wide pre/post tests. Offered reviews for LSAT, EXADEPP and College Board exams.
Currently, part of promotion committee at a a school at Polk Public School in Florida as well as member of the graduation for PRCC.
Education & Certifications
- EdD Curriculum and Instruction, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
- Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Teacher Certification English 6-12 (2023)
- FLDOE Teacher Certification ESOL K-12 (2023)
- Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) School Director (2022)
- PRDE District English Facilitator (2022)
- PRDE Curriculum Specialist: English (2022)
- PRDE English Teacher (2022)
Courses Taught
- Teaching Child & Adolescent Literature to ESL Students
- Linguistics & Language Variations, Methods & Materials for ESL
- Teaching Reading & Writing to ESL Students
- Technology for Linguistically Diverse Learners
- Equitable Assessment, Sociolinguistics
- Teaching Spanish as a Second Language
- Teaching Content to ESL Learners
- Identification & Instruction of ESL Learners with Disabilities & Limited Formal Schooling
- Sheltered Instruction & Assessment
Awards, Recognitions, Research & Selected Published Work
- Created syllabus for Sociolinguistics course
- Nomination for Teacher of the Year in Polk Public Schools Florida (2022) and (2021).
- Selected from the state of Florida to be part of a committee of 9 members to evaluate and edit test items specs for (2022) English Program state assessments.