Staff Spotlight: Ms. Clara Preciado

Meet Our Cub's Corner Teacher Ms. Clara Preciado!   

Where did you grow up and what brought you to Tobin? 
I grew up in Bogota, Colombia. I came to Tobin as a Spanish Instructor in the Community School Program. I taught Spanish at many other schools in Cambridge Public Schools as part of the Community School programs since 1996. During my time at Tobin I got to know the students, the parents and the staff; the more I interacted with them, the more I wanted to stay at Tobin. Eight years ago I was offered a position as an instructor for the Cubs Corner group working with the younger students, which I enjoy very much.

What is your favorite time of year?
The summer.

Who was your favorite teacher at school and why?
My favorite teacher was Miss Blanca. Miss Blanca was a preschool teacher who was my older  brother’s teacher when he was four years old; I wanted to be with my brother in the same class but I was only three years old. I bothered my parents and Miss Blanca so much that I wanted to be in my brother’s class that she made an exception and allowed me to be in her class thinking that I was going to be bored. Instead of being bored I enjoyed everything in Miss Blanca’s class. Miss Blanca impacted me so much that I always wanted to be a teacher. Miss Blanca was a very dedicated teacher, down to earth, caring, kind, devoted, patient, helpful, gentle, compassionate, good natured and overall very loving. All of the above reasons made me go to school and study Early Childhood Education.
 
Skiing in Aspen or sunning in the tropics?
Sunning in the tropics.

What is a hobby you have outside of school? 
Cooking, arts and crafts, face painting, flowers and balloon arrangements. 

Favorite movie? 
Love Story, the original. Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal.

Dark or milk chocolate? 
Milk chocolate