Connected by Culture: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Miguelina Tejada knew that becoming a teacher would allow her to contribute to creating a better future for her students. “I wanted to be part of shaping it,” said Tejada, now a third grade teacher at Waters Landing Elementary School.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Tejada first considered studying computer science. But when she and her husband moved to Washington Heights, N.Y. 24 years ago, her focus shifted toward giving back to her community.

“My inspiration to pursue a career in teaching was motivated by the desire to make a difference in children’s lives,” she said. “I wanted to shape the youth who give back to the community. The satisfaction and joy of working with children and watching them grow makes me feel fulfilled.”

That inspiration stayed with her through moves to Charlotte, N.C. to Germantown, Md., where she’s been teaching at Waters Landing since 2016. Tejada first served as a math intervention facilitator and has been teaching third grade for four years. 

In her classroom, she builds relationships, fosters confidence and draws inspiration from her students.

“My eighth grade teacher, Betania Liz, was a huge role model for me,” she said. “She combined high expectations with genuine care. She showed me that great teaching is not only about academics, but also about building relationships and fostering confidence.”

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Her students’ curiosity and resilience motivate her.

“I love seeing my students’ excitement when they finally understand something new,” she said. “Those moments of growth and discovery make the classroom a joyful place.”

During a recent math lesson on multiplication, Tejada worked in small groups, using chips, paper and pencil, and hand gestures to help students understand arrays. She loves teaching math because it allows her to use a variety of strategies tailored to her students’ learning styles.

As MCPS celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Tejada shares how she highlights diversity, honors traditions and helps students see the value of different backgrounds.

“My heritage has greatly shaped my approach to teaching by instilling in me a deep respect for cultural diversity and community,” she said. “Growing up, I experienced the value of storytelling, traditions and family-centered learning, which I now bring into my classroom.”

And you can see all of that throughout her classroom. Her decor includes memories from the Dominican Republic, souvenirs from her travels and student art. 

One of the first projects her class did was review and understand the classroom rules. To do this, they created puzzle pieces that represented them to show how they are all connected together.

They also created themselves as emojis. Tejada wants the students to see themselves and understand the importance of being connected and working together. 

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“In the classroom, I engage students with stories, art, music, videos and books that highlight Hispanic culture,” Tejada said. “I also encourage them to share their own traditions. It’s a way to celebrate diversity and help students appreciate the richness of their shared history.”

“She takes time to prepare lessons and spends a lot of time with the students to make sure they understand what they are learning,” said paraeducator Jamilyah Jean-Philippe.

Outside the classroom, Tejada is involved with community projects. 

“Her reach extends beyond the classroom; she supports any cause that benefits students,” said Waters Landing Principal Deneise Hammond. “She testified at a Montgomery County Council meeting in Spanish, advocating for Waters Landing Elementary School to get the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary program, which begins this winter.”

“Ms. Tejada’s passion for student learning is evident as soon as you enter her learning space,” continued Hammond. “She has high expectations for every student and only accepts their best effort. She also takes the time to get to know the students’ families, establishing a strong home-school connection, which is so beneficial for students.”

Her passion and connectedness are rooted in her culture and lived every day through her teaching and community work. 

“Hispanic Heritage Month has taught me the value of embracing and sharing our roots,” said Tejada. “My advice is to celebrate your culture proudly and learn from others. It makes our community stronger and more connected to each other.”