Maria is a native of Argentina and has lived in the United States for the past 24 years. She received two Masters of Arts from West Virginia University; one in Secondary Education and the other in Foreign Languages, with a specialization in Spanish. She has over 12 years of teaching experience, working with students of all backgrounds from elementary school through college. Currently, she is a Spanish Instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in fostering cultural competence and providing safe, stimulating learning environments. Maria is the proud parent of three children: Catalina, 23; Guadalupe, 20; and Valentina, 10.