Marisela Alvarez Salazar- Pre-K All Contents at The Primary School- East Palo Alto, California
My name is Marisela Alvarez and I go by Ms. Mari. I was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. when I was eight. Since then I have lived my whole life in East Palo Alto. I am the first Generation to attend College and obtain a BA in Child Development with a concentration Youth and Families Development. I have two children, a six-year-old boy, and a two-year-old girl. My family is my motivation in the work I do. I want my children to see me as a role model and with the hope that they themselves will make a positive impact in their community.
During and after graduating from college I worked in After School enrichment programs with Middle School and High School students. I have been in the Early Childhood Education field for six years. I started my journey working in the ECE field as a substitute teacher for preschools students and fell in love with the age group. I then joined the Peninsula Family Service team to work as a preschool teacher. There I had the opportunity to work with children whose families were in transitional homes. I had the opportunity to work with children with disabilities, challenging behaviors, and children who experience trauma. After three years in Peninsula Family Service, I had the opportunity to join The Primary School. I was excited to join a new organization where students’ learning approach was different from other places I worked, the whole child approach. I continue to work with the student age group I fell in love with and continue to make a positive impact who have experienced trauma and/ or with special needs. I truly enjoy working and seeing our students grow, not only academically, but also socially and emotionally.