PBTIL - Reilly Team2

Classes / Teachers

Nancy Cruz -
My name is Nancy Cruz. I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. I lived in New York for the first six years of my life. Then my parents moved to Puerto Rico. I was raised in Puerto Rico, which I'm very proud of, since having the opportunity of living and experiencing my own culture has enabled me to take root in it and develop a true Puerto Rican identity. Even though I was born in New York, I would never allow any one to call me "Newyorican". I am very proud of my heritage.
I married in 1979. I have three sons; two of them were born in Puerto Rico and one in Massachusetts. My two older children's story is the opposite of mine. They were born in Puerto Rico and raised in the United States, which made me realize how privileged I was by being raised in my own culture and then becoming bicultural. It is very difficult to take root in your own culture, when you are being raised in a society with a diversity of cultures, but with one dominant culture.
I lived in the town of Yabucoa, my mother's hometown. Yabucoa is a valley and it is located in the southeast of Puerto Rico nearby the coast with beautiful beaches, surrounded by green mountains, and many acres of sugar cane plantations. Yabucoa had one of the biggest sugar mills in the island. Many years ago the economy of the town was based on the sugar cane industry. I make mention of these facts, since they are part of my life, because my father worked at the sugar mills and I lived close to a big sugar cane plantation.
During my elementary school years I attended a neighborhood school. Then, during my middle and high school years I attended school in the city. I graduated from high school in May, 1976. I entered college in August, 1976. I attented the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus from 1976 to 1979. Then I transferred to the Rio Piedras Campus, because I decided to enter the College of Education. I graduated in 1983 with a bachelor in Elementary Education, a concentration in Special Education and a specialization in Visual Impairment. I am certified in my country as a Elementary a Special Education teacher as well as in Massachusetts. During my college years I lived in the towns of Mayaguez and Caguas. After I graduated I was hired as a special education teacher in my hometown, Yabucoa. I had the privileges to be hired at the same Elementary School I had attended when I was a little girl. The school principal was still the same one. My third grade teacher and seventh grade literature teacher were then my colleagues. It was a funny feeling, but at the same time rewarding to me. I worked for five years as a special education teacher and in 1988 I came to Massachusetts.
I was hired by the Lowell School Department in July, 1988 as a bilingual special education teacher and worked for two years at the Varnum School. Then in 1990 I worked in Lawrence for a year and a half. I came back to Lowell and I taught fifth grade at the Pawtucket Memorial School. After that I had my third son and I stayed home for six months. In January 1993 I worked in Lawrence. In September 1993, I was rehired by the Lowell School Department. Since then I've been working at the Reilly School. For three years I taught bilingual first grade and after that I've been teaching bilingual special education grades K-4.
Email Nancy Cruz (ncruz@reilly.lowell.k12.ma.us)

Colleen Driscoll - Hi! My name is Colleen Driscoll and I teach third and fourth grade special education at the Reilly School in Lowell. I recently transfered from a third grade classroom of 25 marvelous students. It was very hard to make the change and when I saw the tears in my childrens' eyes I myself had a hard time being positive. I have taught third grade for 3 years and before that had several permenant sub jobs in a variety of classes. I am a graduate of Merrimack College in Andover, Ma. I have my bachelors in psychology and education and am recently attending school to obtain my masters degree in special education.
I have wanted to be a teacher from as far back as I can remember. Elementary school was a breeze, but from there until I graduated from high school I had a tough time. I did very well my five years in college and obtained a 4.0 when I did my pre-practicum however I contribute my success to all the students I have had. As well as being a teacher I have been taught and feel it's important to keep a very open mind and have a big heart.
I have joked around with others and have said, "I don't pray for patience I pray for tolerance," but I would never want to picture myself not teaching children. My old students as well as my new students will be participating in this project. They are very excited and have been working hard. I would like to tell you about each individual in the class but you will quickly learn something about each as the program continues. We look forward to sharing with everyone!
Email Colleen Driscoll (cdris76092@aol.com)
This program is supported in part by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts, Lowell.