Teacher Feature: Ms. Portugal

“The reward of a job well done is to have done it” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ms. Portugal grew up in Prospect Heights, a suburb of Chicago.  Although this is her 2nd year teaching at Asheville Middle School, she has taught for 21 years.  Currently Ms. Portugal teaches her favorite subject, Social Studies. She is also certified to teach Science and ELA. In her 7th grade Social Studies class, she loves teaching how the past influences the present and how countries have developed relationships. She likes teaching students to see the patterns and intricacies of the world’s interactions.

​This month students are learning about the Crusades and then they will move into the Renaissance. When I visited Ms. Portugal's Classroom, I noticed that kids were focused and looked like they were excited and ready to learn.

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Ms. Portugal started college when she was just 16. She took many business classes and soon realized that business is not what she wanted to do. She then moved into Psychology and worked at a Montessori school during college. She discovered that she loved to be with kids and loved to teach, and that she wanted to pursue a teaching career.

​Ms. Portugal is also a business owner and an author of 2 books: Four Feet Down and Four Doors Open. Ms. Portugal hopes that when her students leave her class they will understand how world history has lead to globalization and how countries impact each other. Ms. Portugal's favorite moments as a teacher is when she is able to watch a student reach their goal. ​

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Story by Kate Buys