Meet the Bilingual Second-Grade Teacher Inspired by Her Parents' Immigrant Journey

Ahead of the 2024 school year, PS's The Educators is spotlighting 24 public school teachers around the country who are making a difference.

Melissa Quiroz is a bilingual second-grade teacher at Logan Square Elementary School in Chicago and has three years of teaching experience. The first in her family to graduate from college — and soon, from graduate school — she's inspired by her parents' immigrant journey and wants to empower her students with the same opportunities and support she received. She documents glimpses of her days as a bilingual and dual-language teacher on TikTok. Keep reading to get to know her.

What inspired you to be a teacher?
I was inspired to become a teacher by the incredible educators who shaped my own journey throughout all my schooling years. Their passion, dedication, and ability to ignite curiosity left a lasting impact on me. I want to pass on that same positive experience to all my future students, helping them discover their potential and fostering a love for learning just as my teachers did for me.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of teaching younger students is witnessing their excitement as they grasp new concepts and develop their skills. It's incredibly fulfilling to see my students' faces light up with understanding, to witness their confidence grow, and to know that I've played a part in shaping their learning journey.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Mrs. Arnold, my fourth-grade teacher. She was honestly one of the strictest teachers I ever had, but she loved us so much. Her sass and personality lit up any room she walked into. Every day, she would read us poetry, but one particular poem always stuck with me because it was her favorite: Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." She would read it at least once a week that by the end of the school year we all had it memorized. It wasn't until I was older that I learned the true meaning of the poem. Even with young students, Mrs. Arnold was already helping us reflect and think about the choices we decide to take in life. Teaching us that our choices could have a long lasting effect on our future, choices that we can't take back.

What do you always make time for because it makes you feel good?
Dance! Aside from being a full-time teacher and part-time grad student, I am a full-time Latin dancer. You will most likely catch me in the dance studio at least five days a week. To me, dance makes me feel like someone completely different than who most people see. The minute I hit the stage, I feel so free and full of energy. I can say dance has helped my confidence so much throughout the years and has also continued to teach me the importance of hard work outside of the classroom.

What are you watching?
I am such a sucker for bad reality TV. I am currently rewatching "Jersey Shore" for the 50th time and currently up-to-date with "The Bachelorette." Aside from that, I am a huge true-crime junkie. Anything from "Cold Case Files" to "Unsolved Mysteries" and "Worst Roommate Ever."

What's your go-to feel-good music?
I thank my parents for giving me decent music taste. Some artists that always put me in a comforting mood have to be Queen, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Journey, and Fleetwood Mac.

Anything else at all you want to share?
I actually started documenting my teaching through TikTok this past year. TikTok provides teachers with a creative outlet to share teaching tips, classroom activities, and educational content in engaging ways. It allows teachers to connect with a broader audience of educators, students, and parents globally, fostering a supportive community. Through short videos, I have been able to share teacher resources, showcase student achievements, and even collaborate with other educators to exchange ideas and resources. I hope to continue building a supportive teaching community online where teachers can continue to learn and grow from one another.

Yerin Kim is the features editor at PS, where she helps shape the vision for special features and packages across the network. A graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School, she has over five years of experience in the pop culture and women's lifestyle spaces. She's passionate about spreading cultural sensitivity through the lenses of lifestyle, entertainment, and style.