También ha sido parte importante en la apertura de la primera escuela charter bilingüe en Delaware, ¿qué la motivo a apoyar esta causa? You have also been an important part in the opening of the first bilingual charter school in Delaware, what motivated you to support this cause?

I was motivated to open the first dual language immersion charter school in our state because I knew firsthand the value of bilingualism. In my previous career at MBNA America and Bank of America, I saw how the growing Hispanic population in our country alone was creating a need for more bilingual people in the workforce. However, in our school systems, we were only focused on students learning English even at the risk of losing their first language. As one of the founding members of Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, we were inspired to open our school to change the focus to biliteracy and multiliteracy. We believe the most valuable 21^st century skill we can teach our children is bilingualism and giving our students a voice in two languages.

Cuentenos sobre su reconocimiento “Impact Award” que recibio por sus destacados logros de liderazgo y las muchas formas en que apoya positivamente a la comunidad y lo que significa para usted. Tell us about your “Impact Award” recognition you received for your outstanding leadership achievements and the many ways you positively support the community and what it means to you.

It was an honor to receive the Impact Award from the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. I was selected for the award based on my work in the corporate world, as well as in education. I was fortunate to work for a company that encouraged its employees to give back to their communities. While at MBNA America, I was able to volunteer in many capacities to support our Hispanic communities such as a board member of the Latin American Community Center, member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs and tutor in the Bilingual H.O.S.T.S. Program at Lewis Elementary School. My work in the community fueled my passion to pursue a career in education, which has allowed me to use my personal and professional experiences to provide students with a positive and nurturing learning environment. I’m grateful for the recognition, but my work is not done. When it comes to children, we can always do better and we have to do better.

¿Por qué decidio ser docente? Why did you decide to be a teacher?

I have been interested in education since I was a young girl. I would bother my older sister to play school with me, although she always made me be the student and she the teacher. As a community volunteer and advocate, I tended to gravitate towards needs and issues related to education. I got to the point where I wanted to be part of the solution. It is easy to criticize a system when you’re looking from the outside, but I wanted to learn the inner workings of the education system and do my part to make it better for all children.

¿Qué es lo que le hace sentir más orgullosa de su profesión? What makes you feel most proud of your profession?

As an educator, I am proud to be in a profession that serves children. As an educator at Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, I am most proud that we are not only filling children’s minds with knowledge, but also filling their hearts with compassion. We celebrate their academic accomplishments, as well as their good character traits and actions. I am grateful that I found someone that shares my passion for education and I married him 32 years ago. My husband, Wally Waite, is an educator and school leader also.

Cuentenos un poco de Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, que grados tienen y como los padres interesados en enviar a sus hijos pueden inscribirse. Tell us a little about Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, what grades they have and how parents interested in sending their children can enroll.

Las Américas ASPIRA Academy has now grown into a K-12 school. Our ASPIRANTES (students) begin learning English and Spanish starting in kindergarten and are able to continue a pathway to biliteracy through 12^th grade. We have two campuses in Newark, Delaware. Our K-8 campus is located at 326 Ruthar Drive and our high school is at 750 Otts Chapel Road. We are currently accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. You can visit our website at www.AspiraAcademy.org for more information.

¿Cuáles son tres proyectos que haya realizado de los cuales se sientas muy orgullosa y por qué? What are three projects that you have done that you are very proud of and why?

I would have to say that opening our school (both campuses) was the biggest and most rewarding project I have ever worked on. Besides that, I am very proud of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) that we established in 2015. This was in direct response to our growing ASPIRA family and the request to have a childcare center on the school premises for working parents. As a working mother, I was grateful to have this option at MBNA when my sons were born. So, I worked with our Chief Operating Officer (Greg Panchisin) to make it happen. It continues to operate today and provides our team members with the peace of mind that their younger children are being well cared for while they are at work in the school. The other project that I am proud of is our Family Resource Center. This program was created in 2017 to support the families of our ASPIRANTES. We realized early on that our students’ success depended on a strong connection with their families. Our resource center has provided families with workshops ranging from literacy to nutrition. We have supported families with food, job and home insecurities, as well as gifts during the holiday season.

Cuéntenos algunas facetas de su vida trabajando con la comunidad. Tell us about some facets of your life working with the community.

My work in the community began shortly after college when I joined MBNA America. Giving back to the community was part of the company culture and it opened up opportunities for me to volunteer in different capacities. As I mentioned earlier, I was able to support our Hispanic communities such as a board member of the Latin American Community Center, member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs and tutor in the Bilingual H.O.S.T.S. Program at Lewis Elementary School. Today I continue to serve our communities through my work at ASPIRA Academy, as well as working with organizations that advocate for education and social justice. I serve on the Delaware Hispanic Commission and the Governor’s Advisory Council for English Learners. I also advocate for our students and community as a board member of the Vision Coalition Leadership Team, the Delaware Community Foundation and Rodel. I am also proud to serve as a Trustee of The Delaware State University, which is my alma mater.

¿De dónde son sus raíces hispanas y qué es lo que más le gusta de su país? Where are your Hispanic roots from and what do you like most about your country?

My mother and father were born in Puerto Rico. They moved to New York when they were young. I am proud to be Puerto Rican and everything it represents. I love our culture, language, food, music, dances, holidays and traditions. I am proud to be Latina and I want my students to be proud of their heritage. We have students from different nationalities and races, which creates a wonderful diverse community.

Cuéntenos de su experiencia como Hispana en los EE. UU. y cuál ha sido su etapa más difícil. Tell us about your experience as a Hispanic in the US and what has been your most difficult stage.

My experience as a Hispanic has two parts – the first living in New York and the second here in Delaware. In New York, I grew up with people that looked and sounded like me and my family. It was small town with a large Puerto Rican population, so I never felt different or strange. That changed when we moved to Delaware and I was asked “what was I” for the first time. I didn’t know how to respond, then the person asked me if I was Hispanic. I didn’t know the meaning of that word. I came home crying and asking my parents if I was Hispanic. From that day, I began to feel ashamed of my identity as a Hispanic and Puerto Rican. I didn’t want to speak Spanish or do anything that would make me look different from my classmates. It wasn’t until I graduated from high school that I started to appreciate by heritage and feel a sense of pride in being Puerto Rican. In college, I took Spanish classes to re-learn my native language and become bilingual. I cherish my heritage now. I love listening and dancing to Spanish music. I love cooking traditional foods, like pasteles during the holidays, and celebrating El Día de los Reyes. Moving from New York to Delaware was difficult, but I’m grateful that I found the strength and confidence to reconnect with my roots.

¿Se considera una persona espiritual? Cuéntenos cómo influye la fe en su vida. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? Tell us how faith influences your life

I consider myself a spiritual person, but not a religious one. I believe my relationship with my God is a personal and spiritual connection, one that should not be defined or prescribed by any particular religion. I rely heavily on my faith to guide me every day and to give me the strength to overcome any obstacles that may stand in my way. I am also grateful for my blessings.

¿Qué le inspira? What inspires you?

I have so many people that inspire me. My husband inspires me to be the best wife I can be. My sons (Quincy and Isaiah) inspire me to be the best mother I can be. My family inspires me to be the best daughter, sister, titi and Lala (abuela) that I can be. My students also inspire me. Seeing their smiles, getting a hug and just feeling their joy feeds my soul and fuels my passion to keep making progress for them. Just like a mother that wants her children to have better life than her, I also want my students to have a better school experience and fond memories of their time at ASPIRA.

¿Cómo se siente de haber sido elegido la Persona Hispana del Mes? How does it feel to have been chosen the Hispanic Person of the Month?

I am honored to be chosen as the Hispanic Person of the Month. I am grateful that this honor is a testament of not just my work, but the collective work of our entire ASPIRA family. I am blessed to work with a team that shares a common mission and vision