Ms. Aliano's Interview Questions
Q. What has being named the Lucy Read Teacher of the Year meant to you?
A. I think we all work hard to give our students the very best. Being the teacher of the year at Lucy Read is a recognition that I appreciate from my colleagues. Having just three years of experience I feel that I have so much to learn, but I think I am on my way to become that teacher that inspires and motivates students for life.
Q. How did you first become inspired to pursue teaching as a career?
A. I realized that everything we are now is because of the great influences we had in life. Everyone had a teacher once, the president and all important people had a teacher that motivated them to reach their high potential and become leaders of our community. I wanted to become a teacher to be that influence that will make the difference in people's life. I know my students are young but I know they will remember me.
Q. Do you consider your job adventurous?
A. Adventurous? Yes, I do. I will always remember that my professor said once that when you are a teacher you are more than that, you can even be an actor. Every day carries its own adventure. Seeing my students grow and learn is like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. That's why we always take pictures!
Q. What gives you the greatest joy in teaching?
A. My greatest joy is when parents acknowledge me as the responsible of their kids success and change. When parents from previous years come to see me just to say thank you...my child is advanced because you challenged him or her. When at the end of every year I can see the product of my work reflected on my students. I always reflect and ask myself, “Did I really do everything that was in my power to help my students learn?”
Q. What is the biggest challenge or frustration you experience as a teacher?
A. My biggest challenge is when I encounter problems that my students have and I haven't had experience with it yet, not only regarding with behavior but also with learning difficulties. I get frustrated when I don't have all the answers to help address their problems. Many times I stayed late searching ways I can try to help my students improve. I know for every problem there is a solution. My own challenge is to find that solution before my students leave at the end of the year.
Q. What is the most exciting event that has occurred in your teaching career?
A. Being hired to be a teacher and have my own students and my own classroom to manage. It was very exciting to finally do what I always wanted to be. I studied 5 years for it and waited a little more than that to finally execute it. I think everything that I have lived as a person will help me be that teacher that always wanted to be.
Q. If you could change one thing in the teaching career or the field of education, what would it be?
A. I think that if I would have the power to change something it would be the people's mind about education. Every time people ask me what I do for living and I say I am a teacher they look at me like " oh, you are just a teacher". Then, they ask me what great level I teach and I say pre-k, they say "How cute! You must have a lot of patience." I would also change our governor's mind when they think that education is just a good speech to be voted and then forget about it once they are elected. To be a teacher we have so many things to sacrifice and so much to invest. And I still wonder why our governors don't want to invest more in education to give their citizens the education they deserve to run a better country in the future.
Q. What advice would you give to new teachers?
A. Reflect, reflect, reflect. And no matter how many years of experience you get don't forget to be a new teacher in your heart. Don't stop your imagination and fresh ideas, your willingness to better yourself. Keep being a conscious teacher that wonders about how, why and what you are doing. Value yourself even when you feel you don't know what you are doing. Listen and learn from everybody, even from your students, they will give you the most accurate feedback.
A. I think we all work hard to give our students the very best. Being the teacher of the year at Lucy Read is a recognition that I appreciate from my colleagues. Having just three years of experience I feel that I have so much to learn, but I think I am on my way to become that teacher that inspires and motivates students for life.
Q. How did you first become inspired to pursue teaching as a career?
A. I realized that everything we are now is because of the great influences we had in life. Everyone had a teacher once, the president and all important people had a teacher that motivated them to reach their high potential and become leaders of our community. I wanted to become a teacher to be that influence that will make the difference in people's life. I know my students are young but I know they will remember me.
Q. Do you consider your job adventurous?
A. Adventurous? Yes, I do. I will always remember that my professor said once that when you are a teacher you are more than that, you can even be an actor. Every day carries its own adventure. Seeing my students grow and learn is like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. That's why we always take pictures!
Q. What gives you the greatest joy in teaching?
A. My greatest joy is when parents acknowledge me as the responsible of their kids success and change. When parents from previous years come to see me just to say thank you...my child is advanced because you challenged him or her. When at the end of every year I can see the product of my work reflected on my students. I always reflect and ask myself, “Did I really do everything that was in my power to help my students learn?”
Q. What is the biggest challenge or frustration you experience as a teacher?
A. My biggest challenge is when I encounter problems that my students have and I haven't had experience with it yet, not only regarding with behavior but also with learning difficulties. I get frustrated when I don't have all the answers to help address their problems. Many times I stayed late searching ways I can try to help my students improve. I know for every problem there is a solution. My own challenge is to find that solution before my students leave at the end of the year.
Q. What is the most exciting event that has occurred in your teaching career?
A. Being hired to be a teacher and have my own students and my own classroom to manage. It was very exciting to finally do what I always wanted to be. I studied 5 years for it and waited a little more than that to finally execute it. I think everything that I have lived as a person will help me be that teacher that always wanted to be.
Q. If you could change one thing in the teaching career or the field of education, what would it be?
A. I think that if I would have the power to change something it would be the people's mind about education. Every time people ask me what I do for living and I say I am a teacher they look at me like " oh, you are just a teacher". Then, they ask me what great level I teach and I say pre-k, they say "How cute! You must have a lot of patience." I would also change our governor's mind when they think that education is just a good speech to be voted and then forget about it once they are elected. To be a teacher we have so many things to sacrifice and so much to invest. And I still wonder why our governors don't want to invest more in education to give their citizens the education they deserve to run a better country in the future.
Q. What advice would you give to new teachers?
A. Reflect, reflect, reflect. And no matter how many years of experience you get don't forget to be a new teacher in your heart. Don't stop your imagination and fresh ideas, your willingness to better yourself. Keep being a conscious teacher that wonders about how, why and what you are doing. Value yourself even when you feel you don't know what you are doing. Listen and learn from everybody, even from your students, they will give you the most accurate feedback.
