There is nothing like watching children soak up the new world of school and mature over the course of a year, according to Victoria Campoverde, and it’s something she gets to do all the time as lead teacher and program director at Joyce Preschool, a dual language immersion school in Minneapolis.
Joyce students (half Spanish-speaking, half English-speaking) learn about each other’s cultures, and to speak both languages. Campoverde enjoys teaching small children twice a week, but also gets a lot of fulfillment from working with parents in the Taller de Padres (Association of Parents) program as she strives to teach them how to help their children learn. “I like my job because it goes beyond teaching in the classroom,” she says. “It is also helping parents to educate and help their own children.” Taller de Padres fosters exchanges between the families and Joyce school, and hosts evening sessions on topics like parenting, daycare, immigration laws, and health care.
Campoverde was a high school teacher in her native Peru, but when she had children of her own she realized the joy of teaching little ones. It’s creative and fun, and at Joyce it gives her the opportunity to both share Latino culture and learn about other cultures. Duties at Joyce keep Campoverde busy, but she also makes sure to volunteer at the school of her own children, who are 6 and 9.
