The Sister Carlotta Distinguished Service Award: Maria Canteli

A Q&A with the Director of Middle School and Spanish teacher for grades 7-8

The Sister Carlotta Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to a faculty or staff member whose work, either inside or outside the classroom, has epitomized the school’s mission and has enriched the hearts and minds of students at Santa Catalina School. The recipient is recognized for upholding the school’s commitment to educating the whole person, consistent with the values manifested in Sister Carlotta’s vocation of teaching young people.

The nominating committee and Board of Trustees Chair Laura Lyon Gaon ’81 accept nominations from faculty and staff and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees, who then select the recipient. The Sister Carlotta Endowment for Educational Excellence provides a $10,000 honorarium that accompanies the award.

In her 16 years at Santa Catalina, Maria Canteli has became known as a warm, fun-loving, and innovative teacher who is always looking for new ways to enhance students’ experience inside and outside the classroom.

Born in Madrid, Señora Canteli teaches Spanish in grades 7–8. She was named Director of Middle School at the beginning of the 2019–20 school year and was instrumental in ensuring that students maintained a meaningful Catalina education during distance learning. She is a big proponent of thoughtfully weaving technology into academic lessons, and in 2018 became a Google Certified Innovator.

In the interview below, Mrs. Canteli talks about finding joy in small moments, building strong relationships, and being intentional with technology.

HOW DID IT FEEL TO WIN THE SISTER CARLOTTA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD?

I felt an immense sense of gratitude. I am grateful for my wonderful colleagues with whom I navigate the ups and downs of each school year. I am thankful for our administration, which supports and guides my efforts. And I am grateful for being part of the Santa Catalina community for 16 years.

WHAT ARE THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB?

The most rewarding aspects of my job are the little things. The day in which I have a fun class where everyone is engaged. The day I can help a student who is having a hard day. Seeing a student become better at something he or she has been working on. Having a conversation with students and getting to know them better.

WHAT MAKES THE SANTA CATALINA MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE UNIQUE?

Middle school is a time of many changes, and it can undoubtedly be challenging for students who are becoming adolescents and for parents who are seeing their children change in front of their eyes. At Santa Catalina, we strongly believe in the importance of educating the whole child, and we teach and guide students as they become the best version of themselves. Relationships are one of our core values. We build relationships with our students and their families so that we all work together toward the same goal.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR?

As Director of Middle School, I aim for each student to have the best middle school experience and to support our faculty. That “best middle school experience” may look very different from one student to another. We build relationships with our students and get to know each child well so we can support them in the best possible way. At the same time, we work as a faculty to identify trends. Last year, after distance and hybrid learning, we realized we needed to focus on reteaching and establishing good study skills and routines. This year, our focus is on helping students balance their lives to be healthy and well.

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS A SPANISH TEACHER?

As a Spanish teacher, I want my students to develop a curiosity for other cultures and a love for learning a language. In middle school, I want students to feel safe to step out of their comfort zone and have fun speaking a different language in a safe environment where making mistakes is what we do and how we learn day after day.

HOW DO YOU BRING YOUR OWN CULTURE AND BACKGROUND INTO THE SPANISH PROGRAM?

I believe that the ultimate goal of the language learner is to communicate with the people who speak that language and to build relationships with members of that community, which leads to a genuine understanding, value, and empathy with other cultures. In my experience, students are willing and even eager to connect and interact with other communities if they have the necessary language and cultural competency to succeed. That is where my background helps me. I love to share with my students what it was like growing up in a different country: our idiosyncrasies, quirks, values, and other anecdotes. I want them to appreciate the differences, but most importantly, I want them to notice the similarities. We are all human beings who share similar emotions, feelings, hopes, and fears. Realizing that we are not all that different makes engaging and interacting with other cultures less intimidating. My goal is to amplify their vision of their world.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE TOOLS IN THE CLASSROOM?

I have been an advocate for the use of technology in the classroom for years. Students found many tools exciting and engaging. However, with the necessary turn to almost 100 percent technology during our last two years and the significant increase in screen time for our students, I am taking a step back in the amount of technology I incorporate into my classes. These days, I find paper, colored pencils, and good old-fashioned poster boards a refreshing and welcome change for my students and me. I still incorporate technology, but I am more intentional and selective in our tools. I love tools that facilitate collaboration and sharing, such as our Google suite and Padlet, and these days I am playing with Canva for more creative presentations. In Spanish class, I love using Google Earth, where students can create their own tours and “see” the world.

WE HEAR YOU’RE A TRAINED CLASSICAL VIOLINIST …

I am indeed a trained classical violinist. In fact, that's what brought me to the United States. I got a scholarship at the University of Massachusetts to study violin with a wonderful professor, Charles Treger. I received a bachelor's and a master's degree in violin performance before I decided to switch gears and become a teacher. I don't have time to play anymore these days, but I will always love music. Playing violin taught me a lot about self-discipline, perseverance, and grit.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?

I love going for a walk barefoot on the beach, particularly if the water is warm, like my beloved Mediterranean. I also love cooking simple things—nothing fancy—and only for my close family since they have a high tolerance for bland food, and there is no pressure. I’m not good at it, but making dinner at night helps me disconnect from the day. I’ve been perfecting my knife skills and find chopping vegetables cathartic.