New beginnings are always hard, especially when it’s your first time being a teacher. For Spanish 1 Non-Native teacher Fabiola Saavedra, it means returning to Alisal and starting her career in a familiar place.
Saavedra was born in Salinas and grew up in the Eastside. In high school, she wanted to be a court translator before becoming a teacher, “that was the initial goal but when I got more into the school year when I took AP literature, that class made me change my mind and say you know what I want to go into teaching.”
However, her teachers played a huge role in her choosing her career, specifically after taking Mrs. Martinez’s AP Literature and Culture class. “I came here to Alisal as a student and in college taking similar courses to the classes I took in high school inspired me to become a teacher.” She graduated from Monterey Bay in 2019, earning her Bachelor’s in Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture and her Master’s in Spanish from San Jose State in 2021.
She now works alongside her former high school teachers which has been a pleasant experience, “They are really supportive and they advise you whenever you need help and are always willing to help me.”
Being a first-time teacher is like being a first-time student starting high school. Saavedra graduated from Alisal in 2015. Coming back to a school where she was once a student has been very different for her now since technology is being used more than ever. “It’s been a huge difference in the sense that schools use computers more often now, but I like to incorporate the computer and paper to balance out the work for my students.”
The reason she came back to Alisal was to give back to the community. “I wanted to make a new change to educate the minds of the future and share my knowledge with the students and look back on how I came here since I grew up here in the Eastside.”
She wanted to build relationships with students and staff here which has been her favorite thing about teaching so far. “My teaching experience has been wonderful, the kids and staff are really nice and polite,” Saavedra said. “I enjoy building relationships with students because I like the way they can trust me and ask for advice. I feel appreciated that they feel comfortable with me.”
Her students have also enjoyed Saavedra’s teaching style. “She has a really nice personality where she’s open to things and makes her teaching style feel comfortable,” Kirk Maryott said. “She’s a really nice person and I like being in her class because her teaching style is very student-paced,” Valeria Tanori said.
As a new teacher here at Alisal working with students from all grade levels has impacted her in a positive light. “Every day I have a reason to wake up and teach my students,” Saavedra said. “They are family to me if I’m having a bad day they are the ones to make my day, and they are the reason I’m here.” So far her experience as a teacher has been pleasant, “Being a first-time teacher is hard but you just have to learn and communicate with your students, and you’ll have a great relationship with them.”
Besides teaching, traveling is a big part of Saavedra’s life. “I recently went to the Dominican Republic, and Mexico is a place I travel often to, almost three times a year.” She also enjoys listening to regional Mexican music like Carin Leon, Ana Gabriel, and Marco Antonio Solis. She also enjoys reading books about politics, and cooking is therapeutic for her, “I recently learned how to make chipotle pasta and enchiladas which has been fun to make and delicious to eat.”
Her first year as a teacher is ending, but Saavedra will cherish all the memories she made this year. “It’s sad because I’ve got to meet and build relationships with my students and they’ve all been wonderful and they’re sweethearts,” Saavedra said. “I’m looking forward to inspiring students and being a family.”
