Teacher Feature – Mariana Quintero, Kaiser Elementary

For Kaiser Elementary first-grade dual language teacher Mariana Quintero, teaching is not just a job, it’s a personal commitment to community.

“Education really is the most powerful weapon we have for changing the world,” said Ms. Quintero. “I deeply believe that every child deserves an excellent education, and being a purposeful and accountable educator can create access and opportunity for all children.”

After moving to the United States at the age of 7 and receiving tremendous support from the community, Ms. Quintero began working as an advocate for opportunity and education in various aspects.

“When I’m not in my Kaiser classroom, I am a ‘Latinos for Education’ fellow,” said Ms. Quintero. “I have worked as a Leadership Development Specialist during the summer for ‘Teach for America’ helping prepare and support incoming corps members. I have also spoken at the ‘Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston’ about the importance and impact of being a first-generation college student educator.”

Her time spent in and outside the classroom stems from her dedication to underserved and underrepresented students.

“When I see my kiddos and their fantastic, hard-working parents, I see my own family,” said Ms. Quintero. “My parents are much like Kaiser’s parents—they highly value education and have always worked so that I could succeed with the help of our community. I’ve always known that I wanted to give back after everything this place has prepared me for.”

However, giving back isn’t the only reason why Ms. Quintero continues to teach. Her love for her students surprised her as she recounted a pivotal moment in her career.

“Our students are so full of light and purpose. It has been the honor of my life to help them achieve their full potential every day.”

“I think one of the most impactful moments I have had with a student was through a screen,” Ms. Quintero said. “In 2020, not all my kids had access to the internet or a device at that point, but when one student was able to connect with me through Zoom for our first virtual class, I almost burst into tears when I saw her. Instead, I was relieved and full of joy. It was at that moment that I knew we were writing history together and that united as a community we could overcome hurdles.”

Fast-forward to today—Ms. Quintero hangs onto her belief that students at Kaiser are capable of great things. She’s on a mission to help them achieve their wildest dreams while jumping over even more hurdles together.

“Our students are so full of light and purpose. It has been the honor of my life to help them achieve their full potential every day,” said Ms. Quintero. “My aspiration is that one day my current and future students will have easier access to opportunities so that they can shape and better our community, country, and even the entire world.”

Educators like Ms. Quintero show our students by example every day that anyone from anywhere can learn, grow, thrive, and shine right here in Klein ISD. Thank you for your dedication to serving our students with your whole heart, Ms. Quintero! We are lucky to have you!