Mrs. Cano and Her Adventurous Life as a Teacher
How a teacher who taught in Michigan, Oklahoma, Guatemala, and Mexico ended up teaching here at NCS…
February 5, 2017
We all know Mrs. Cano as the Spanish teacher in building seven but most of us do not know her story as a teacher. After interviewing her, I have grown to respect her even more than I used to. She is great example for those that look for what they love and never give up.
When did you dedicate yourself to teaching high school students?
“My life as an educator has taken a somewhat winding path to get me to where I am at Northland — my first teaching experience was a High School Home Economics class, then I moved to teaching adults in a migrant camp in Michigan (having no idea that the majority of my pupils would not know very little english). The position in Michigan then moved me to Oklahoma to teach preschool for a year and then to Guatemala and Mexico where I taught all grades, including High School, teaching Spanish to English speakers and English to Spanish speakers. Since I have been at Northland I have taught high school level courses.”
When did you start teaching at Northland Christian School?
“Yikes! If I answer this one you’ll know that I am not 25 years old anymore.
I have been at Northland for (I think) 13 years. I started the same year as Mr. Kraner so I always ask him when I need to know exactly.”
What has been the most valuable lesson learned from teaching at Northland Christian School?
“I have learned every year from my teaching experiences — both personally and academically; but to pinpiont one specific experience is tough. There are some funny lessons, a few embarrassing ones, some tough ones, and some forever ones. It is important to not lose sight of what my goals for the classroom are–what do I REALLY want my students to learn? Then, be flexible year to year ( day to day, and even one class period to another) as to how that is to be accomplished. There are no ‘magic rules’ (except practice ) for learning a foreign language and I need to constantly reinvent how I am teaching a concept.”
What has been your best experience, so far, at NCS?
“Academically, it has been the opportunity as an AP teacher, to be able to grade the Spanish Language and Culture exams for the College Board for the last 6 years. It has helped me be a more effective teacher — meeting so many others (college professors, high school teachers, and administrators) with great ideas, skills, and perspective. After 8 hours of grading exams we actually get together and talk about teaching and improving our classroom skills. I know, the ultimate in ‘nerdiness’ right. However, I have met so many people from a multitude of situations and places different than where I stand. It has been great. Diversity truly is a strong and positive factor here in our country.”
“Also, I can’t pass this question by without mentioning that personally, my best experience here at NCS has been the support that the I received from the families and staff here at Northland. Walking through the experience of my husband’s diagnosis, treatment, and now remission from cancer over the last two years was tough. Northland families, teachers, students, and staff kept my feet on the ground to accomplish the daily tasks needed, my knees knelt to pray, and encouraged us through prayers, the kindest of words, and actions. So many people did so much — little things and huge things to help us out. I can only repay them with a thankful heart and a dedication to my privilege to teach here.”
Have you always taught Spanish?
“Haha! No, I have taught adult classes, preschool, 5th grade (all subjects), Home Economics (now called Family Life Science) and ultimately Spanish.”
What were your favorite and least favorite classes when you were in high school?
“This question makes me smile because I realize now, that my favorite classes in High School were not so much based on the subject matter as the teacher and how they approached teaching. I always loved reading, literature, any English and writing class (must be why I am so long-winded and love words). I also have a favorite Math course and Chemistry tucked in there as well. A strange mixture of coursework but fabulous teachers made the difference
As for the least favorite… I certainly wish that I would have been so privileged to have had a math faculty like we have here. Except for one course, I never had a math instructor tell me that I was truly capable of accomplishing the work in that class. It’s a lesson (a sad one) that I consider over and over again as I teach — to be positive and tell each student that they CAN!”
When did you learn to speak Spanish?
“I actually took French in High School, and then completed my teaching degree without adding any foreign language. My move to Guatemala and Mexico for 18 years assured that I would become proficient in Spanish. I still laugh when I recall that my original plan was to move to Guatemala for one year and then return to the states to pick up where I left off in my career. hahaha. Upon my return to the USA I took my teaching skills (which I had been doing/using) and combined them with my spanish and took all of the required coursework and tests required by the great State of Texas, and then became certified to teach Spanish K-12.”
Now that we all have a better understanding of what Mrs. Cano has done and gone through to become a teacher here at NCS, we can applaud her for the great help and inspiration she has given to the many high schoolers around our campus. Also, I bet her impact on the students in Guatemala, Mexico, Oklahoma, and Michigan have not will never be forgotten.
