TeachingInColor FINAL DIGITALPages - Flipbook - Page 11
Sonia
Márquez
Hometown:
Wilson, NC
Teaching Career:
22 Years
S
onia Márquez, a
native of Wilson, NC,
is principal at Oak Hill
Elementary School in High
Point, NC.
When did you know you wanted to
be a teacher?
My greatest influence was a high
school teacher. She cared about me
as a person, mentored me and talked
me through making some important
decisions, and encouraged me to
dream bigger than I was currently
dreaming. I was able to talk to her in
ways that I couldn’t talk to my own
parents. I didn’t personally know
anyone who had gone to college, so
I didn’t have anyone to go to for help.
I wanted to be a teacher and invest in
students the way she was investing
in me.
When did you have your first
teacher of color and how did
that teacher shape your learning
experience?
I had my first black female teacher in
10th grade. Throughout my 12 years
as a student in public education, as
well as an undergrad degree, and 2
masters degrees, I have never had
a black male teacher nor a Hispanic
