Gaile Anasco entered Berry as a first-generation college student and graduated with a roster of achievements. That includes completing her first year as a full-time teacher at Pepperell High School in Lindale, Georgia, while still an undergraduate. She also finished with honors and almost debt-free thanks to a competitive merit- and work-based Gate Scholarship.
A double major in Spanish and secondary education, she minored in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
Opportunities allowed significant classroom experience. Gaile interned in Costa Rica for seven weeks. She taught English to 14 students as a part of her study abroad program in Seville, Spain. Participating in the English as a Second Language program at Berry also enhanced her skill set.
“Studying and teaching abroad pushed me outside of my comfort zone, strengthened my communication skills and exposed me to different educational systems and teaching styles,” Gaile says. “I returned to the classroom with a broader perspective and a greater appreciation for the diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences that students bring with them every day!”
Mentor Eliana Hirano, director of Berry’s TEFL program, emphasizes the academic training that brings added value: “With her Spanish secondary education major and TEFL minor, Gaile had numerous complementary experiences in the classroom which, coupled with her positive response to feedback and subsequent growth, prepared her well to be a successful teacher.”
Gaile also juggled leadership positions at Berry: student director of programming for the Office of Belonging and Community Engagement and Gate Scholarship mentor.
As a senior, she faced the most challenging and rewarding phase of her college journey. “I was entrusted with my own classroom as a full-time Spanish teacher,” she explains. “Instead of the traditional student teaching experience, I had the unique opportunity to learn, grow and serve students as the teacher of record while simultaneously finishing my degree.”
Gaile will return to Pepperell High School in the fall. “Balancing college coursework, lesson planning, grading, professional responsibilities and the everyday joys and challenges of teaching was not easy,” she reflects. “There were many long days and late nights, but those experiences strengthened my confidence, deepened my passion for education and reminded me why I chose this profession.”
Gaile’s Berry Experiences
