Karla Tamayo started teaching five years ago with the goal to become a principal. Looking to develop more skills in order to keep climbing up the ladder, her supervisor introduced her to Coursera.
Karla Tamayo started teaching five years ago at the Oxford School in Reynosa, Mexico with the goal to become a principal. Her first year was successful and she got promoted to a more visible coordinator role. Looking to develop more skills in order to keep climbing up the ladder, her supervisor introduced her to Coursera.
Karla quickly found value and enrolled in the Specialization: Foundations of Teaching for Learning, and also the courses Crafting the Effective Writer and Chinese for Beginners. She quickly realized that not only was Coursera a huge asset for her own professional development but a powerful tool to enhance the skill sets of the entire faculty at her school. Soon, she was bringing teachers together to take courses on Coursera depending on the needs of each grade-level and holding group discussions.
Karla admits being nervous initially to take courses because of the language barrier in English—which she thought may put her behind on grasping a few concepts—but she soon realized the large number of fellow learners who would go out of the way to help her. The sense of community allowed her to complete the courses and apply new techniques for her position and curriculums. And in addition to just using Coursera for teacher training, Karla and the Oxford school also encourage students to take courses. Students who do are eligible for additional credit.
Coursera is currently helping Karla enhance her professional career as a teacher but has also introduced her to a new passion and potential retirement plan: to become a writer.
*If you’re a US based teacher, see how Coursera is giving away free Coursera Verified Certificates for district-approved professional development.
