For being in the Cape district only four years, Spanish immersion teacher Carlos Pesquera is making his mark.

Earlier this spring, the second-grade educator learned he was the H.O. Brittingham Elementary Teacher of the Year. Now, he’s a finalist for the 2024 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

“I’m making something,” he said. “The people are seeing what I’m doing. My goal is to make leaders and give them the tools they need to be successful.”

Pesquera and his family moved to America from Puerto Rico in 2015 to create their future and have an adventure. He worked in Spanish immersion schools in Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County in Maryland before learning about an opportunity in Delaware. 

He and his wife Karla Pacheco, also a teacher, applied and interviewed with the Cape district out of curiosity; both were both offered jobs the next day. At the time, the family, which also comprises daughter Victoria, was living in Centreville, Md., and decided to try Delaware as their next adventure.

Pacheco joined H.O.B., and Pesquera first taught in a general education classroom at Milton Elementary, which he had never done before. 

“It was another challenge,” he said. “I love challenges.”

After two years, he transitioned to H.O.B., even taking over his wife’s old classroom, as Pacheco became a district Spanish immersion specialist. Now in his second year as a Spanish immersion teacher at H.O.B., Pesquera said he is super happy with the community and environment.

“For me, I always say to students I want them to see me as a role model,” he said. “I am learning another language with them – I came here with no English. I tell them some days are difficult, but look where I am now.”

Being in Spanish immersion classes is difficult for students, Pesquera said. 

“They need to work double, and I encourage them and tell them it’s OK to make mistakes,” he said. “It’s part of the learning process. You need to fail in order to grow and learn.”

Pesquera said he tries to empower his students every day to take risks and not fear making mistakes; how teachers react to mistakes can ensure students don’t withdraw from learning.

“I can’t” statements aren’t allowed in the classroom; Pesquera tells students that regardless of the issue or misunderstanding, they will figure it out together.

Pesquera said he uses his role as an opportunity to promote the Spanish-speaking culture and expand immersion throughout the school.

After being nominated for the award by district math specialist Jill Whitman, Pesquera said he was overwhelmed, in a good way.

“It’s an honor to be selected,” he said. “It shows I’m impacting my students in the right way, and it will empower me to continue growing.”

Being a finalist has allowed Pesquera to connect with and learn from math teachers from across the nation. He’s received congratulatory cards and emails from complete strangers, which has further strengthened his determination to provide the best education possible for each student.

Established by Congress in 1983, the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering and math teaching. 

Awards are given to science, technology, engineering and math teachers from each of the 50 states, Department of Defense Education Activity schools, and U.S. Jurisdictions of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In all, Pesquera said he’s just being himself in the classroom, which is most important to the 17-year educator who acknowledges he made sacrifices leaving all he knew in Puerto Rico. 

“This award touched me in my heart,” he said. “When you feel appreciated, you’re different. I believe in myself and challenge myself to continue growing. I will continue working every day for students because we are making something. We are doing something.”