Marcela Andrés serves as President and CEO of designEDengagement, PBC, a Latina-owned education consulting firm based in Texas on a mission to reimagine how educators, families, and community members partner to support the hopes and dreams of students. Previously, Marcela was a program director for a non-profit whose mission was to advocate for public education. She was also a third- and fourth-grade teacher at a bilingual elementary school.

She is the author of Purposeful Educator Connections: Five Principles to Strengthen Relationships with Students. In the book, Marcela offers critical principles to deepen relationships with students, understand the importance of context beyond compliance, foster meaningful interactions, design high-quality learning environments, and partner with key stakeholders. Purposeful Educator Connections provides high-leverage practices, case studies, and reflection questions to help educators apply these principles to their practice, ultimately improving classroom culture and student outcomes.

Takeaways:

• The discussion posits that zip codes should not determine an individual's destiny, emphasizing the importance of equity in educational opportunities.
• We assert that education is a non-linear journey, where each experience contributes uniquely to personal growth and career development.
• The podcast highlights the significance of educators in recognizing potential in students, often before they themselves are aware of it.
• We explore the crucial role of family and community engagement in the educational process, emphasizing that learning occurs beyond traditional classroom settings.
• The conversation underscores the necessity of self-care for educators, as their wellbeing directly influences their capacity to support students effectively.
• Lastly, we reflect on the transformative power of relationships in education, asserting that true learning flourishes in environments where individuals feel valued and seen.

Website

https://www.designedengagement.com/

Social Media Information

IG: https://www.instagram.com/molcajete_talk/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelaandres/

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

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