by Sarah Robinson
At the heart of the Escuela Comunitaria David LaMotte are its teachers. They are dedicated, passionate, and deeply rooted in the community. Each day, they bring not only knowledge to the classroom but also joy, creativity, and a vision for what education can mean in the lives of children.
We asked several of the school’s teachers to share what motivates them, what they love about their work, and what changes they see in their students. Their voices together paint a powerful picture of why this school matters.
“Every day I learn something new.” — Maria Esquina Damian
For Mary, teaching is more than a profession—it’s a calling. She’s been with the David LaMotte school since 2016.
“Being a teacher is one of the most beautiful professions,” she says. “You work with innocent beings who make your day joyful and fun. Watching children grow in learning, knowledge, and personal development, and seeing them dream big despite difficulties is the best part of my job.”
Mary has witnessed the school’s impact firsthand: children learning values, developing critical thinking and motor skills, and the community benefiting from job opportunities for local teachers.
“The art is teaching and learning from children.” — Sandra Elizabeth Choy
Sandra joined the teaching team in 2025. She describes teaching as an art form. “When you teach something new and they learn it, it gives me strength,” she explains. She’s especially inspired by the bilingual environment the school creates, where children who enter speaking little or no Spanish gain confidence and opportunity through daily practice in two languages.
“I was once a student here.” — Sandra Paola Lopez
Paola’s story is especially moving: she was once a student at the David LaMotte School and joined part of its teaching team in late 2025. “Being a teacher is wonderful,” she says. “It’s the most beautiful thing because you get to know the lives of each child.”
She’s seen incredible change since her own school days: healthier students, improved hygiene practices, and access to food, vitamins, and supplies. “One of the radical changes the school has undergone,” she reflects, “is that it now has pleasant classrooms of its own, and the children receive not just education, but the nourishment and tools they need.”
“Children are active and participative.” — Candelaria “Candy” Mendoza
Candy joined Escuela David LaMotte in 2025. She is motivated by the chance to positively impact her students’ daily lives. She loves learning alongside them and seeing how they take new knowledge home to their families.
“The school has shaped them into active, participative children who work as a team without discrimination,” she says.
“Children receive a different and creative education.” — Antonio “Tono” Sosof
Tono has been a teacher at the school for 4 years and specializes in computer classes and maintaining the computers at the school. Tono values the sense of community the school builds, both among teachers and students. “All staff share their ideas and help each other. Children and teachers respect each other,” he says. “The children receive a different and creative education here.”
“Seeing children laugh is the best part.” — Diego “Nima” Nimatoj
Nima has been working with the school for 3 years as the physical education instructor. For Nima, joy is central to teaching. “Being a teacher is the best part of life,” he says. “Meeting new generations, teaching them new habits, and seeing them laugh and have fun while playing or exercising.” He believes the school has transformed over the years, with classrooms full of energy, teamwork, and respect.
A School That Transforms Lives
Whether they’ve been at the school for nine years or just a few months, the teachers share a common thread: the belief that education can transform lives. The David LaMotte School is more than a place to learn, it’s a place where children are respected, where their health and well-being are supported, and where teachers and students alike are growing together.
For supporters of Senderos, these voices are a reminder that your generosity is making this transformation possible. Every book, every meal, every classroom resource creates ripples that extend far beyond the school walls, they impact families, the community, and the future.