This is the first in a series highlighting the diverse backgrounds of students who have earned their professional teaching license through the Workforce Training & Education’s Transition to Teaching program.
Veronica Perez’s story of becoming a teacher in Utah was unusual and a first for the Elementary Teacher Transition to Teaching program.
Born a United States citizen, Veronica moved with her family to Venezuela when she was a young child. While in school herself, she discovered a knack for teaching and a passion for science while helping her classmates. “I always loved science and I was good at helping my friends with their school, so when I got to university, I put them together and thought why not teach.” She went on to study to teach chemistry and biology at Andrés Bello Catholic University (Universidad Católica Andrés Bello). After earning her degree, she taught biology for 11 years to students in grades 5 through 12 in Venezuela.
Moving back to the United States, between the language and the culture, was a hard adjustment. But once Veronica adjusted her teaching style everything went more smoothly. Her next challenge was figuring out how to earn her teaching license and working with the State of Utah to recognize her college transcripts. Since she was born in the USA, the State accepted her international degree, a first within the program.
Veronica first learned about the Transition to Teaching program through her school district. They emailed her about obtaining a professional teaching license and directed her to Salt Lake Community College’s Workforce Training & Education. At SLCC, she met program coordinator Silvia Araoz, who Veronica calls her “angel”. Sylvia walked her step by step through the process and showed her exactly what she needed to do to earn her license.
"I love being a teacher and right now I have found something I really like with the tiny ones because they give you a lot of love."
Veronica admits she was scared at first because this was her first time studying in English, but she is grateful for her instructors who were so kind and understanding. Her favorite courses include Literacy Strategies and Learning & Teaching Diverse Populations. “As an immigrant, it was good to see the other part of the history. How American people see immigrants,” she explains. For anyone who is looking to become a teacher, her advice is this: Have patience. “It can be a long process,” she says, but adds reassuringly, "but it is also not as hard as you think it could be.”
Today, Veronica is proudly showing her students’ artwork hanging in the hall outside her classroom. She says with a smile, "I love being a teacher and right now I have found something I really like with the tiny ones because they give you a lot of love. I like to think I am helping to [create] the best future. This is the reason why I am still a teacher after all these years, and I enjoy and come every day happy to come to work.”
Veronica currently teaches 4th grade at Riverside Elementary School as a part of their dual-immersion program. In the program, she teaches students Spanish as a language, as well as math, science and social studies — all in Spanish.
If you or someone you know has a bachelor’s degree and is interested in becoming a teacher, visit our Teacher Education section to learn more about enrolling in the Transition to Teaching program.
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