Esmerelda Gutierrez

I am a third-grade teacher at Model Elementary School. My job is to spend the day with 8- and 9-year-olds while teaching to them about academics and their community. I like making funny analogies that students can relate to for both. The growth they have as writers, from the time they begin third grade to the end of the year, is beautiful to watch. Enjoying books together during read-aloud is also one of my favorite parts of the day. Giving my students nicknames is also fun, and they love them, too. In addition, I love my team. They are amazing women to work with, and they inspire, uplift, and motivate me daily. Teaching with them is the best.

I was born in Brownsville, Texas, and grew up speaking English and Spanish. Almost all of my teachers at Egly Elementary were bilingual. My mom, sisters, and I moved to Ligonier with my aunts and uncles when I finished third grade. This move was due to work in Kendallville. I later moved from Ligonier to Goshen in the middle of my junior year of high school.

I used to be an English Learner assistant outside of Goshen. What makes Goshen unique is that we have an exceptional EL program. Working in the school, I can see how carefully teachers plan and collaborate with each other to meet the needs of all our students. One of my dreams is to become a counselor. I love working with people and feel that I could make more of an impact in the community with this career. But right now, I am loving third grade and feel that it is my niche.

I moved away from Goshen to go to school in Fort Wayne. We moved back because we missed our family here, and also because my husband was hired as a teacher.

I also missed Goshen’s environment. When my children were 2 and 4, I loved spending the summer going to Goshen Public Library, then Shanklin Park. Later, when they were old enough, they took swimming lessons at Shanklin Pool. My youngest was also able to enjoy these summer traditions. We would also go to the Splash Pad. These were all things we loved and almost all of them were free.

Goshen is such a peaceful, diverse, entertaining, and safe city. I could not imagine moving away.