Why I Believe in the Importance of Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

I was a special education student long before I was a special education teacher. School never came easily to me. Every time I would look at a book, it was always too daunting for me. 

In my 20s, I decided that I was going to try to go to school again, this time in earnest. When it came to reading, I started one sentence at a time. Then one paragraph at a time. Then one chapter at a time. Before I knew it, I had read my first book. 

When I came to Chicago for the first time, I knew that I wanted to be a part of a school that was multicultural. Ravenswood was the perfect fit. My job is truly a collaborative effort, and I can’t do it without the support of my colleagues. 

One area that I felt our school could do more in was celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and learning more about the Hispanic leaders who have shaped our community, city, and world. These individuals don’t necessarily need to be known worldwide; some of our very own teachers deserve to be highlighted during this month as well. 

I kept coming back to one question: “If we don’t educate our neighbors about who we are, then who will?” Thinking about this question led me to believe that our Hispanic Heritage Month efforts should be spearheaded by our Hispanic students. 

My approach is to have these students research an influential Hispanic leader and present what they have learned about them to our entire school during our morning announcements. These announcements typically last about five minutes, so our students are learning how to take large quantities of information and break it down into key points. 

Before they share their research with the entire school, my students also give a presentation to school administration about their work. This helps give them a sense of responsibility and ownership, and also helps them understand the value of sharing their culture with their community. 

I want my students to take what they have learned through this project with them for the rest of the school year. They should have a deep sense of pride in everything they do. They represent more than just themselves. They represent their family, their culture, and their heritage. That is a big responsibility, but it is one that I know they are more than capable of achieving.