The saying goes, Find a job you love and you will never work another day in your life. For most people that is just a saying, but for Perla Gallegos, it is the truth. She teaches Spanish levels one through four at Ponca City High School and she loves helping students by sharing what she loves.
“I’ve always had a passion for language and culture, and becoming an educator has allowed me to share that love with students,” she said. “I also want to be an example for my children and show them the value of education and perseverance.”
Perla is in her first year at the high school but this is her third year in the Ponca City district. She started at Washington Pre-K as a classroom assistant, and last year she worked as an ESL assistant.
When she was a student, Gallegos had teachers that had an impact on her life. But she says that there is one that really made a big impact.
“Growing up in South Texas, I had a teacher named Ms. Benavidez,” she said. “Even though English wasn’t my favorite subject, she made every day enjoyable and made reading fun. I’ll never forget her, she was my third-grade teacher and truly made a difference in how I viewed school. Her passion and kindness inspired me and played a big role in why I wanted to become a teacher myself.”
During her time teaching, Perla has been given different pieces of advice to help her in the classroom.
“Probably the best piece of advice that I have ever received was ‘be consistent, be patient, and always show your students that you care’,” she said. “That advice reminds me that relationships come first, and learning follows.”
Perla is happily married and they have three children: Santiago, Sophia, and Selene. She says that she loves spending time with them and they are her motivation.
“My kids are the heart of our home and a huge part of my motivation as a teacher and lifelong learner,” Gallegos said. “When I’m not teaching, I’m spending time with my family. I also love exploring new places and cheering on my son at his baseball games.”
