Previously published on November 8, 2021
Sioux City, Iowa – If new teacher Victor Diaz Galindo had any doubts about choosing the field of education, those doubts were erased in one recent conversation.
“A student in my Spanish 1 class reached out for guidance on how to become a Spanish teacher,” recalls Victor. “Now, we are planning a class when he can help me teach.”
A West High School alum who was active in theater, music, and leadership activities, Victor returned to the Wolverine community this year to continue his career in teaching. After graduating from West High School, Victor studied linguistics and Spanish at the University of Iowa. He spent two years abroad in Mexico as a Fulbright-Garcia Robles English Teaching Assistant before returning to Sioux City. He is currently in his second year of the Morningside University teacher intern program to become a licensed educator in Iowa.
“I have always been passionate about student development and the impact language learning can have on students professionally, academically, and even personally,” says Victor. “I wanted to work in the community that raised me. As a first-generation Iowa and college graduate, Latino, and queer person, I wanted to be a leader and role model for the diverse communities in Siouxland.”
That starts with helping students understand the power of education adds Victor.
“Education will provide you with the keys you need to be successful, regardless of your goals. But, it’s important to remember the road to accomplishing any goal requires tons of effort, failure, and most importantly, self-compassion,” Victor says.
While his first couple of months on the job have been demanding, Victor adds that it has also been rewarding.
“It is incredible to see how innovative students are today. They have grown up in the ‘age of information,’ and I think this has made learning a lot more dynamic. I am excited about the opportunity to mentor, teach, and guide my students to become impactful, informed, and compassionate 21st-century global citizens.”