Originally from Florida, ninth grade Literature/Writing and AP English Language and Composition teacher, Chary Sagnip Salvador did not always have her sights set on teaching. She believed she had to major in the sciences in order to support her family and make them happy. In college, she began to tutor students, which made her recognize her passion for teaching. She has since been teaching for 23 years.
“I realized that my influence on them and my support for them helped them to succeed,” Salvador said. “And I thought, ‘I could do this for a living. I can do what I love, which is reading and writing.’”
Her students have felt her support both academically and on a personal level.
“As a junior I didn’t know if I had potential with writing,” senior Ishika Sharma said. “Ms. Salvador is truly one of the most nurturing teachers. She is always there for her students and truly cares about giving her students the best experience. She’s also super funny and relatable.”
While it may seem that there is a large difference between teaching freshmen and juniors, Salvador says they are very similar.
“Students tend to obsess over the same things, whether it be grades or relationships,” Salvador said. “But I think attention-span-wise, students struggle through the same things: understanding the reading, taking out the appropriate evidence, understanding the question. Those are the same basic challenges that I see from day to day.” Though she loves working with her students, one of Salvador’s core principles is to keep her work and home life separate. She only grades assignments when in school, and makes sure to spend quality time with her daughter and husband when at home. Above all else, she prioritizes her students’ well-being.
“The students are what I value more than any subject that I teach,” Salvador said. “Whether it’s their mental well-being, their ability to overcome obstacles, whether it be literacy, or relationships with each other, or how they perceive life or any combination of those. That’s what I value the most in this profession.”
Salvador encourages students to challenge themselves and push their limits. She finds that the most rewarding part of the job is seeing how her students develop and further their academic journey.
“I teach ninth graders now, I will see them again in four years,” Mrs. Salvador said. “They may never come to my classroom in between then. But I’ll see them as a grown, mature person on graduation day. And I will always see that growth in them.”
