Spotlight on Zenia Gutierrez: A Passionate Advocate for Migrant and Multilingual Students
At Van Buren ISD, we are fortunate to have dedicated educators like Zenia Gutierrez, who bring passion, experience, and firsthand understanding to their work with multilingual and migrant students. With 14 years in the education field, Zenia has spent ten years as a general education teacher and the last four specializing in English as a Second Language (ESL). Her credentials include a K-12 Spanish B.A. certificate, an elementary endorsement, and a Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
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A Journey Rooted in Experience
Zenia’s journey into multilingual education began in 2010 when she worked as a secondary credit recovery paraprofessional for the Project NOMAD summer migrant program. Now in her fourth year as a multilingual educator, she proudly serves students in Gobles and Lawton school districts. Her role extends beyond teaching English—she also supports families during parent-teacher conferences, interprets for meetings such as IEPs and administrative discussions, translates essential documents, and administers the state-mandated WIDA assessment.
A Typical Day in the Life of Zenia
Much of Zenia’s day is dedicated to helping students acquire English proficiency and supporting them with class assignments. She also participates in district team and administrative meetings, ensuring that the needs of multilingual learners are recognized and addressed.
A Personal Connection to the Mission
Zenia’s commitment to multilingual education is deeply personal. She arrived in the United States at the age of six, unable to speak English. Today, as a successful educator, she serves as a role model for her students, showing them that overcoming language barriers is possible. Her own experience fuels her passion for advocacy, and she actively works to increase awareness and knowledge about multilingual and migrant students through professional development presentations.
Addressing Challenges and Looking Ahead
One of the biggest challenges facing multilingual and migrant students, according to Zenia, is the lack of awareness and understanding of their unique needs. She believes in the power of advocacy and education to create change. Looking to the future, she aspires to expand this awareness on a larger scale, ensuring that more educators and community members understand how to support these students effectively.
Life Beyond Work
Outside of her professional life, Zenia is dedicated to her family. With four children, her time is filled with read-aloud sessions, sports, swimming classes, family cookouts, and movie nights. She also finds joy in shopping and mentoring graduate students at Western Michigan University. A little-known fact about Zenia? Before becoming an educator, she worked as a phlebotomist!
A Vision for the Future
For Zenia, migrant and multilingual education is not just a job—it is a calling. Having experienced life as a newcomer, migrant, and ESL student, she understands the challenges her students face. Her goal is to help them succeed, ensuring they become contributing members of society.
“Education can be the difference in our society. By investing in ALL students, we are off to a better future,” she says.
We are grateful for Zenia Gutierrez’s dedication and the invaluable impact she makes in the lives of our students every day.
