Staff Spotlight: Christina Villegas goes out of her way to reach her students and learn along with them
by Ben Fidler
Christina Villegas
If you consider family tradition, it seems Spanish teacher Christina Villegas had no choice but to become an educator. Her grandmother had been a teacher, as were her mother and father. Her mother taught fourth grade and was a speech pathologist for 38 years, and her father taught industrial arts for 36 years. One of her brothers and a sister became educators. In fact, everyone in her family—save an older brother—was, or is, an educator.
Villegas has been teaching in Stockbridge for 23 years, and although it is challenging at times, she acknowledges the deep rewards she experiences working with students. She just wishes there was a bit more time to curl up with a book!
Long before becoming a teacher, Villegas grew up in Wittimore, a small town outside Tawas, Michigan. In eighth grade, she had an amazing Spanish teacher, who ignited in Villegas a love of the language, but she ignored the subject all throughout high school. It wasn’t until she began college at Central Michigan University that she reconnected with the language thanks to “another amazing teacher.”
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in Spanish and minoring in French. She would have double majored, but her mom nudged her into wrapping up her collegiate stint, reminding her, “it’s time to graduate.” After graduation she landed a teaching job in Oscoda and jumped right into a master’s program for teachers of Spanish. She taught all week, then she attended advanced courses in literature and language on the weekends.
Christina Villegas and her husband, Carlos, believe that “love speaks all languages.” Photo provided by Christina Villegas
Around this time, Carlos entered her life. He arrived from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Central Michigan University as a liaison for a tour group. They met soon after. He asked her to tutor him in English, but Villegas quickly discovered Carlos’s English was nearly as good as his Spanish! It didn’t much matter, as they soon realized there was something special between them. As this couple likes to say, “Love speaks all languages.”
They married and Carlos began a PhD program at Michigan State University. Christina left Oscoda and began teaching in Stockbridge in 2004. The house soon filled. Christina and Carlos have three children. David, the oldest, is a graduating senior from Stockbridge High this year and will attend MSU in the fall to study computer science. Daniel is a sophomore in Stockbridge, and Madelyn is in eighth grade. The family also shares the house with Ginger, an English shepherd, and two cats, Luna and Lio (which means “trouble” in Spanish).
It doesn’t take long to understand why Villegas is an educator. She has deep compassion for her students. She admits she’ll twist around in her head “nineteen different ways” to reach a student. Another teacher who has been teaching for over 20 years might fall back on old lesson plans, but not Villegas. The classroom is not only a place of learning for her students, but also for her.
“I teach because I love to learn. I love the psychology of it.” she said. “Spanish can be a difficult language to learn. I want to make it accessible.”
She gives pause to the question, “What message do you have for new teachers?” Teaching, like many careers, has changed drastically since Villegas began. She understands teachers today are faced with their own sets of challenges. In addition, the hours are long and the work, at times, can be draining. But her answer circles back to the core of what makes Villegas an outstanding teacher—her focus on the students. She passes over advice about navigating the bureaucracy and workload, past learning dozens of pedagogical practices; instead, her response focuses on the students. She knows—and has proof—that at the end of the day, good teachers teach to touch a life. They do what they do to help someone get ahead in this world. To give them skills so they will grow and succeed.
Her advice to other teachers: When the days are long and you are longing for a break, know that “someday, someone will think of you kindly.”
All three of the Villegas children attend Stockbridge Community Schools, although David will be attending college this fall. Pictured left to right: Daniel, David, and Madelyn. Photo provided by Christina Villegas
Ben Fidler
Ben Fidler is filling in for Spotlight columnist Don Porter this month. He is a writer and builder and lives with his wife and two dogs outside Munith.
