Passports

Jean O'Meara

Saint Adalbert Elementary School, South Bend IN

Complete a Spanish Language Immersion Program at Academia Hispano Americano in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, to inspire, resonate with and teach the arts with an emphasis on Mexican culture in an urban PreK-8th school comprised of a 96% Latino population.

Where I've Been

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

My Fellowship in Images

While waiting for a taxi at La Gruta Hot Springs, this wonderful man helped us study for our test on the difference between SER and ESTAR.

This is the lovely curator at the David Leonardo Art Gallery. We had a great conversation about art in San Miguel de Allende.

Diego Rivera's family home in Guanajuato.

My friend Leonardo. He creates and sells beautiful leather journals.

The head of the school, Paulina, the teacher Jorge and me.

Climbed a pyramid with Helga at Canada de la Virgen. Fantastic field trip with Albert Coffee.

Your Personal and Professional Growth

How have your knowledge, skills and capabilities grown?

My knowledge of Spanish has grown exponentially. I understood some Spanish, but could not speak any before my trip. I am able to communicate with people who only speak Spanish, I am able to write and read in Spanish. I am, however, still a beginner!

As a result, in what ways will your instructional practice change?

My instructional practice has had a paradigm shift. While trying to soak in the new people, language, culture, environment, I couldn't help but empathize with my students who are in a very similar situation, but in reverse. They are in the US learning English, and, at the same time, learning a new culture. It is truly humbling!

What is the greatest personal accomplishment of your fellowship?

The greatest personal accomplishment of my fellowship was in the actual application and submission of the application. It was overwhelming when I first looked at it, but I took it apart section by section. I really had to think through what I am doing at my school, where I am going with it, and what I could do to help my students.

Impact on Your Classroom, School and Community

How will your experiences positively impact student learning in new ways?

I know that I will be far more patient with my students. I also know that I will bring back my sense of humor to the classroom-just like our wonderful instructor Jessika did for us!

What are your plans for working collaboratively with colleagues?

I will work collaboratively with our Spanish speaking colleagues on ideas for music, drama and art! I will also collaborate with colleagues to try and ensure our students ways of integrating into the community without losing their latino identities.

Imagining the Future

How do you envision celebrating of your students’ new learning?

One thing I certainly learned on my grant is that Mexican Culture loves to celebrate! Food, music and dancing with a lot of color, costumes, puppetry. This is how I envision celebrating!

Are there issues or challenges in your school, community or the greater world about which you and your students might try to make a difference?

Absolutely! I think my students and I can raise our communities awareness of how much the Latino communities give to our city. There is certainly a divide in our city, and I can truly see that we are already making a difference in bringing the communities (Polish, Latino, African American and Caucasian) together with the students' art, music and drama.

How would you describe to a friend or a grant funder the most fundamental ways in which your fellowship has changed your personal and/or professional perspective?

The most fundamental ways in which my fellowship has changed my personal and professional perspective is in the way that it has humbled me! I have a new found empathy for my students, teachers and friends.