BioSketch

Hello, I am Mrs. Clarissa Rangel.  I am a loving wife, devoted mother, and determined student of life.  I married my high school sweetheart and together we have a beautiful four year old daughter.  Our household is structured and multigenerational.  My father-in-law completes our unique family dynamic and provides a great source of moral support.  Though I have obtained a well rounded education, I am still learning each and every day.  I am eager to learn from my future students.

As for my background, I grew up in northeast Amarillo in a low income household.  I understand how hard a life in poverty can be, especially for those children and young people who cannot help their situation.  I feel that I have the ability to encourage determination among young people in low income families because I have found that education is a key to escaping poverty.  I hope to one day work in a Title I school so I can put my best abilities to work.

I chose to study social studies in college because I really enjoyed history and government in high school.  For me, they were the most interesting subjects.  In my quest for higher education, I developed a great talent for the Spanish language.  As it stands, I will be certified as a Social Studies teacher in grades 6-12.  However, I plan to get a certification in Spanish so that I can teach a foreign language in the event that a social studies position is not available.

My love for history and Spanish has blossomed into a great interest for Latin American history.  In college, I enjoyed classes like Colonial Latin America and Modern Latin American History.  I am very fortunate to have found a great Spanish tutor who has become a great friend. She has invited me to visit she and her family in Popayan, Cauca, Colombia this coming December.  It is a great opportunity to become acquainted with another Latin culture, advance my Spanish speaking abilities, and experience the rich history of a Colonial Latin American city.

Some of my extracurricular interests include crochet and needlework, singing, reading and writing poetry, and keeping up with my personal blog.  I also enjoy critiquing local restaurants.