If you want to meet someone passionate about creating positive change, then you must meet Gloria Torres-Herbeck! Gloria came to us this year as a Spanish teacher, but has worked in Rochester schools for many, many years. Prior to working in education, Gloria was a computer programmer in Mexico but moved here in 1992 to work for IBM. She soon noticed that there were many misconceptions in the US about the Latino culture that she decided to make a major career change and moved into education. She did this to share her culture and traditions with staff and students.
I was surprised, (though maybe I shouldn't have been), that Gloria holds three jobs that support her vision of empowering the Latino community and educating those around her. In addition to teaching at JM, Gloria is the Director of Education for ACHLA (Alliance of Chicano, Hispanics and Latin Americans) in Rochester and does research at Mayo Clinic in the area of health equity. She lets NO grass grow under her feet!
I asked Gloria, in her busy life, what is her favorite way to treat herself. She shared it is definitely going for long hikes at Quarry Hill …. though she doesn’t find time to do it as often as she would like to. We are so lucky to have Gloria in our community at JM and in Rochester.