Foto por Darwin Ayala
In 1980, a young and idealistic teacher began her career in the Boston Public Schools by joining the faculty of the pioneering Rafael Hernandez Two-Way Bilingual School in Jamaica Plain. Forty-five years later, Marilu Alvarado-Hernandez is still young at heart with her idealism undiminished by the passage of time.
Throughout her long tenure as a gifted, inspiring and creative teacher, Marilu has never faltered in her belief that every child not only deserves a great education but is also fully capable of thriving within a classroom. Both inside and outside the school walls — as a teacher, curriculum specialist, debate coach, scholastic travel organizer and mentor to educators-in-training — thousands and thousands of students have benefited from her passion, conviction and energy.
She taught at the Hernandez School for 15 years and then brought her skills to classrooms, educational non-profits and consultancies across the U.S. and abroad. Over a total of 32 years with the Boston Public Schools, she also taught at Mario Umana Middle School and Boston International Newcomers Academy.
Her last posting, which spanned 13 years, was as the founding Spanish humanities teacher at the Margarita Muniz Academy in Jamaica Plain. Marilu is now working for the Boston Debate League as a debate-inspired classroom instructional coach for the Community Academy of Science and Health and the Boston Collaborative High School.
Some classroom leaders win plaudits as “Teacher of the Year.” Marilu is more than that – she’s the “Teacher of a Lifetime.” So it is with great honor that I present Marilu Alvarado-Hernandez with our Hispanic Heritage Breakfast “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her decades of service to our children and to educational excellence everywhere.
