Mercedes Portillo
Mountain View Elementary
Riverside, CA USA
"Follow your dreams and let your passion overcome any obstacles!"
Career Roadmap
Mercedes's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
AA and AS
Riverside City College
Bachelor's Degree
Elementary Education and Teaching
California State University, Fullerton
Certification
CLAD and BCLAD
California State University, Fullerton
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Bilingual Educator:
Associate's Degree: AA and AS
Bachelor's Degree: Elementary Education and Teaching
Certification: CLAD and BCLAD
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
At 18, I got married.
2.
In 2004, I decided to get my AA and AS at Riverside City College.
3.
In 2009, I received my B.A. in Elementary Education and Teaching at Cal-State Fullerton.
4.
In 2010, I earned my teaching certificates (CLAD and BCLAD) at Cal-State Fullerton.
5.
I was hired at the Corona Norco Unified School District as an Intervention Specialist.
6.
After three years, I applied to be a dual language third grade teacher at the Pasadena Unified School District.
7.
Then, I was hired as a teacher at the Riverside Unified School District.
8.
Currently I am one class to completing my masters degree in education and will graduate June 2020!!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
I was married and had two children to take care of. I was told I would not take care of my responsibilities as I should and if it would be worth it.
How I responded:
Obstacles, discouragement, or challenges are part of life and will be encountered with most goals, jobs or relationships. The key to overcome them is persistence, don’t mind what others say, it’s ok to fail but never give up! My last graduate school professor Dr. Gualco wrote “the fear of failure and the fear of what others think has destroyed the ambitions of most people.” So follow your dreams and let your passion overcome any obstacles!
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
The support of friends and classmates in school were the people I would celebrate and cry with. I believe that these friends made being a first-generation college student much easier for me.