Meet Our Language Acquisition Team
Email = First Initial + Last Name@wihi.org
Trisha Matelski
Spanish and Hispanic CultureSince becoming a teacher in 2005, I have had the opportunity to teach every level of Spanish from Spanish 1 to Spanish for native speakers. I came from teaching Native Speakers in Southwest Detroit to come be a part of the WIHI program because I believe so strongly in the IB mission of creating global citizens. I received my Bachelor's in education from the University of Michigan and hold a Master of Arts in the Spanish language from Eastern Michigan University. I also have had the opportunity to study abroad, spending one summer in Spain and one summer in Mexico as well as having participated in over a dozen trips to Spanish speaking countries, either for service trips or for pleasure. Teaching and service are the two things that absolutely make me come alive and I am so excited to share that passion with the students here at WIHI and to broaden their horizons both within the classroom and within the context of international service trips. I could not be more thrilled to be part of the WIHI community and hope to instill my passion for the Spanish language and culture into all of my students.
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Kristi Shaffer |
Enid SilvaSpanish 7, Spanish 9I received my bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in Counseling from Francisco Morazán National Pedagogical University in Honduras. I have been teaching Spanish for about 15 years; in Puerto Rico, where I am from, in Ohio for a couple of years, and now in Michigan where I worked for the Berkley School District. I have taught all levels of education, from Kinder to High School students. I have had the opportunity to work with diverse and minority students in Ohio, and in other countries such as Honduras, where I lived for 7 years. I also enjoyed traveling to Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. As an educator, I believe that my mission is to impart on my students the beauty of other cultures, to knock down different sorts of barriers, and to promote the support of diversity everywhere I go. I love my students from the moment they enter my classroom (or Zoom) and I try my best to help them realize their self-worth & deserving respect. One of my favorite moments in life is when I run into an ex-student who gives me a hug and tells me they miss me. It is priceless!
Although I have only worked for 5 months in WIHI/WIMA, it has been an amazing experience because the students, the staff and administration form an unique environment of respect, loving care and professionalism that results in the best school to work and learn at. I love to dance (salsa & merengue), to cook, to travel and read, but most of all, to spend time with my family and go to Church. |