Catalina

Catalina is a seasoned PK-8 multilingual Colombian-American educator with experience in bilingual instruction, curriculum design/development, and adaptive online learning programs. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Education with a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the University of the Pacific, and a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish from the State of California. These enable her to provide specially designed content instruction across all core content areas for students in both English and Spanish. She is skilled at providing rigorous, standards-driven Spanish lessons following the principles of backward design for students online and in-person. She has also created, adapted, and translated English curricula to Spanish, thoroughly reviewing materials for linguistic precision, coherence, and pedagogical effectiveness. She served as pilot lead for the American Reading Company’s 2nd-grade bilingual curriculum, driving brand awareness, engagement, and product adoption as she educated teachers on how to leverage ARC’s unique bilingual curriculum for 2nd-grade students. She is proud of her exceptional service as an educator and desires to continue to grow professionally, transferring her skills to support organizations to inspire all kids to love learning Spanish.

What languages do you speak?

English, Spanish, Portuguese, French

Why do you teach?

I feel joy when facilitating learning experiences for my students. I especially love seeing my students suddenly understand content and make connections between what they’re learning and what they’ve experienced in life.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would like the superpower of never having to sleep so that I could make use of all of the hours in a day to do all of the things that I love.

What three words would your students use to describe you?

Organized, articulate, and engaging

What is your favorite book?

The Giver will always be one of my favorites!

What’s your favorite place to visit in Los Angeles?

I love visiting any of the beaches of Los Angeles.

Any secret talents?

I am a performer and love to sing, act, and dance.