Zoila Rodriguez Cortez

I attribute my success to my love and passion for what I do. When you love what you're doing, you enjoy it, even when it's hard. I have the time, the kind of love and patience to help the kids, and that makes all the difference. I believe that when you do something good for others, somebody does something good for you in return. My success comes from genuinely caring about my students and their families, and being willing to go the extra mile - working with them one-by-one, even during my breaks, to make sure they succeed. It's about having the patience and dedication to help each child reach their potential, and working as a team with parents to support their children's growth.

The best career advice centers on following your passion in early childhood education and continuing to grow professionally. I've learned that in this field, technology and methods are constantly advancing, so no matter how much experience you have - even with 28 years like me - you need to keep preparing yourself professionally and doing the best you can. What matters most is loving what you do, especially when working with kids. I've focused my career on early childhood education and working with children with autism, which are the two areas I'm most passionate about and where I feel I can make the biggest difference.

My advice to young women entering this field is to stay focused and believe in yourself. Sometimes we face deserts in our life, difficult situations and challenges that God allows us to pass through, but you have to look straight ahead. Don't look to the right or to the left - look straight and know that you can do it, you can make it. When someone says 'I can't,' I tell them 'Yes, you can.' It's about helping others believe in themselves and doing your best to help them change their situation. I like to help people, women and families, and I encourage them to keep moving forward no matter what obstacles they face. You have to have faith that you can get through the challenges and come out successful on the other side.

The biggest challenge I face is when children are dealing with difficult situations at home, and those issues affect their performance and behavior in the classroom. I see the background of where they come from, and I try to make them feel comfortable at school. Sometimes what they don't have at home - like quality time, kindness, and attention from parents - I try to provide in my classroom. I want them to feel like school is their house, a safe and welcoming environment. My goal is that even when they go home, they can bring something positive back to their own parents. This year has been particularly challenging because my school fired some teachers, and now I'm teaching four grade levels in one classroom with 26 students. But I manage it with patience and careful time management, and at the end of the day, I can say 'I did it' and thank God for giving me the patience to handle these situations, because the kids are what's most important.

The most important value to me is the joy and happiness I feel at the end of the school year when I can see that I've made a difference. My happiness comes from knowing that I helped the parents and that the children were successful. I believe strongly in teamwork with parents - I tell them 'you and me, teamwork, we did it, and you will see it in the end of the year.' I've had cases where doctors diagnosed children with autism, and through working together with the families and applying what I've learned and studied, we've seen remarkable progress. That feeling of accomplishment, of knowing I did something good for these children and families, is what drives me. I believe that when you do something good for others, somebody does something good for you in return. At home, I value being organized, cooking, and having quiet time rather than going out too much. I also enjoy simple pleasures like going to the beach to watch the sunset.