Zulema Medina, a 2009 ARC summer course graduate, knew what to expect becoming a teacher at Kings Beach Elementary in September 2019. She was a unique first-year teacher because she had been a student, college volunteer, and student teacher at the school.
Zulema had learned to read on King Beach Elementary School’s brightly-colored carpets as a child. Some of her teacher colleagues on her first day were her own teachers, so there was very little anxiety about having to learn all her colleagues’ names. The hard part was remembering to call her former teachers by their first names.
As an undergraduate at Sierra Nevada University, Zulema spent many hours volunteering in the elementary school’s classrooms. ARC’s Founder, Katie Zanto, chairs the University’s Interdisciplinary Studies program, and she helped Zulema design independent coursework that allowed her to explore her interest and passion for teaching at her former school. As a bilingual speaker of English and Spanish, Zulema could seamlessly step into the School’s dual language curriculum.
On her first day of work, Zulema also had a deep understanding of the students and the community with whom she’d be working. She had lived in Kings Beach most of her life. She knew that some of her students would not be excited about Tahoe’s February school break: “Ski Skate Week.” She knew some of them would say, “But I don’t ski or skate! I’d rather be in school!” She knew this because she had thought it herself as a young person.
With all of that background knowledge and preparation, Zulema could have never anticipated what her first two years of teaching have been like. In March of her first full year, her second-grade students were sent home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The start of her second year of teaching began online and for most of the year her classroom was virtual and in-person hybrid. Her class wasn’t able to sing all together, one of Zulema’s favorite activities, for over a year.
Zulema’s first two years of teaching have been all about adaptation: creating new plans and strategies and finding creative ways to engage 7- and 8-year-olds in the virtual classroom. Zulema credits ARC for helping her develop one of her most important de-stressors in this wild year: her love for the outdoors. “Before ARC [as a high school student at North Tahoe High], my free time was spent at home. Now if I don’t get outside on weekends, I don’t feel refreshed for my week. I love being in nature.”
This summer, after school lets out, Zulema is planning to backpack the 170-mile-long Tahoe Rim Trail. Her motivation to go on the trip is rooted in her ARC experience. “I loved backpacking with ARC and the feeling of accomplishment you get after walking each day.” If you can think of a way to help make Zulema’s backpacking trip special this summer, or if you have hiked that trail and have any advice or guidance, please email us at info@adventureriskchallenge.org.
ARC is so very proud to have graduates like Zulema, who have dedicated their professional lives to serving our communities. Despite the ups and downs and uncertainty of the last year, she continues to be a caring and compassionate teacher for Kings Beach youth. Zulema embodies ARC’s core values of service, determination, compassion and growth.