We all know how hard teachers work and appreciate the incredible effort they put into educating and looking out for our kids. This year, that appreciation has likely hit an all-time high, especially as remote learning has given us a front-row perspective on all that educators juggle, and we’ve watched them quickly adapt to new teaching and learning models.
Here at Shaker Painting, we felt it was high-time we showed our appreciation in a tangible way! We decided to give local friends and neighbors the opportunity to nominate a teacher for a free paint job in the room of their choice, along with a gift card to a local home improvement store.
We’re excited to announce that Marina Orozco-Ngu is our winner! While we nail down the details and get her project rolling, we thought we’d give you the chance to get to know her (and her passion for teaching!).
Meet Marina, an Incredible Local Teacher
Marina, is a teacher, a student advocate, and the owner of an office space that could use a little love.
In fact, once schools were shut down, she immediately got to work making a stand-up desk out of her bookshelf so that she could film pre-recorded lessons for her students. In talking with her, it’s so obvious that personal connection is a crucial part of her teaching philosophy, helping her students feel valued.
It’s no surprise that she chose her office for the makeover! We can’t wait to paint it for her, and she says that she’ll be using her gift card to get fully organized and better equipped for virtual teaching. She says, “It is where I work from home when I'm catching up on email and planning for school, so having the space newly painted will help me reorganize and make it a space that's calming in the midst of chaos!”
She was kind enough to share a bit about herself as well. We picked a few of our favorite questions and answers, and hope you enjoy them too.
Q. What drew you to the teaching profession?
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was very young! I had amazing teachers, but I fondly remember my 1st and 4th grade teachers. They instilled in me a love of writing, a love of learning, and genuinely cared about me as a person. As I entered high school and college and had to make decisions around my future career, I focused my intentions more around serving communities of color and being an advocate for students who had big dreams of achieving goals in their lives. All of my career, I have worked in Title 1 schools. I feel that is where I am most needed and where I can make the biggest difference!
Q. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve encountered as a teacher during the pandemic?
Phew! I would say remaining mentally strong so that the pressures and learning curves have as little impact on my students. The biggest learning curve has been learning how to teach strictly through technology and engaging students through a computer. There are amazing tools out there for teachers, but it takes time to learn them well and prepare lessons that are high-quality and will give us opportunities to help students grow!
Q. What do you find most rewarding about teaching?
My biggest reward is when students smile! When my students smile, I know they feel safe, they are having fun, and they trust me. Kids naturally find joy in life, and in turn, it helps me to see the good in life also!
Stay Tuned!
Thank you to Marina and all our amazing teachers! We hope you’ll stay tuned for our next article, featuring the actual transformation of her home office space. You won’t want to miss it!
