MUSD Foreign Teachers Q&A

What do you enjoy about teaching in Maricopa?

Michaella Banate
“For me it’s the kids saying ‘thank you,’ ‘have a good day.’ At the end of the day when I hear, ‘Bye, Miss B., have a good day,’ I get a great feeling from that. It’s the little things.”

Jude Basiga
“I am happy serving here and working with our students with special needs. They need that kind of personal attention. They long for someone who understands them and their situation and is generally taking care of them. They can feel that we are sincere in our desire to take care of them. I can see that, and it makes me feel very good.”

Nerwin Balilu
“If ever we are given the chance to stay here, I will definitely grab that opportunity because this is a good country, and it has a good educational system. I can share more of my talents and teaching ability if they are being honed here.”

Kim Giner
“I get to experience American culture. I get to travel all around the U.S. I have been to 49 states out of 50. During our breaks I just love to travel. Traveling is my thing. It’s easy to travel here; it’s easy to move around the country.”

Chastren Soon
“Every Filipino dreams of being here. It’s wonderful when you have students coming up to you from previous years asking if they can be in your class.”

Kiran Satyavarapu
“(I) wanted to work at a school where there’s a close tie between the school and the community and a diverse school, and I found both of those here. I also wanted to be at a Title I school. When Dr. Lopeman said she was looking for us to have a long-term relationship, I was so happy, because there are so many opportunities to grow here.”

Claudine Canoneo
“It’s the experience. I came from a third-world country, and it’s totally the opposite here in a first-world country. When I first got to the U.S., in Albuquerque, I got culture shock — it was rough. But here in Maricopa, I love it; especially teaching at Pima Butte. It’s an A-Plus school.”