Published in ConnectED Newsletter - Volume 6 - Issue 3 - March 2023
On February 9, 2023, Ángel Bautista received the New York City Men Teach Role Model Award for his exemplary work as a 6th grade bilingual teacher at P.S./I.S. 18 – Park Terrace School. According to Mr. Bautista, this award confirms how important it is to do what you love to do, regardless of how long it may take you to get there. He says that he hopes to inspire young men like him to do the same, not only in the field of education, but throughout their lives.
Being a New York City Men Teach (NYCMT) fellow was a transformative experience for Mr. Bautista. He says that, from the beginning, Mr. Walter Greigg, NYCMT Program Director, established clear and attainable goals that allowed him to complete his undergraduate degree with honors. He says, “I was able to use all of the resources that the program offered. The workshops and networking events gave me clear insights about what to expect as I navigated the application process to become a teacher. Anyone aspiring to be a teacher should definitely join this program. I promise they will not regret it.”
In December 2022, Mr. Bautista was featured, along with School of Education alumnus Marcus Carlos (Childhood Education, 2022), in a Hard Lessons article entitled “Why are so few Black men teachers in New York City?” In it, he provides a brief but inspiring explanation of the positive aspects of his job as a bilingual teacher that make teaching worthwhile. The article was re-published by Chalkbeat in early March 2023.
For Mr. Bautista, completing his undergraduate degree in bilingual education at CCNY was an enriching experience. He says that the learning was vast and that the one thing he appreciated the most was the fieldwork hours. “I feel like those hours in the classroom helped reaffirm my desire to become a classroom teacher.” In addition, he says that choosing to do a co-concentration in Spanish was the right decision because it gave him extra tools to enhance his learning experience.
Mr. Bautista’s goals for the future include pursuing a graduate degree in literacy studies and contributing to his community in any way possible. “I want to prepare myself for the challenges that this profession will bring, and I think that the only way to achieve that is through continuous education.” Joining a school leadership program and leading in a school community are also on his to-do list.
Last Updated: 03/31/2023 14:44