Willow Glen Resident

Education

Teacher working at Gardner honored as cultural educator

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Flor Isla brought the colors and culture of Peru alive for students at Gardner Academy.

"I believe that globalization, being exposed to so many things at a young ages from different cultures--people, music and so forth--makes children more contemplative," Isla says.

The first-grade teacher is part of the Visiting International Faculty program, the largest international-exchange program linking U.S. schools with teachers worldwide. Qualified teachers from around the globe apply to schools in other countries and serve as ambassadors for three years.

This was Isla's second year at Gardner, where she teaches a first-grade two-way bilingual immersion class.

As part of opening her students' eyes to their diversity, Isla used a map outside her classroom. She had her students place drawings of themselves over the countries where their families are from.

"Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia, Peru--the students can see the rest of the world through us," she says.

Isla shares her Peruvian culture with her students and colleagues in the form of dance, food, and music.

"They are very sensitive about Peru now because of what I bring to the classroom," she says.

Her efforts as her native country's ambassador touched not only her students and school but also the program, which brought her to Gardner.

On May 24, Isla was named California Cultural Educator of the Year by the Visiting International Faculty program.

Isla says this recognition is been possible because she was assigned to Gardner.

"I get what others in the program may not get," she says. "I work with my colleagues on everything every day because the school is a professional development school. This was all because of them. Being here is just amazing. I am constantly learning and improving my teaching skills."

Gardner was still under reconstruction, the result of a major fire, when Isla had her first look at the school.

"The principal was so nice to me," says Isla, whose parents are both teachers. "She showed me around the school and what would be my classroom. The room was so big and had windows everywhere."

Isla first learned about the international program while attending a teaching conference in Peru. She had been a student teacher for two years, with five years of professional teaching under her belt. The overseas program piqued her interest.

"I did an Internet search on it," she says.

A month later, she had applied and was given a phone interview. Two months later program representatives from North Carolina, where the program is headquartered, visited to Lima to interview her.

The benefits of having teachers like Isla are immeasurable, says Gardner principal Janis Hubbs.

"We need native-like speakers from other countries for our two-way bilingual-immersion program," Hubbs says. "Sometimes it's hard to find teachers that are both bilingual and good.

"They come experienced," Hubbs says. "We can learn from them and trust that our students will be really learning. They come willing to learn better strategies and bring ideas from their experiences as well and help put them into practice."

Isla's impact on Gardner is quite special, Hubbs says, as she is very motivating.

"She has a really positive attitude, and people listen and respect her," Hubbs says. "The dancing, the singing, the food--it's all broadening our horizons, a real exchange of culture and ideas. We all want to go to Peru now."