Teacher Claudia Saldivar highlights benefits of Edison dual-language program

Claudia Saldivar, a second-grade dual-language teacher at Edison Elementary in Walla Walla Public Schools, used a public comment to describe how the district’s dual-language program supports students’ language and cultural development. "We believe every child can strive to make their best," she said, and described the program as helping students become biliterate and bilingual while developing "social culture competence."

Saldivar, who said she has worked in Walla Walla Public Schools for more than 20 years, recounted growing up in Dayton, Washington, and learning a new language in elementary school. She credited an early teacher, Mrs. Huey, for making learning enjoyable and said that experience motivated her to pursue teaching. "She was there for me, and that's why I wanted to become a teacher," Saldivar said.

She described her education and career path: attending Eastern Washington (university), student teaching at Green Park, and holding classroom posts at Blue Ridge, Payne, Green Park, Sharpsteen and Edison, as well as teaching at a community college. After seven years of teaching she completed a master’s in leadership and administration at Gonzaga University.

On the district program, Saldivar said she loves teaching in the dual program because "it brings them unity. It brings them knowledge of different cultures." She emphasized the program’s goal of biliteracy and cultural competence for students.

Saldivar also shared brief family details: her daughter Karen is a second-year student at Gonzaga University majoring in dermatology; her son Adrian works at T-Mobile and runs a business; and her husband Enrique works at Waha'i. She said she enjoys creating materials for students and spending time with family.

She concluded her remarks in both Spanish and English with identification statements: "Yo soy, Claudia Saldivar. Yo soy, La Escuelas Publicas de Walla Walla. I am Walla Walla Public Schools."