Fond du Lac Bilingual Aide Stephanie Gonzalez Receives Excellence in Education Award
KIEL, Wis. (WFRV) – Bilingual Aide Stephanie Gonzalez received the Excellence in Education Award on May 18th at the Kiel Performing Arts Center.
The judges recognized her for her community involvement.
The event included a red carpet arrival for honorees and their families and a VIP reception before the formal award presentation, which involved two dozen different school districts.
“It’s very humbling,” Gonzalez told Local 5’s Michele McCormack, who also served as emcee for the event. ” I’m support staff. So, we don’t get recognized very often. So this this is a huge honor. It’s amazing.”
For 18 years, Gonzalez says she has been blessed to serve thousands of Spanish-speaking students and families in their transitions to our educational system and communities.
While this work has been highly challenging, she said various reasons drive her desire to serve Spanish-speaking students and families; these include her own experiences, cultural understandings, and her belief that education is the key to unlocking opportunities, fostering diversity, and breaking the cycle of inequality.
“I want to make a difference in the lives of Spanish-speaking students and their families beyond just the technical aspects of translating and interpreting.”
Gonzalez aims to provide support and guidance in a fashion that empowers Spanish-speaking students and families through the various challenges they face, whether it involves navigating a new educational system, overcoming language barriers, or bridging cultural divides.
Gonzalez recognizes that many Spanish-speaking families may feel marginalized or overlooked within the school and local communities; as such, she strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where all students and families feel safe, connected, valued, and respected.
She not only provides support within the classroom but is an advocate for Spanish-speaking students and families in the Fond du Lac Community at large.
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