Margarita “Maggie” Pieltain-Heredia was born in Madrid, Spain’s capital city, and lived there until she was 9 years old. Her father was relocated for work to the Netherlands around the time she turned 10, so she resided there with her family until she was 16, going to an American school where she learned English.
Thereafter, Pieltain-Heredia moved back to her hometown and finished her high school studies at the International College of Madrid. The whole time, she was aware of what she wanted to do for a living after graduation.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to work with kids, but I didn't know exactly how. I didn’t know if I wanted to be a child criminologist or something else,” she said. “I earned a small degree to teach from zero to three years old. I then went to university for four years, where I specialized in my last year of university in special education. I went back to university for a year to get a degree to teach in English.”
Once college concluded, Pieltain-Heredia worked for three years in the heart of her homeland, since she was familiar with the area. A program directed by the American and Spanish embassies eventually caught her attention – one in which she, as a native Spanish speaker, would come to the U.S. to teach the Indiana curriculum and standards in Spanish. She sent in an application and was ultimately accepted.
Valparaiso was Pieltain-Heredia’s assignment. She’s spent the last three years leading classrooms in the city. As an educator, she brings out the colorful aspects of her culture’s personality. She leads two second-grade classrooms at Parkview Elementary School, and those classrooms are immersed in a Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. This means that she works with a coworker who teaches the curriculum in English, and Pieltain-Heredia teaches the curriculum in Spanish.
“I am extremely grateful for the DLI program that has allowed me to come and teach here. I think it’s amazing what they are doing in this public school. It’s so unique, allowing students from a very early age to learn in two different languages,” Pieltain-Heredia said.
Several teachers she had as a student inspired her to walk down the path that led to Northwest Indiana, including her sixth-grade math teacher. She brings elements of others’ teaching methods to her practice, enhancing her lessons.
“I feel like I’m a little actress at school. I’m gesturing and moving around all the time, trying to get my kids to understand things like the law and the government in a language they don’t fully comprehend,” she said. “It’s hard, but I like learning, too, so I try different things.”
Laying the foundation for the deeper development of young minds can be challenging, but Pieltain-Heredia realizes her presence in children’s lives is important. She helps mold future leaders, and it’s a role to which she’s extremely devoted.
“I want to prepare the kids, not only as humans, but as people who can integrate properly into the world and can be good human beings,” she said. “I feel I was born to teach these two languages that will help others throughout their lifetimes.”
Pieltain-Heredia recently applied for an extension to her current stay. Her work visa lasts until 2027, meaning she’ll be staying right where she is for two more years. She hopes to continue gaining new insights from being immersed in a culture not her own. For now, her plan is to become a better instructor.
Outside of work, Pieltain-Heredia is an avid traveler. Meeting new people and having conversations with them, no matter their depth, is one of her foremost pastimes. She likes going out with friends to Chicago and finding a relaxing terrace where she can sit and chat. Beyond her sociability, she reads and loves animals. Any and all adventures are welcome.
“If you tell me, ‘Let’s jump out of an airplane,’ I’ll jump in and then out with a parachute. If you tell me, ‘Let’s go on a hike,’ I’ll do it. If you tell me, ‘Let's go to the city, walk around, and go to a museum,’ I’ll do it. I like everything,” she said.
There are multiple sides to Valpo, as Pieltain-Heredia sees it. During some parts of the week, it’s fast-moving and quick, while others are slower and steadier. Through it all, she finds love in this place, appreciating the city’s diverse nature, and the friendliness present in the city adds to her admiration for its people.
“Coming from a very hectic city, here it’s so calm, which I like. Overall, I feel that everybody knows one another. If you’re going to the doctor, and you say the doctor’s name, people will know who you’re talking about. It just feels like a big family to me,” she said.