After many years of being in the mathematics department and teaching her students, Ms. Salazar had a goal in the back of her mind: becoming an administrator. From teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, and many other courses for ten years, the moment she saw that an administrative position was open, she knew she had to take her chance. After being interviewed and anxiously waiting for a response, “Mr. Bayer shared the good news with me.” Ms. Salazar has earned the position of curriculum specialist and AICE & AP Cambridge coordinator for the 2024-2025 school year.
Going up against many other candidates who were interested in obtaining the position, Ms. Salazar knew that her math and organization skills would bring her to the top: “I wanted to work with students in a different capacity, and being the Cambridge and AICE Coordinator will allow me to do just that.” After receiving the grand news of being given the position, she began transitioning out of her classroom. “While leaving my students was bittersweet and I do miss the classroom, I know this was the best move for me long term,” Ms. Salazar states.
This was an opportunity that Ms. Salazar knew that she could not pass up after hearing that Ms. Torres was promoted to AP at Central middle school. Along with taking up this new role, Ms. Salazar mentions how she “will still have the interaction with students, [but] mainly through the Cambridge and AP programs.”
She is also excited to lend a helping hand to the other teachers and be an outlet they can reach out to. After ten years of teaching math, she believes this will be one of her greatest strengths: “I think I will be a great asset because it will allow me to work with teachers and focus on these challenging areas.”
In addition to learning about the benefits of taking these rigorous, college courses, as it gives students “the opportunity to start working on their college credit[s], while boosting their GPA.” When taking courses that will challenge the student, Ms. Salazar also sees the challenge will greatly improve the student’s skills and see where their interests will lead them in the future. Ms. Salazar believes that it offers students a variety of majors in high school, and it allows them to “stay ahead and remain competitive.”
Being a 2005 alumna from PPCHS, Ms. Salazar grew up in this school from a teenager to a hardworking adult. Some of her favorite memories took place in these walls that she will forever cherish. She knew that the moment she wanted to become a teacher, she would teach as a Jaguar. Although there weren’t any positions available when she first started, she went to teach at a different school until the need for a math teacher was announced. “It has been a true honor to be part of this community as a student, parent, teacher, and now as an administrator,” Ms. Salazar exclaims.
Now that she has achieved her goal of becoming an administrator for the school she was once taught at herself, there was so much more awaiting her path as a jaguar. Whether it’s keeping a watchful eye in lunch, or in her office working on the college courses, PPCHS will forever be a part of Mrs. Salazar’s life no matter what.
