Multiple Subject Bilingual Candidate honored by California Association for Bilingual Education

Olympia Martinez recognized for her dedication to becoming a bilingual teacher

The California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) selected Multiple Subject Candidate Olympia Martinez for the CABE 2020 F. Isabel Campoy Teachership Award.

At CABE, only five 2020 teachership awards were given in the entire state of California. UCI School of Education bilingual candidates consistently receive this award - 12 bilingual MAT candidates receiving this award since 2011. 

"Our candidates in the dual immersion pathway frequently do double the work since they are often translating existing curriculum and materials,” said Dr. Susan Toma-Berge, Multiple Subject Coordinator. “It is wonderful for Olympia to be recognized and honored in this way by CABE. This will inspire other bilingual candidates to become dual immersion teachers." (Read more about UCI’s bilingual candidates’ job placements in dual-immersion schools here.) 

Martinez’s personal experiences encouraged her to pursue a career as an elementary school bilingual educator.

“I have seen families in my community decide not to teach their children Spanish,” Martinez said.  “Unfortunately, when this occurs, numerous opportunities are lost to learn from each other and empathize with one another. I want to become a bilingual teacher to preserve and celebrate different languages and cultures.” (Read more about Martinez here.)

Martinez will complete UCI’s 14-month Master of Arts in Teaching + Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (MAT) in August.