Danalice Pacheco, a proud participant in the College of Education and Human Development's Temple Teacher Residency, is enjoys life in the classroom hundreds of miles away from her home in Puerto Rico, where she taught for ten years. Pacheco teaches and thrives as a Spanish teacher at Frankford High School in Philadelphia.
"I love my job, and I enjoy sharing my culture with the students," said Pacheco. In Puerto Rico, she taught advanced Spanish to natives. In Philadelphia, she teaches novice students Spanish how to write and deliver presentations in Spanish.
Before becoming a Spanish teacher, Pacheco was a journalist for a local radio station in Puerto Rico. She enjoyed her journalism career. However, after becoming a mother and due to the late hours, she decided that teaching would be a better fit.
The mother of three moved to Philadelphia with her son during the summer of 2021 because she wanted a change and a new challenge.
Her son, Joel Dejesus Pacheco, is a first-year student at Temple University.
Pacheco's daughter, Dana Muniz Pacheco, EDU '18, told her mother about TTR when she expressed interest in studying again.
Muniz Pacheco worked in the office of Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising at Temple University before becoming an associate director for fellowships at Barnard College in New York City. Her job is to support people in getting opportunities to fund their studies and other extracurricular experiences that enhance their careers.
"Moving to Philadelphia and being in TTR is one of my best life decisions," said Pacheco. "My professors were excellent, and I could apply the knowledge from my classes to the classroom," she added.
Pacheco worked in the Upward Bound program teaching Spanish during the summer of 2022 and plans to continue this summer.
Temple Teacher Residency is an accelerated teacher education program that prepares diverse and highly motivated individuals to teach middle or high school mathematics, science, Spanish, or special education in high-need schools in Philadelphia. In only 12 months (13.5 for special education), graduates earn a master's in education (MEd) and complete the required courses and fieldwork for Instructional I certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
"Pacheco was a fantastic student; she thrived in the master's program and was a delight to have in class and also was an excellent member of TTR," said Elvis Wagner, associate professor of teaching and learning.
Both Pacheco and her daughter are looking forward to the May 2023 Commencement. Pacheco will receive her master's degree in Middle Grades & Secondary Education World Languages studies from the College of Education and Human Development. Muniz Pacheco will receive her PhD in anthropology from the College of Liberal Arts.
"I am honored to graduate in the same class as my mom. She is resourceful, determined, and hardworking, and has been an inspiration for me and my siblings my whole life," said Muniz Pacheco.
Pacheco looks forward to celebrating in May with her daughters, Dana and Natasha, and her son, Joel, along with her mentor, Jennifer Felix, and TTR professors.