OLLA is bidding a fond farewell to several staff members who are moving on to a different school or retiring. Among these staff members are: Mr. Mayo, Mrs. Arteaga, Ms. Ferrer, Ms. Alvarez, Ms. Cheng, Ms. Galan, Mrs. Sanchez, Ms. Ullivari, and Ms. Meyeringh. Leaving a job is a difficult decision, one that is bittersweet and layered.
“I’ll be living a whole new chapter of my life,” Mr. Orestes Mayo said. “It’s hard to leave, I’ve been doing this for two-thirds of my life. But on a positive note, I’ll be building bigger rockets, flying them higher, and having a lot of fun.”
Beloved anatomy teacher and anatomage coach, Mrs. Arteaga, is taking off her lab coat for the last time. She has left an unforgettable mark on her students through her dedicated approach to teaching aspiring doctors, physical therapists, and every student in between.
“She’s one of the best teachers ever because she truly tries to help me understand the information,” Junior Isabella Royero said. “She will definitely be missed and her legacy as an amazing anatomy teacher will live on.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Ferrer graduated from Florida State University in 2018 and immediately returned to OLLA to teach geometry and algebra. She will now move on to the University of Florida to continue her pursuit of education. Though she is closing this chapter in her life, as the saying goes: once a Lourdes girl, always a Lourdes girl.
From our newest batch of teachers, two of our STEM educators will be leaving to pursue medical school. Ms. Alvarez and Ms. Cheng will leave after just one year of teaching. Although their time here at school was brief, it is undeniable how large of an impact they have made on their students and vice versa.
“This year has been such a blessing, and I will remember it with fondness forever,” Ms. Alvarez said.
Without a doubt, these teachers have left an insurmountable impact on the lives of their students. Through their caring teaching styles, they fostered a joy for learning and ignited the spark of intellectual curiosity in the lives of their students. They have kindled a love for the many subjects they teach and will be sorely missed. May they find success in whatever they do moving forward.
