Christina+Sanchez

About Me My name is Christina Sanchez. I have been working as a special education teacher at Rio Grande Elementary since I was hired with theBelenSchool Districtin 2004. During those seven years I have taught in a self-contained classroom with students whom are medically fragile and/or have multiple disabilities. As I reflect on my practices each year I become more aware of how much I have learned and how much more I still need to learn. Every year I learn more skills and better techniques to become a stronger and more experienced teacher. I have a deep desire to learn more about Autism and all the aspects that go along with this disorder; best practices for teaching students with Autism, the symptoms and behaviors they exhibit, the research, its prevalence, the political issues, etc.

I did not start out wanting to be a teacher. I started out by attending the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. Now I know that teaching is my calling. I have always been drawn to working with people with special needs since I was young. Fortunately, a year after graduating I was hired atRio Grandeon an interim teaching license while I worked on gaining my level one teaching license through the Transition to Teaching Program. In 2007, I earned my level one license. Three years later in 2010 I earned my level two teaching license. I am now working on my MA in Elementary Education to progress to a level three licensure.

When I am not working or going to school, I enjoy baking, spending time with my family and friends, volunteering at my church, reading, and watching TV.