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Rangel brings bilingual skills to the classroom

In one corner of her first-grade classroom, Theresa Rangel has put down a magic carpet. She tells her students that this item of schoolroom décor has the ability to transport them to destinations unknown. Apparently, it also has the power to facilitate a little mind reading.

“We sit on the carpet for reading and if anyone’s mind starts to wander, I’ll tell them, ‘Oh, you’re about to fall off. Don’t fall off!’” She laughs. “I’ll go to great lengths to hold their attention.”

I affirm the importance of students interacting courteously and respectfully with one another every day. We are family.This autumn marks Rangel’s second year of teaching, but she has worked in a school setting, primarily as a paraprofessional, for more than five years. “Teaching is what I always wanted to do, even before I knew I could do it,” she says.

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Observing her classroom at the Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies Magnet School, one sees ample evidence of that. Anyone privileged to hear her lead a lesson in mathematics or stress the importance of respect would agree that Rangel possesses what many consider imperative requirements for a first-grade educator: unbridled enthusiasm and a passion for developing the always-promising minds of young children.

Rangel would add that owning a penchant for performance and the instincts of an amateur psychologist also are helpful. “You’re in charge of this classroom and you have to be comfortable commanding a group. And let me tell you, first grade is a tough room to work,” she says. In addition to teaching a myriad of academic subjects, she also includes in her job description the duty to encourage each individual student. Her goal is to make them feel valued, Rangel explains, and she does this in part by utilizing a printed set of class rules that hangs on her wall. These rules affirm the importance of students interacting courteously and respectfully with one another every day. “We are family,” she reminds them time and again.

Rangel, who is fluent in Spanish, grew up in Danbury. “This city was the place where I wanted to teach,” she says of her hometown, which she clearly loves.

Before attending WestConn, Rangel was an English as a Second Language paraprofessional at Park Avenue School. There, principal Beverly White witnessed her obvious talent with children. She suggested Rangel pursue a teaching degree.

Rangel thought, “How I can make this work? I had two small children and I needed to keep my job. How could I add full-time classes to the mix?”

Somehow she did, making the Dean’s list four semesters in a row. She graduated cum laude from WestConn in January 2006 with a double major in Spanish and elementary education. Rangel also was a member of the WestConn Education Club Honors Society.

She is grateful for the help she received from the Minority Teacher Incentive Grant and the W. Jason and Ellen Hancock Scholarship, and credits Daryl Dennis, from WestConn’s Office of Minority Affairs, for making her aware of available resources.

Next on Rangel’s academic agenda is a master’s degree from WestConn. She’d love to put a ‘Ph.D.’ after her name eventually and ultimately be a principal. [Shrink Story]

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Rangel brings bilingual skills to the classroom
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Theresa Rangel

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