Multiple Subject Bilingual Candidates honored by California Association for Bilingual Education

Olympia Martinez and Brenda Ramos recognized for their dedication to becoming bilingual teachers

The California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) selected two School of Education Multiple Subject Bilingual candidates - Brenda Ramos (left) and Olympia Martinez (right) – for its 2020 Teachership Awards.

Martinez and Ramos are two of only five awardees in the entire state recognized by CABE. UCI School of Education bilingual candidates consistently receive this award -  12 bilingual MAT candidates received CABE awards 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 Brenda and Olympia to be recognized and honored in this way by CABE. They will inspire other bilingual candidates to become dual immersion teachers." Read more about UCI’s bilingual candidates’ job placements in dual immersion schools here. ​

Olympia Martinez, recipient of the F. Isabel Campoy Teachership Award, is drawing upon her personal experience 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.

Ramos, recipient of the Chuck and Estella Acosta Teachership Award, is dedicated to both preserving bilingualism and cultivating leadership in her future students.

“I believe that bilingual programs are essential as they offer more cultural representation in schools and allow students to develop as leaders socially and academically,” Ramos said. “Representation is powerful, and I’ve seen this through my various experiences working with children and parents from different backgrounds in sports and in the classroom.” Read more about Ramos here.

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

Read more about recent CABE Teachership Award recipients: 2019: Araceli Jimenez; 2018: Margarita Rodriguez, Karina Cadlerón, Jennifer Chavez-Lanza; 2017: Joanna Baires Amaya