The Spanish Life

BLPA-Would you be a Spanish

teacher? With over 43 years of teaching experience, Senora Solo and Senora Aguilar lead the way in educating our school in the amazing culture and language of Spanish. While these two ladies were raised differently, one common theme was told to me. Someone spent time with them and taught them the joys of teaching.

For Senora Solo, it was a her German teacher, Ms. Schreiber, that captured her desire to teach. While a sophomore in college, Senora Solo utilized her lessons in AP German and Spanish to start down the path of teaching. After college, Senora Solo was a leader in the Folk Fest, which was an afterschool program in downtown Milwaukee. While leading this group, she was impressed with the partnership between high school and middle school kids. Senora Solo was influenced throughout her life by her mom whom she helped with babysitting, as no one else wanted to do it. Luckily, this influence in her life has kept her teaching for 28 years. We can only hope for 28 more.

The path was somewhat similar for Senora Aguilar. Senora Aguilar’s mom was a teacher, so she has always been around teachers. Senora Aguilar truly realized she wanted to follow in her mom's footsteps while in her second year of college. But she cannot forget her high school English teacher. Senora Aguilar learned that teaching and learning are similar. You have to make it fun, but a good sense of humor always helps. Just walk by her class as her students walk out. Smiles and laughter are what I have always observed. Senora Aguilar has always taken an interest in the culture and Spanish language, so it only made sense to share that passion. Senora Aguilar loves to teach and is fulfilling her dreams each and every day not only by teaching, but learning alongside her students and gaining new skills for herself. After helping teach for the last nine years at Banning Lewis Ranch Academy, she is excited for this first year at Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy.

Speaking with these two ladies, I noticed that students can learn a lot and have fun while doing it. They may be strict but that is to pass on the knowledge to us just like it was passed onto them.