By MUSA MA and ANDREW LEE
Ms. Sarah Espinal is a new member of the high school social studies department. Along with her knowledge of history, she also brings her ability to speak 2 languages.
Ms. Espinal attended Molloy College for her bachelor’s degree in education. Initially, she focused on math but shifted her attention after taking social studies courses.
Ms. Espinal starts her lessons with a Do Now that encourages collaboration and communication.
Ms. Espinal is quickly becoming accustomed to her new teaching environment. She has substantial teaching experience including her position as a bilingual social studies teacher at Copiague High School. Her fluency in English and Spanish has allowed her to interact with a variety of students, especially those who are native Spanish speakers.
Ms. Espinal sets many goals for herself such as ensuring that her students are deeply informed about what they are learning with an emphasis on historical thinking. Seventh-grader Heer P. added, “Our class is very entertaining.”
Ms. Espinal emphasizes the importance of identifying the bias and credibility of sources. She consistently relates her classes to important life lessons by encouraging students to make decisions based on what they have learned. Seventh-grader Jasmine D. said, “Ms. Espinal is very easy to talk with.”
When not teaching, Ms. Espinal takes part in a variety of activities. She volunteers within the Valley Stream community, reads, and watches the Mets baseball games.