CUSD 50 Staff Spotlight: Jenny Lopez, Bilingual Pre-K Teacher at Washington
"I was born and raised in Madrid, the capital of Spain. I went to school in the city center and then attended university in southern Madrid, on a very small but lively campus where I spent some of the best years of my life."
"Although I never planned to be a teacher, from a very young age I played at being a teacher with my family, and they were my students. When I was 15, I started giving 1 to 1 lessons to a girl in my neighborhood because her mother asked me to do it as a favor, and I discovered that I liked teaching! Little by little, I started helping more children until I began working in school cafeterias, teaching after-school classes and working at summer camps. When I had to choose a career to study, some of my high school teachers told me they thought I would be a very good teacher, and when I thought of professionals I admired, some of my teachers always came to mind. I have been working as a classroom teacher for 11 years. This is my fourth year working at Harvard. I spent the first three years as a second-grade Spanish teacher at Crosby, and now I work as a PreK teacher at Washington School!"
"What I love most about being an educator is the connection I build with my students. Watching them grow and believe in themselves is incredibly rewarding. Having taught in Spain and now in Illinois, I’ve learned that no matter where we are, the joy of learning and teaching is universal."
"What I love about the Harvard School District is the students and teachers we work with, there’s always a smile for everyone, and their positivity makes every day special. I also feel very grateful for my colleagues; they’re always willing to help, and I’ve felt truly supported both when I taught second grade and now in Pre-K (Love you and miss you, 2nd grade team!)"
"As a teacher, I’ve seen how small acts, like a smile, a kind word, or a moment of encouragement, can brighten a student’s day and, honestly, make my own day better too. Positivity grows when you share it, and it often comes back to you in ways you don’t expect!"