Jackson-Reed has many students and staff from a variety of countries that bring new perspectives on life and learning. To further encourage and benefit from this cultural diversity, it’s important to listen to the stories of some of our staff’s immigration experiences.
Spanish teacher Lady Arteaga was born in Pereira, Colombia, and moved to North Carolina in 2015 through an exchange program that brought teachers to the US to teach Spanish. She went back to Colombia after her visa expired, and returned to the US to teach at JR in 2021.
Arteaga was thrilled to be teaching in the US, but has mixed feelings about being far from home. “It is like a dream that came true, but I also [feel] some sadness to leave family, friends, and [my] country.” She still finds ways to keep pieces of it with her though, by teaching students about South America, including the variety of accents, types of communication, food, holidays, and celebrations.
Teaching in the US comes with new experiences and different school styles. Arteaga shares how schools in Colombia come with stricter guidelines for students. In the US, the schools are bigger, and Arteaga enjoys a diverse student population. When asked about advice she would like to share with JR students related to the journey she’s taken, Arteaga emphasizes the survival skills she gained, and how her experiences have helped her appreciate what she has in her country. “It is a great experience, so don’t be afraid of trying to learn new things, learn new people. It’s challenging but it’s worth it.”
English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher Araceli Lobato Darias is from Tenerife, Canary Islands, and first immigrated to Nebraska in 2016. She worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Spanish Studies Institute, after having previously taught a kindergarten English class in Spain. In 2023, she left after four years and came to JR.
Lobato learned most of her English through reading and watching TV shows—like Grey’s Anatomy—before earning a bachelor’s in English studies that allowed her to teach English as a second language.
The community has lessened Lobato’s struggles and become her favorite part of working at JR. However, the lasting struggles of immigration status have been hard to shake off. Lobato points out, “If my lawyer doesn’t turn in my paperwork on time, I can’t work, I can’t drive, I can’t leave home.” These struggles are common among immigrants, but at JR, the students and staff understand and support each other.
Finance teacher Kukua Frempong’s journey began in her home country: Ghana. Frempong started her teaching practice in Ghana, before heading to Mozambique, where she taught for seven years at an international school. She then came to the US, where she taught at a public school in North Carolina before coming to DC.
Having taught in multiple parts of the world, Frempong has learned to adapt to different teaching methods and cultural settings. She’s had to learn foreign languages and adjust to cultural surprises. “That’s what makes traveling exciting; you keep learning,” she shared. Frempong cherishes the relationships she’s made, as she stays in touch with former students from her various former cities.
In a large school like JR, our staff come from different backgrounds and bring meaningful perspectives. Their unique stories can be something to connect with or learn from, so seek them out.
