Bibiana Luna Rojas

I have been in education for 26 years, currently serving as a lead ESL instructor where I oversee between 14 to 16 teachers. I was born in Colombia and worked there as an occupational therapist with my own private office and at an institution serving children with various disabilities. When the situation in my country became very scary, I came to the United States 20 years ago without knowing any English. I enrolled as a student in the ESL program where I now work. My teacher noticed I was helping my Spanish-speaking classmates understand the lessons, so just three months after starting, she asked me to become her assistant. My boss at the time required me to commit two days before each class to learn the lesson with the teacher, and encouraged me to attend college to improve my English. Eventually, I earned my own class to teach. Now I teach ESL through a Title II grant program, working with adult students twice a week in mornings and evenings at the basic levels. I help them improve their English skills and reach their goals, whether that's getting a better job or continuing their education. As lead instructor, I check that teachers are delivering lessons properly, help with teacher-student relations, and support curriculum needs. I also helped establish a new paid ESL program six months ago to serve the many students on our waiting list, working closely with my boss and the college president to expand access to our community.