EXPERT VOICE: Kevin Mora, Irving Dual Language teacher

Kevin Mora, a Colombian citizen, can speak to his experience about being an international teacher in the United States. Mora was hired by San Antonio ISD in July of 2022 under the new "Visiting International Teachers" program implemented by the district. Mora has been such an effective dual language social studies and Spanish teacher for the 6th - 8th graders at Japhet Academy, that last year he was named the winner of the Linguistic Responsive Teacher award for all San Antonio ISD middle schools.

Teachers must have at least two years of teaching experience in their home country to apply for the program. Once accepted and hired, the district assists the new employee with moving costs and transportation, finding housing and setting up their U.S. bank accounts. Temporary housing is provided while searching for a place to live.

"I am from Colombia. The reason why I decided to move to San Antonio and work for SAISD is because I am passionate about teaching the Spanish language,” said Mora. “I love my language and I feel very proud of my culture, so I took this opportunity to share some of my culture with kids from different backgrounds and learn from them and from other people here as well."

Calendar items 

Oct 14 (Sat) – SAISD Annular Solar Eclipse STEM events
Many campuses are hosting solar eclipse events with hands-on, fun STEM activities. Families will enjoy activities with rockets, science experiments, and more. The main event, of course, is seeing science in action during the eclipse.
• 9 a.m. to noon, Lanier High School, 1514 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd., 78207
• 10 a.m. to noon, Longfellow Middle School, 1130 E. Sunshine, 78228
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Douglass Elementary, 318 Martin Luther King Drive, 78203
• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Young Women’s Leadership Academy, 2123 W. Huisache Ave., 78201
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brackenridge High School, 400 Eagleland Drive, 78210
 
Oct 16 (Mon) – SAISD Board Meeting 
5:30 p.m., SAISD Board Room, 514 W. Quincy St., 78212 or online
Link: https://www.saisd.net/page/dis-board-videos
The SAISD Board of Trustees will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the central administrative office.
 
Oct 17-21 (Tues-Sat) – SAISD Rightsizing Community Meetings – Round 2
San Antonio ISD is holding a new round of neighborhood meetings on its rightsizing initiative, focusing on parent, staff and community feedback around the initial recommendation released Sept. 18. Meetings are being held at campuses impacted by the recommendation to hear firsthand the insight and feedback from these specific school communities. 
• Oct 17 (Tues) – 6 p.m., Huppertz Elementary, 247 Bangor Drive, 78228 
• Oct 18 (Wed) – 6 p.m., Storm Elementary, 435 Brady Blvd., 78207 
• Oct 19 (Thurs) – 6:30 p.m., Tynan Early Childhood Education Center, 925 Gulf St., 78202
• Oct 20 (Fri) – 6 p.m., Riverside Park Elementary, 202 School St., 78210
• Oct 21 (Sat) – 10 a.m., Ogden Elementary, 2215 Leal St., 78207
 
Oct 19 (Thurs) – Tafolla Middle School Literacy Night
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tafolla Middle School, 1303 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd., 78207
Highlighting Literacy Night will be performances from the Tafolla Middle School band and orchestra, the UTSA Folklorico dancers, and a poetry slam. There will also be a book raffle for students. SAISD Board Trustee Stephanie Torres and District 5 City Council member Teri Castillo will be in attendance. 
 
Oct 21 (Sat) – Irving Dual Language Academy Parent Learning Academy
9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., Irving Dual Language Academy, 1300 Delgado St., 78207
The Parent Learning Academy, in its first year, provides parents with hands-on learning of key strategies used by the staff at Irving Dual Language Academy. Parents will have an opportunity to visit classrooms and see teaching and learning in action.  Parents will also have an opportunity to practice the strategies they learned with their own child. The goal is to increase the learning potential of students at home.