Natalia Eva Venturini-Gibson

My motivation is my passion for education. I think there is just so much that we need to change and improve, and that requires lifelong learning. That's why I'm pursuing a PhD and also pursuing a political career - I want to be in a place where I can actually make real change. In order to do that, you have to have a higher degree and be in those positions to be influential, to be heard, to be persuasive. My passion is change for the improvement of education, primarily, and that's what keeps me going. To be honest, my parents both passed away, but they instilled in us, as immigrants, being a hard worker. They taught us that if you don't work hard, you may or may not reach your goals. They instilled in us this very hardcore work ethic, and I have a lot of drive and ambition that comes from my upbringing. My father was very adamant and passionate about education, and he was always talking about how we had to pursue our careers and how important it is in order to get ahead, especially in this country. We had so many conversations about it, and he inspired me through our talks. Both of my siblings have master's degrees, and all of my family in Argentina has high education - they're all professionals. We live in a country where we do have a little bit more opportunities given to us than others, and I just want to keep making my parents happy and making them proud. That's why I keep going.

The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my father, who consistently encouraged me to pursue education and build a professional career as a pathway to growth and opportunity. His guidance instilled in me the belief that continuous learning and dedication to my craft are essential to advancing and creating meaningful opportunities for myself and others.

First of all, thank you for choosing education, because it does require a very special personality and a person to have a wide variety of skill sets. My advice is to be patient, stay determined, and go after all free opportunities that come to you. Whenever you are offered professional development, whether it's required or not, take it. Use the professional development, because you will learn something - you might not learn all the things, but you will learn something that you can take away to make you a better version of yourself or a better version as a teacher, something that you can bring back to your classroom. Don't be afraid to have those tough conversations or challenging conversations with colleagues, principals, or assistant principals, because a lot of times, young teachers are very intimidated to speak up. Don't be afraid to speak up, just do it appropriately. That's where you're going to get the help and support. If you don't speak up and advocate for yourself or your kids, your situation is not going to change. I know from experience that's the way it works. You have to be outspoken, but not in a rude or aggressive way - be assertive, but be respectful. Find your seat at the table, but find it in a respectful way.

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the continued undervaluation of educators, including low compensation, burnout, and the structural limitations within public school systems. These issues can make it difficult to sustain long-term impact and retain passionate, highly qualified professionals in education.

At the same time, I see significant opportunities for growth and meaningful change. By pursuing advanced degrees and stepping into leadership roles, I can help influence systemic improvements in education policy and practice. There is real potential to advocate for stronger support systems, equitable resources, and sustainable reforms that better serve both educators and students.

Transparency, honesty, dedication, commitment, and hard work are most important to me. In education, if you're in it for the long haul, you almost have to look at it as a vocation, not a job where you're earning money, because sadly, teachers do not make appropriate money. We pay a lot of things out of pocket, and we can't even afford it. We're the most educated folk in the country, and yet we make the least amount of money. But if you have these values and see teaching as a calling, you can stay committed despite the challenges.