Debbie Diaz

Highlands Elementary teacher Debbie Diaz spent 10 years in accounting before landing a teaching position.

But the years before her teaching career began seemed to only fuel her passion for helping youngsters.

She achieved a milestone in her second profession this month, earning National Board Certification, one of 23 Collier teachers to do so this year.

"I learned to look at the way I taught," the first-grade teacher said."My expectations have always been high but I needed to learn the way they learn that's best for them. (My lessons) needed to be more hands-on and in smaller steps."

Only about 40 percent of the teachers seeking national certification make it the first time.After two years and two tries, Diaz received the profession's highest commendation.

"(Diaz is) very open to suggestions and learns from other people and is a very hard worker.
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Diaz spent five months preparing for her portfolio, which detailed her students' work and videos of her teaching in the classroom, as well as taking a battery of tests about her subjects: math, science, language arts, social studies, early childhood development, the use of play in teaching, health and physical education.

"There was a lot of collaboration with other teachers," Diaz, 49, said about putting her portfolio together.
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Diaz is unusual in another way: She's chosen to remain at the Immokalee school the past seven years rather than transfer to another district school.

"I really like the atmosphere at Highlands - the support from parents and community," she said.

- Debbie Diaz, Highlands Elementary

Highlands MIRACLE II coordinator and first-grade teacher Debra Diaz, said students continue to read an array of fiction and nonfiction circus books, such as Dr. Seuss' "If I Ran the Circus."
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Many of the students are ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students and they know what a scarf is in their native language only, said Diaz.

Using educational materials that highlight the circus, Diaz said that she hopes to expand their vocabulary.
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"Most of these kids have not been to the circus," said Diaz.

The program was made possible through a five-year grant from the 21st Century Community Learning Center.

It is sponsored by Collier County Public Schools, the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board, the United Arts Council of Collier County, Guadalupe Center, RCMA, Collier County Health Department, the American Red Cross, Community Foundation of Collier County, the Learning Connection and representatives from Immokalee After-School Alliance.

First-grade teacher Debbie Diaz works with her students at Highlands Elementary in Immokalee before school let out for the winter break.She was one of 23Collier teachers to receive National Board Certification.
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Highlands Elementary teacher Debbie Diaz spent 10 years in accounting before landing a teaching position.

But the years before her teaching career began seemed to only fuel her passion for helping youngsters.

She achieved a milestone in her second profession this month, earning National Board Certification, one of 23 Collier teachers to do so this year.

"I learned to look at the way I taught," the first-grade teacher said."My expectations have always been high but I needed to learn the way they learn that's best for them. (My lessons) needed to be more hands-on and in smaller steps."

Only about 40 percent of the teachers seeking national certification make it the first time.After two years and two tries, Diaz received the profession's highest commendation.

"(Diaz is) very open to suggestions and learns from other people and is a very hard worker.
...
Diaz spent five months preparing for her portfolio, which detailed her students' work and videos of her teaching in the classroom, as well as taking a battery of tests about her subjects: math, science, language arts, social studies, early childhood development, the use of play in teaching, health and physical education.

"There was a lot of collaboration with other teachers," Diaz, 49, said about putting her portfolio together.
...
Diaz is unusual in another way: She's chosen to remain at the Immokalee school the past seven years rather than transfer to another district school.

"I really like the atmosphere at Highlands - the support from parents and community," she said.

Coordinator: Debbie Diaz 722 Moody, 5th Fl Galveston, TX 77550 Phone: (409) 766-2266 Fax: (409) 765-2610

306th District Court 600 59th Street, Third Floor Galveston, TX 77551 Phone:(409) 766-2255

Fourth- and fifth-grade S.C.O. students sold lollipops as a fundraiser for Relay For Life under the direction of coordinator Debra Diaz.