This job was facilitated by Education
Fund of America Regional Center
Makayla Gesualdo
Curriculum Director
Learning Foundation
& Performance Arts
Charter School
Gilbert, Ariz.
For Makayla Gesualdo, teaching in the classroom is where
she always wanted to be. Last year she taught third grade.
This year she became the instructional coach, the assistant
to the principal, and also serves as the curriculum director at
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Charter School.
Gesualdo has been teaching for 10 years, and has been at
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts for almost three years.
This is her first year at the charter school’s Warner
campus, which has a unique dual focus on academics and
the performing arts.
Gesualdo herself is no stranger to the performing arts.
When she was younger, from kindergarten to high school, she
was in competitive dance classes, so she can relate to a lot of
the students at the school.
Working in a school that is not just focused on academics
has been personally rewarding, she said.
“I think the greatest thing is that we have kids at the school
who love to sing, who love to perform, and to act. To incorporate that into our classroom, and into all of our academics, is
great for the kids,” says Gesualdo.
“The two really go hand-in-hand,” she added.
Before her current position, Gesualdo taught at traditional
public schools in the Midwest, then came out to Arizona to
teach at another charter school.
Gesualdo was contacted by a mother who was considering
moving her daughter to Learning Foundations because she
excelled in dance and the mother thought it was important
for her to broaden her horizons. They suggested that Gesualdo
check out the school and see if she would be interested in
moving over.
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“What sold it to me was that I could teach from the heart,”
Gesualdo said. “And to know that there was going to be a
balance between letting kids try something new that maybe
they’ve never been given the opportunity to try, and to balance
that with academics.”
“That put the force in me to apply to this school and the
position here.”
She feels that being able to combine those passions for the
performing arts and teaching has helped her grow as a teacher.
Gesualdo also appreciates the opportunity that the school
offers to its students. She was a shy, reserved student, and
now knows that if she had been given this opportunity in her
school it would have helped her overcome many obstacles.
The job has been rewarding not only professionally, but also
personally, she said.
“The greatest thing about teaching itself is that you inspire
kids – you inspire them to succeed and give them confidence,”
Gesualdo said. “On a personal level, it’s so rewarding because
you still get to interact with those families, and you still get
invited to birthday parties with your students – there’s not
one word that can communicate how much appreciation I get
outside of school for being in the classroom.”
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