What I've Learned: Josephine Icaro

Initially unsure of what to do with her English degree, Josephine Icaro has found her calling in education and pursuing her passion as an English II and III teacher at Hyde Park Baptist High School.

A self-professed workaholic, Icaro teaches six English classes, works a retail job by night and is also a tutor. "I can't not stay busy," she said. "I don't like being bored."

Known as "Miss Icaro" by her sophomore and junior high school students, Icaro is well versed in the art of keeping busy. During her sophomore and junior years in the Plan II Honors English program at the University of Texas at Austin, Icaro also studied at ACC.

"It was a good way to better and educate myself," Icaro said. "The teaching [at ACC] was spot-on, especially for summer courses, which are super fast-paced."

According to Icaro there is a pre-conceived notion that community college somehow falls short of four-year institutions because the classes, campuses and student bodies tend to be smaller.

Nonetheless, Icaro said there is a lot to be gained from attending a community college including the availability of night classes, which are not always offered at four-year colleges and universities.

Icaro also spoke about the dedication of those enrolled in community college. "Some of the students at ACC work three times harder [than those at four year institutions]," Icaro said. "A lot of them have families and jobs that they're attending to."

Drawing inspiration from the hard work and dedication she witnessed at ACC, Icaro has accepted the challenge of educating young minds. According to Icaro, she strives to not only develop her students' academic abilities, but to impart practical knowledge and assist in the development of life skills as well. "My job is about making it known that I am a cheerleader-- academically, socially and even spiritually," Icaro said.

Icaro said she remains enthusiastic about teaching although the profession is under scrutiny and many teachers are being laid off.

According to Icaro, teaching is not about the size of a classroom, the amount of students crammed into that classroom, or what Forbes magazine has to say about any given program. Icaro said that teaching, in it's purest form, is a passion--a passion and calling shared by her herself and many like-minded others.

"Teaching is more about being a mentor and an advocate. It's my job to give my students the skills that they need not only in the classroom but in life."