TAMPA, Fla. – This week’s A+ Teacher spent 15 years in the financial industry before switching careers. Geraldine Hermida said during the pandemic she decided to pursue teaching.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a teacher. I remember gathering friends from my neighborhood and getting them all together and I would pretend to be the teacher,” said Hermida.
She went on to say, “I’m very happy that I made the decision. Every time that I come here, it’s really a joy to see how they’re learning, how they’re responding.”
What You Need To Know
- Geraldine Hermida is this week’s A+ Teacher
- Geraldine Hermida is a 2nd grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary in Tampa
- She is in her third year teaching and she’s looking forward to the impact she can make year after year
- Would you like to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here
Hermida teaches second grade at Forest Hills Elementary School. She fills her classroom with joy and hopes her students feel that.
“I want them to be able to leave my classroom with a sense of belonging, that they belong in the classroom, that they can come to me, that they can trust me, that they know they’re in a safe environment,” said Hermida.
She is in her third year teaching and she’s looking forward to the impact she can make year after year.
“I would like to leave this planet a better planet and I think that part of that contribution will be to set a foundation for the next generation. Preparing that next generation is very important so that’s why I switched to teaching,” said Hermida.
Hermida shared advice for anyone thinking about switching careers.
“Pay attention to that passion, that inner light that you have inside that’s telling you that you should pursue that, I would say go ahead and do it and you’re not going to regret it,” she said.