Teaching Through the Lens of a First Generation Educator with guest Alex Calderon

What's going on everybody, I hope this finds you striving and thriving and doing absolutely amazing. So today's gonna be a first of the teaching champions podcast. This is the first time that we're going to have an interview with a fellow educator, and it's a great one for you. Today, I'm going to have Alex Calderon, and he is a seventh grade teacher out of New York City. He's a first generation Latin American, and he's a host of the first gen teachers lens podcast. This interview is going to touch upon a bunch of different topics. One of my favorites is when he discusses his origin story, how we got to where he's at today. It's truly special. I hope you enjoy. Welcome everybody. This is Brian Martin hosts the teaching champions podcast, and I'm super excited because we're doing an interview today. We have Alex Calderon with us. He is a teacher out of New York City. He has the podcast, first gen teachers lens. And we are super excited to have you there, Alex. Thanks, Brian. I'm happy to be here. You're absolutely right. I do host the first gen future ones podcast, check it out. Check out this podcast too. It's great things are making great moves out here. And this still kind of tumultuous time period for teachers. It is definitely an interesting time. And before we get into teaching right now, I've had the opportunity to listen to out speak a couple times and share his story. And his story is unbelievable. And I think you're really gonna enjoy it. So Alex, could you tell us about what led you to where you're at today? So I guess I'll start, I guess pre pre birth of Alex. So my family, I'm first generation American, my family comes from a little tiny country in Central America, El Salvador. So in the 80s, there's this civil war for like 12 years ended up in, in the early 90s. Where, you know, there are two opposing sides, one democratic when communists caused my parents to flee, they didn't initially meet each other if we together, they met separately here in the United States, particularly in New York City, Queens, shouts queens, but yeah, so my story starts there. And like I think for for me, right, my mother, I think my my drive into, you know, being in the field being in higher ed, or obtaining my degrees from my mother, my mother's inability, right to learn because during the war, right, they would spray paint the schools with the Communist Party, like it's India, f and l. And I think that's the name of the party. And that was the Communist Party over there. And teachers are so scared, because that was that going to be another battleground, like a series of, you know, of casualties. So my mother didn't get past I want to say, I guess, what, in the states here, I guess equivalently would be like, second grade. So I took that with me. And like, I, I like wonder like, what does that mean? Like? And is that's probably still going on out there. There are so many countless children that like are being stunted, right? In other parts of the world, even in the US where, you know, you feel like they've reached this kind of stopping point where it's just like, how can you grow and continue to grow? And it's, it's debilitating one sense, because, like, you you think about it, like, what does it mean to like your educational journey? Stop at second grade, you're so young. And there's so much that you haven't learned haven't learned to develop? Digest. But then I think about like how the adaptability of people who've immigrated, right? They learn, right, different traits, different techniques, adjust to American culture. And that's what happened to me. Because traditionally, in my journey, I went to school at PS 55 in Queens, and I started my journey there. And I was labeled an ESL student because back at home, the main language the mother tongue was Spanish So I was labeled in ESL students. And this is where I think one of my first instances I knew, like, I didn't realize at the time, but I think I know now I had a young Latina teacher, her name was Miss Gonzalez, never forget her name, because A, my mom still has the report cards. And she wrote in English and Spanish comments, which my mom loved and loved. That's one of the first representations I saw, of having somebody that can really speak to me in terms of like, not only like culturally, but even in like the physical aspect, right, I understand where I'm coming from. And that's where I think, started to my direction into teaching. And then I moved outside of Queens, and I moved to Long Island, and for a portion of the time, and I saw what mismanagement can do to a child's education. And like, if you can research this, I lived in this hamlet called Roosevelt, which, in Oh, two, it was so bad, like, poorly managed the school district that it was taken over by New York State, which is the only district to my knowledge has ever been taken over by New York State. And what they found was, people were mismanaging funds, and direct it to like, you know, personal pocket. And that's what led me into teaching because like, I feel like, if I can make a difference within the classroom, with all that chaos going on, and still have my students persevere and push through, then I did my job. Like, there's, there's no, there's no limitations to what they can do now. And I can do even though if I have those kind of adverse factors, so I saw that and then I went to undergrad in Geneseo. And I didn't know I was going to go into teaching. I picked on that major later. And then I've been doing it ever since it's my fifth year in New York City. Yes, it's crazy. It's been. It's I remember when I first started, I was struggling, but like, you never know. Because you never know until you're in the thick of it of like, you know, the field, they give you all these theories and theorems that may be applicable to your classroom? Maybe not. It's been different, because, you know, those theorems and theories could have not prepared us for, I want to say what's going on in the universe right now with COVID with political stuff going on. So I those theorems kind of went out the window for me for certain aspects, because realistically like it, how can you apply? Like, was it Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence, when all these other outside factors are affecting that theory? So it's kind of like you, you either take a sec, take two sets back, and then really look at the Grand scope of things, and really see what is working for you and what is not? And what's the best way you can help your students? Absolutely in? Yeah, I just want to touch on your story for a second because I always think like, my story is a lot different than yours. I grew up in Western New York. And it's been pretty easy for me on that aspect. And I look at the strength and drive of your parents to come to, to America to not speak English when they've they first come everything that they did. And you talked about like your mom, she had, what would be equivalent to a second grade education. Yeah, but the things that she learned not, you know, obviously, it wasn't the academics but but that drive, that spirit, that perseverance, and everything that she gave you, and to help you succeed to get to Geneseo. And when you talk about seeing Miss Gonzalez, and how she wrote on the report card, in English, and in Spanish, how important that was to be able to relate to somebody that could relate to your experience, someone that you could see yourself in, and I look what you're doing right now, and we were talking earlier, and you said that there's not that many Latino men in the field of education, especially up in middle school and high school. So I think what you're doing the role model that you are, there's kids in your classroom right now that are looking up to you because they can see themselves in who you are. So thank you and that And I appreciate it. I've been teaching for 19 years you came in, you're a pretty pretty No, now you're starting to get into the routine teaching for a few years and all of a sudden the pandemic hits. And how has that been for you? Um, it was crazy. I know we talked about earlier about each other being remote. Um, but yeah, if you told me when I was student teaching, hey, you're gonna be teaching like during the global pandemic, the world's gonna shut down for a period of time. And like, pollution is gonna go down because of that. But yeah, I was not I don't think anybody is prepared. You know, as cliche as that might sound I don't think anybody was prepared to to deal with the world quelling to this virus. And coming to a stop. You know, there's always that cliche, saying about New York City. It's a city that never sleeps. Mm hmm. It was like it was so eerie to see like Times Square, Dumbo in Brooklyn. It's like places that are really even like you go to Harlem, Upper West Side Central Park, these places that are heavily touristed come to a halt. So it was weird. And like even where I teach, and Jamaica Ave was like a lot of stores. So many things, like to just come a stop. That's, that was weird. But at the same point, you had to be on the go and ready as a as an educator. Because, like the building for me was close physically. But the lights were still open digitally in terms of like, I still had to facilitate, do my thing. Make sure these kids get a quality education, and make sure they have fun with it. So I say the past few years, I got big into tic toc. And so I make fake tic TOCs for my students. And that really got got to them, where it got to engage when like, nobody's doing the work. And like, like, I'll do it, throw a tic tock, and then the kids will comment. And then I'll be like, Hey, you're commenting, but like, I need I need the work done. But it was all about engagement for me. So it was like doing those funny videos, posts using posting on Google Classroom. And then not only that, but like the students and I were getting acclimated to each other, right digitally. So it was more so I was learning from them. They were learning for me, there's so many tools that I didn't know about. Like there's one tool. It's an app that one of my students told me because I had to crop a video. And I couldn't for some reason. On my quick player on my Mac wasn't working. And this is where it was like a learning experience. Where I was just like, oh, like these kids are more digitally savvy than I was because like I feel like I came when like we still had those Baby Got Back computers. And when you go to a computer lab, and like you'll do your typing keyboard, they'll teach you how to type. Like we're, I feel like for my age group age bracket, we're on the cost of like, middle schools like sidekicks razors. I didn't have a cell phone, but right my mom didn't believe me and having a cell phone. Yeah, so it was me learning from them how to navigate to sit visual space. So they told me about that app, and seamlessly. And I was just like, wow, these kids are really savvy. So the past two years have been hectic. Like it's been me navigating this digital space even now back in school, they all it's strictly digital books, Chromebooks galore, like damn, just being on there. And but being remote was a completely game changer. Like I had to not reinvent the wheel. But I want to say reengage the wheel them absolutely reengage them in a way that because there's so many factors at home, that you myself, I got distracted, because like, I'll be like, Oh, who's moving? What's going on? And like the fridges there, and yeah, like I had so many students that that like they ate in their kitchen and were in class in their kitchen. And they would go to like, like a quick snack. So it was it was definitely an adjustment period, period. And just like I really saw kids that like were really uncomfortable in that at home setting. So you'll get most likely, you know, those black screens where the kids were happy Have their mic unmuted, because I didn't care if they had the camera, as long as I could hear them and like, speak, that's all that matters to me because it's in, it almost felt like an invasion of their personal space, right? Because you go to Home, and home and school right are separate. And that's where they maintain the, the kind of mentality, right? Yep. And like, it was very uncomfortable research. Yeah. And you know, that's something because we both taught remotely for a year and a half. And my students were young enough, where I want to say like the image of being self conscious of their surroundings, and it was eye opening, seeing them in their homes, and their home environment is definitely a game changer and eye opening. But I always wondered, like in the middle school, where I think they're going going to be a lot more self conscious, you know, how that would affect doing that remote teaching. But I also love talking about those tick tock videos that you make and learning from them. Because the world is changing content creation is definitely at the heart with these young people. Do you still bring in now that you're in person? Do you incorporate like those tick tock video? Yeah. I make memes of them too. Like, there is one cuter where the kids were remote. Now, mind you, my kids, the last time they had a normal school year, you know, frico, they won, they were like in fourth or fifth grade? Absolutely. They still have some of those tendencies, where they're still have, like, you know, the younger kid tendencies where I feel like the middle school level, like when they're, for me for my classroom, they still asked me to go to the bathroom. So like, like, for me, in my middle school or high school, I'm like, Just go, like, I was just going, I'm going back. Alright, cool. But like, they'll, they'll still have like this really young, I want to say indirim. And, like, I have to go really bad. And I, like they'll like really pressed me and like I'm trying to go through something because like, I feel like middle school, they're becoming, you know, adolescents, but like some of them are really mature that you can see that they have this almost High School, senior Junior don't mentality where they ask these larger questions like, Where am I going to go? For High School, right? Because in New York City, it's a little bit different, where they are like, they choose their high school or they apply? So right, it's more so like, where are you at mentally? And like, for the past two years, that's an issue, I've been seeing a lot of the kids that just like private space, where you were talking about earlier, has affected them? Immensely, right, where I didn't feel comfortable being at home. I have a really a lot of hardships at home. So it definitely affected them those social emotional factors. Absolutely. Now, with the present state of education right now, I've never seen it in my area where we're having so many difficulties filling positions with substitute teachers, if we have a job opening, it used to be in my area where there were a ton of applicants, now our districts struggling to get people to apply. What's it like in New York City right now? What's the mental state of teaching? What are you seeing? It's in terms of this question. Besides the kids, that's another issue I'm seeing where it's like, for me, I'm, I'm double dipping and roll the person that was originally there. So So teacher is now on facilitating that, too. So I'm pushing ELA and social studies. So we're seeing teachers that they don't want to be teachers anymore. So point blank period. And, you know, you have I've seen in states where they have this executive order of like, hey, we need the military to come in to cover like for subsidy. Yeah. Which is true. It's true. It's not in certain states, and like, I'm just waiting for New York City to call on my current placement. We used to have a slew of stubs. Now we don't have any. So it's, it's like sometimes like you're covering all day. And like sometimes like my Dean's like you just got a like, I don't have subs for like lunch coverage. Like I used to have, like, you know, when you got lunch duty, and like, because some days it's a mental break, like during lunch like I I almost have a mental breakdown. Because like you're with these kids for in the same space because they don't want them moving, because of spread of Omicron and COVID. And that's what the issue I'm seeing right now. So the the mental state of like getting teachers and it used to be like, you check out olas, which is the main hiring page, and you check your further regions, and you go to New York City, even parts of online, there's like a slew of job openings substitutes needed. And that's what you're seeing now a slew of substitutes and have that are needed as it's a crisis. But I think we're looking at it wrong in terms of like, hey, like, like, like a band aid, oh, give teachers an extra, like, maybe in certain certain dishes I've seen like, give them an extra mental health day. That's, that's not that's helping to point like a bandaid. Right, but what is the higher issue, right? And york city I'm seeing it's like, you know, near cities expensive, no matter where you live, like, maybe if you live in more suburban area, like where I'm at. It's still still the city. It's still expensive. So reasons why teachers are leaving is like, the lack of pay the lesson number one, number one thing like why people leave the field? Because, uh, you know, going into it? Yeah, I'm gonna major education because I make millions of dollars. Nobody ever, nobody ever. Nobody ever says that when they're like an undergrad or graduate school. Yeah, I'm gonna get my MSc D in education, because I'm gonna get that bread. Nobody ever says that don't. So that's the main problem with New York City right now the high cost of living and the kind of division of that from your actual career. Right. So that's a problem in itself. And like, I do see what you're seeing in terms of like the teacher hiring gap, there's so many subs that are needed. And like, from even for me, for teachers that like they even seeking teachers that have, like, already filled positions. It's like, you, you look, you know, a peaceable to them for me. And like a lot of Latin X communities, like school districts have, like, emailed me because they there's a gap even that it's become worse, because like you used to have push for New York City, there's this group called New York City men teach, because the male POC, I like ratio is so low here, but the student population, right, it doesn't match the demographic match. So that's that that program been hit really hard, where it's just like, because nobody wants to become a teacher anymore. I still see them on their IG page, you know, doing their thing. And, like, you know, but like, there are these tough conversations that we have to have as a whole, in terms of like the country, like, how do we value education right now, it's like not, it's not looking too great. Now. Now, hopefully, you know, there's certain conversations that we definitely have for the future of the education field. My one of my big favorite things in the world is boxing. And they call them the championship rounds and in the title fight. And that's the final three rounds. So as we're wrapping up this interview with you, Alex, I got three, three questions for the championship rounds, my friend. And the first one is, you know, what is a positive thing that you can share from your classroom? I think it's important that we share and celebrate education. So what's something that's good inside your classroom that you've seen recently? Recently, I say I can go at should I go academic, or, I guess more so um, you can even a good story, a feel good story, anything good that that? So I'm thinking of like, one student in particular, really struggling on short responses. And I just call them by first letter, first name D. So D was really struggling. And I had so many conversations with, with Dee before about how to formulate this short response. He's like, I know, I know, I missed them. This one thing. Basically what he was messing up was, he was forgetting his, you know, textual evidence that he would either give me one or start the next one and then rush to finish and not complete the quote. I'm like, bro, you're not gonna get full credit if you're, if you're doing that. And then I had a hard time. And like I spoke to Mom, he's like, Yeah, he does a lot of time just rushes away just to finish it. And then came down to the, this mock in turn that my school hosts to mirror the state exam. And he crushed it. And I was so proud of him. Because like I was, I was like, Dude, I don't want to be like, you know, nagging or like, you know, saying, oh, yeah, you're always on me as my kids. But, uh, it really proved that he like pushed himself and like, got what I was saying. So that's one positive story that I have right now is he really crushed it. And I'm happy for D because he's a smart kid smart, really smart kid. That's great to hear and hear and like the investment that you put into him, you know, the joy, and I'm sure he felt a ton of joy, when he found out how we trust that. Yeah, did he did he? He was happy smiling. Here, he definitely like that's one of the things that you you want to see your classroom. That's why we come into the field, right? It's those those stories of like, success, and even failures like, Hey, you may this is where you were at before. Right? Look at you now. Absolutely. Alright, in the second question, my friend is, what's one thing that when you were in school, when you were a little bit younger, that you needed to hear from a teacher, or that you needed someone to model for you, when you were growing up, they you that you have incorporated into your class and that you try to give to your students? Now. I think one thing that I know, we've been talking about, you know, successes and trials and tribulations and failures, I think there's this there's this overall stigma of failure. And I think I just need to hear more so that failing or doing bad is okay. Look at it as a as be optimistic, right? Take that glass of water analogy, raise a glass half empty or half full. Right. I think that's a message that I needed to hear. Like, when I was growing up. And like, I tried to convey that to my students. But hey, we're like here, which is, it's not great. But it's okay. Right, where we're hitting the halfway point, especially when, when I keep thinking about short responses, they usually mess up on that area on the writing, and it's really tough for them. And we're really hitting the money on this one aspect of the writing acronym. Mm hmm. And that's good. But we need to be here. I need I need 100. And like that, but like, we're doing awesome here, but we're failing at this part. Which is okay, because we're learning together. That's one thing that I need, I needed to hear as a kid because like, when you become an adult, man, there's so many things you fail at, like all the time, like, even like basic stuff, like forgetting to pay a bill. And like, it's the honest truth, but I'm learning as I become older, what failure actually mean, and it's not the end all be all. Oh, you You stink at this? No, it's more so like, alright, I may not be good at this. But there's always room for improvement. As cliche as that sounds like, the more you practice, and the more you hone in your skills, you'll always be good at something like I, I remember failing at at an interview, when I was like, first got out of like undergrad, and like, learning from that that's an experience within its own. Now, when I go when I went to think where I'm at now, I had an interview. And I killed it because I knew the basic formula, and I wasn't afraid anymore in terms of like, Look intimidated by the process. Right, right. And I think that's what the students need to hear is like, from like a basketball perspective, always trust the process, right? Always trust the process. Because whatever the process go takes you through. It's, it's, it's gonna be all right. And that applies to a lot of things for my students, right, in terms of like, like social life, academic life, and like those are no social and academic have different facets, right? friends, families, loved ones, whatever. Right? There is always a process. And sometimes you fail and that's, that's, that's, that's, that's the beauty of in life because you can learn from those mistakes, and then the stronger person at the end of it. Absolutely trusting the process and building off of our victories. Understanding that failure is just sharpening the saw, and that we're constantly going to be failing. But that means that we're constantly be growing. And we should be constantly growing until our final day. So I love that. And last question, my friend, what would be one piece of advice that you could give FET? fellow educators right now? One piece of advice, don't leave No, I'm one piece of advice I would give somebody is communicate, right, just like you and I are doing now. There are always innovative educators out there, whether it be on any social media platform, most most likely I use IG or tick tock to see what are other educators doing their classroom that can be beneficial onbroad for mine brought brought into mind. And no, it's not. It's not I always had this mentality when I was a younger teacher, that like, I always had to come up with my own stuff. But if you did that on a daily basis, you're gonna be drowning. So like, use use your, your community, by community, I mean, you can be digital community or your coworkers like, hey, what worked in your classroom, that I can mirror in my classroom and make it my own? Because that's essentially what you're doing right? Not plagiarizing. Right, activity, you're molding and making your own. That's what I would offer. My advice to somebody who's in the field right now is and is to reach out to community, right? Maybe even if you're struggling like mental health wise, like with the school year, and like, how did somebody persevere teacher burnout, there's tons of things on that. Maybe they'll give you some tips and tricks, they went on for runs, they got into extra, they got into more extracurricular activities at school, certain things that like gave him a breath of fresh air. But in order to find that out, you got to reach out to your community, reach out to these educators that have been through those things. Because, again, somebody that been, has been through those experiences can really pack provide, like impactful feedback from my perspective. So don't be afraid to communicate, and develop ideas with each other. Yeah, and I love that I think communicate, building that community, finding people that can relate to us that relate to the field of education right now. But also, that fill you up, like connecting with you and your energy and your passion. It's been a blessing for me to do that with others. And I think that's great advice. Alex, if people want to connect with you, how can they connect? You can reach me on IG at first gen teacher loans. And that's first with a one. Just reach out to me there. And then if you ever want to do podcast episode, like in scribe, but yeah, mainly, Instagram is just shoot me a DM. Excellent. And Alex, I thank you so much for being here. I think what you're doing right now, the the voice that you're giving to educators to people in the community, the face that you're giving to your students when they can see themselves in you is so important. Keep doing great things, my friend. Thank you so much for having me. Absolutely. And I look forward to connecting with you again, my friend, Sam here, take care brother. This was a fantastic interview with Alex. He's definitely someone that has an unbelievable story. And we only began to scratch the surface. Pay attention to him because he's going to continue to do great things. Now, this is the teaching champions tape, where I'm going to give you three gems that I took from this conversation. The first was he mentioned Miss Gonzales. And he said, this was the first teacher that really left an impact on him. And I loved how he talked about that Miss Gonzalez would write report card comments in both English and Spanish. And for his mother. This was an unbelievable blessing. Because she couldn't speak English. This was something that meant a lot to her. And now we say that love is in the details in those connections that we make, whether it's with our students, or with the parents, is strengthened and fueled by the details. So always be thinking, what are the little things that we can do to make those connections stronger? The second gem that I loved was when Alex talked about how We need to create that community where we need to strengthen our connections. Because those connections, they can help be inspirations, they can help support us, they can help bring us ideas. And he talked about the fact that you can talk to fellow educators see what's working for that. And take those ideas and make them your own, that we don't always have to reinvent the wheel. And he also mentioned, teacher burnout, and how to reach out to other people who have faced similar situations, so that we can learn how they got through them. And the third gen is all about his mother. And you could hear the love that he has, and the respect that he has for her. And when he talked about how he got his strength from his mother, and even though she had what was equivalent to a second grade education, she showed different traits that went far beyond the classroom, whether it was adaptability, perseverance, finding ways to overcome, and I think those are huge, and it just gets back to, we can learn from every single person around us. And sometimes the smartest people are not the ones who had the highest level of education. I hope you enjoyed this interview, there's going to be many more to come. And if you think someone will benefit from listening to this message, I'd appreciate it if you could share. The teaching champions community is all about supporting, encouraging, and lifting each other up. And always remember, whether you're from rural America, to urban America, to Canada, to Spain, to Bahrain, we're all on that same team. We're all on that same mission. And we're always better together. Keep being amazing, my friends, and as we go out into the week, May you step into your strength, may you step into your shine, and let's build our champions out. Have a great week, everybody