October is National Principals Month. Take some time to get to know our Principal, Dr. Calderon. We will be adding more fun facts throughout the month.
- Tell us a little bit about where you were born, where you grew up, where you have lived.
I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. I lived there until I was 13 yrs. old. I completed my elementary and middle school years attending public schools in Mexico. At 13, I immigrated to the United States where I lived with my mom’s sisters. At 17 yrs. old, I moved with my brother to a home my parents bought for the two of us to live together and stop moving from one relative’s house to another.
2. Tell us about your educational background, high school, college, etc.
When I came to the United States, the first school I attended my 9th grade year was Aldine Sr. High School. I attended Eisenhower High School, still in Aldine I.S.D., from 10th-12th grade. After graduating high school, I attended Houston Community College, for the first two years of my college education. I transferred to University of Houston where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a minor in Mexican-American Studies.
3. Tell us about your family.
I am the youngest out of five children. My parents lived their entire lives in Monterrey, Mexico. I moved to the United States with only one of my brothers. My dad was a civil engineer, and my mom only completed 8th grade. In 2000, I married my high school sweetheart, and we have two children, Marco (23 yrs. old) and Angela (20 yrs. old). Marco graduated from the University of Houston Downtown, and Angela graduated from Sam Houston State University, they both earned a Criminal Justice Degree. After completing the Houston Police Academy, Marco became a Houston Police Officer. Angela is currently seeking acceptance into Law School to pursue an immigration attorney career.
4. Tell us what made you become an educator.
While a student in a new country, living with relatives, and learning the English language, I experienced the most difficult years of my life. I missed my parents and siblings, and I felt that I knew nothing because without the English language, I could not demonstrate what I did know in Spanish. It was not until I attended Eisenhower H.S. as a 10th grader that I met my English ESL teacher who became my second mom. She was the parent I did not have at home. She provided me with guidance and support as I navigated through my high school years and prepared for college. She is the reason I was able to attend college, she helped me apply for scholarships and admittance to college. It was then that I realized that all I ever wanted to be was to be an ESL teacher just like her. I wanted to be that special teacher to my students.
5. Tell us why you decided to go into principalship.
In my 9th year as a teacher, I met an aspiring principal who looked like me and had a small Spanish accent like me. It was then that I could see myself as a principal. I also wanted to make a bigger impact in our Aldine Independent School District students. As a teacher I could impact approximately 150 students, as an assistant principal, I could impact 300-400 students, and as a principal, I can impact an entire school. After 25 years in the field of education, I believe I have acquired strong instructional leadership skills that I can share with the Aldine Ninth Grade School Team to ensure every single one of our students can connect with and learn from all the individuals I lead to support students through a successful high school experience, and our students have choices and opportunities after high school.
6. Who have you considered to be mentors throughout your career?
My 10th grade, my English 2 ESL Teacher, Ms. Sid Flores from Eisenhower High School was my first mentor when I was a student and a teacher. Mr. Ivan Hepworth, Grantham Middle School Principal, mentored me my first year as an assistant principal, and Mr. Walter Stewart, Nimitz Sr. High School Principal the last 13 years of my career.
7. What are your hobbies?
I love reading, karaoking and dancing! Any break I get, I am fast at picking up a book to read from cover-to-cover as fast as I can. At home, I have book shelves full of books that are waiting for me to read. My favorite memories with my family are hanging out with my husband and two kids in my gameroom karaoking and dancing. Dancing is something I truly enjoy because when I came to the United States, I ventured into learning how to dance music from all over our Spanish speaking countries, and I consider myself to be a pretty good cumbia, salsa, and bachata dancer.
8. What is your favorite meal?
I love Mexican enchiladas, but I love sweets! Mexican sweet bread, cajeta cake, and chocolates
9. What is your favorite or dream travel destination?
I would like to one day go to Europe. I would like to visit Spain, France, and Italy.
10. Is there a motivational quote that you love?
If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind and you will always be right.
