Maya

Maya has worked full time at a before and afterschool program for 3 years. She is well liked by the children at the program, especially those who come before school, as she organizes daily WakeUp gym activities that the kids generally enjoy. For instance, students have relay races where they blow up balloons and then race while bouncing on them.

She speaks Spanish and English, which is helpful in conversations with parents in the largely Latino neighborhood where the program is located. Occasionally, she’ll share Spanish vocabulary in the afternoon with her group of 7-8 year olds, but most of the time she asks the kids to speak in English, and has even reprimanded some children for speaking in Spanish to each other during homework time.