EVDG VOL.1 | Page 38

I was a “Big Sister” I had one little brother and 2 little sisters so I when I graduated I went to temple and started studying to be a teacher. I became a teacher for 5years. When I was teaching my principal was like you should be a principal so I went back to school became an Assistant Principal then a Principal and now an Assistant Superintendent. EVDG: Wow, what a journey. Is it hard to be in your position, in your line of work and be a parent? DC: That is a great question. It's really hard. The biggest challenge is making sure your kids have the time they need from you. I am very blessed that my husband is so supportive because he is home when they get home because it is important for our family that they come home to a parent. There are moments of guilt because there are things I wish I could do better as a parent but I think on the other end of that they admire my work and they know my work is important. There were times I brought them to the school and let them run around the gym or to a show. My kids at the school know my biological kids. So I wouldn't say merge the two but I look for opportunities for my children to see that it is ministry and that there is a mission behind it and this is what my mom does and that they are part of it because they are. But like any other job when you get home you are tired and you wish you had more time you just have to find the strength for your kids. EVDG: have you ever reached a goal and arrived and you set another goal right after. DC: The answer is yes.Most of my work has been done locally in Philly but my ultimate goal is to do national work. And focus would be to help latino students because statistically we will be the largest minority by 2050. It's like the world and educational institutions are not ready for that. Our children are coming, they are here and they are not leaving. I think that would be a big goal to reach would be to help our community on a national level. EVDG: That's awesome now I know super heroes don't exist but is there someone in your life that was a superhero to you. C: Of course my mother. I have 3 kids and I wonder how she did it with 6. She gave me a lot but the the first gift she gave me was to know the Lord and that was the most important. I know I wouldn't be who I am without the Lord in my life and my mom gave me that. She wasn't perfect but I can remember walking in the room and seeing her praying, that image was in my mind of how she would pray because she had to pray. It wasn't like there was always some there to help you with your homework but she knew education was important and she did the best she could. My mother never remarried and she is a beautiful woman, she could've but she never did she raised her 6 kids the best she knew how. I just seen a lot of sacrifice on her part and to me she is my hero. Alot of moms abandoned their kids or they are out there they get hooked on drugs, they get hooked on other things or one man after the other. I never saw any of that. I saw a lot of coffee drinking. EVDG: Is there anything you would change good or bad? DC: (after a very long pause) I got married at 21. I might wait just a lil while longer. EVDG: What are you most thankful for? DC: My salvation and second I have a good husband and kids.Most definitely my family that loves and supports me. They have my back, my front, my side...I got my squad. EVDG: Is there anything you would like to see change in your city? DC: A latino new year, I'm just gonna put it out there.I don't want to say “Reform” because is has become a bad word but positive change in education where there is equity. Where there is equal funding for all children regardless of their race, regardless of their class. The same education that is given to a kid in castle rock , the kid in Upper Dublin our kids should have. Our kids should have a state of the art education.Some of our buildings are dilapidated. There are schools without technology. And our kids are expected to perform the same way. There are so many inequalities and people say there is more than enough money not true. Take a look at the schools there are 30 students by themselves. There are a lot of issues with our education system in our country. EVDG: We want to put it out there that “The Everyday Girl” could be anybody like yourself. Accomplished, a Latina and not to say that no other race couldn't do it but as you stated sometimes Minorities don't get the attention . So is there anything you would want the nation to know. We are based out of Camden, NJ which is one of the worst cities and Philadelphia so what would you like the magazine to express in the future. DC: I like what you guys are doing. We put a lot of the Hollywood folks on pedestal and there are everyday heroes that live in our communities and on our block. To be able to highlight those people and the work they are doing to improve life for the people they know is remarkable. The stories of success what fueled that person and I love the question on balance like how does an assistant Superintendent balance her family, job and church. So the stories on success, family and how people are opening doors for other people. EVDG: Thank you and we cannot wait to feature you and for bringing up the topic of education. We hope it falls on the ears of those with expertise in that field. DC: Your Welcome....what does the magazine look like?