>> I knew very early on that I wanted to be a teacher because in fourth grade I had a teacher
who humiliated me in front of everyone.
And I knew that I needed to be a teacher so that no child would feel what I felt at that moment.
So that became my thought.
I never thought about really completing that.
And when I met my husband, who was a teacher,
he said you want to be a teacher, let's get you going.
And I quit my job as a secretary.
I went back to school and came to Cal State Long Beach in the process, and about 10 years
to get started all over again and completed while I raised my family.
And the job just came to me.
You know, I was always ready to work, but the opportunity came to be at a school
that had a different kind of program, and that really called me.
Four years ago I get this phone call that I need to turn in my resume to the White House.
I don't understand why.
I don't know.
But I, I'm told that I have two hours to turn in my resume.
I'm sent the link.
I send it in.
And I look back, and an email I received a month before saying that I have been nominated
as a Hispanic educator, a champion of change.
Two months later I get a phone call, and a, a phone call, a very personal phone call saying
that I have been awarded Champion of Change by the Hispanic Commission of Education.
And I'm blown away.
To get an award for something that I love to do and to be recognized,
I found it to be an amazing honor.
But more than anything, an honor for my family and my parents too.