INTERVIEW #3: FEATURING REBECCA HANNON

February 6, 2021 Buffalo Latino Village

INTRODUCTION: Faith leads us through the dark. It is the single thing that unites us and motivates us to hope-or that one’s hope is not in vain. Gloria Dios. I can hear it, with the flashes of smiles and smells of my childhood. God, it seems, was always part of my memory. But how? Faith is deeply engrained into many Latinos’ lives that we often do not ask ourselves, how? How did our faith get there?

In my community, your faith is taught to you. First by your parents, second by your extended family. In my case, huddled together on the pew, waiting for the service to get going, so we did not notice how cold it was inside the church, despite our pants under our long skirts. Abuela always said “You are never alone; you walk with God” (“Tu Nunca estás sola; tu caminas con Dios.”). Never forgetting this fact, when I discovered I was pregnant, I decided to walk toward him. Different than walking alongside him. I knew I needed help.

Because I knew Faith was the product of strong leadership. How proud I was, as a child, that my Tia was our Sunday school teacher- a leader so vibrant and principled as she preached to us. In my memory I saw strong Latina women- keep the faith. I mean literally hold it up, that and a church full of men and make the rice. And if you ever went to Pentecostal church- you know what I mean.

That is why, when I met Rebecca Hannon – she made sense to me. Young and despite that she’s an unwavering spiritual faith—that I could literally feel when I met her. In her interview, Rebecca talks about her vision.

“I have a dream to see every family who lives in Buffalo reach their full potential. I believe that this can begin through the conduit of faith-centered education. As a result, I ventured out in 2018 and opened Strong Academy, a private school located on 14th street, right in the heart of my beloved community in the Westside of Buffalo.”

Rebeca is a creator – for faith-based education-because we need it and she will tell you, it is a part of her leadership. Read her interview, support her school, learn about her dream in faith, and if you cannot simply move closer to the source of your faith, because lessons come to us in all places, and that’s what Rebecca would want.

1. What motivated you to become an educator?

What was your experience like as a student?

The short answer is that it is in my blood! My grandmother was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She came to Buffalo not knowing any English. She faced many adversities as she adapted to a new language and culture all while raising her two daughters, my mother, and my aunt. Despite the difficulties, she preserved and taught her daughters to do the same! When I was a little girl, I had the greatest honor of watching my grandmother and my mother walk across the stage at their graduation from Buffalo State College with their degrees in education. They paved the way for me to dream big. I am now a 3rd generation educator!

2. What was your experience like as a student?

I had such a wonderful privileged of learning Spanish as my first language. I attended Head Start on Niagara street starting at age 3. From there I attended a Bilingual Buffalo Public School where I learned English. The staff there was so loving and encouraging. I remember the first assignment I completed in English as a 1st grader. My teacher was so proud of me that she went down to the principal’s office and showed it off! I was so moved by this teacher’s support of me that it inspired a lifelong love for learning in me. From there I attended a small private Christian school until 4th grade and then went back to Buffalo Public schools all the way through High School. I am a proud Hutch Tech Alumni!

3. Did you like school/learning?

Yes! All throughout my school career I encountered numerous educators who loved their profession and loved their students. These educators made it easy to love school and love learning. By the time I reached High School, I was so involved in extracurricular activities that I was often in school as early as 7:00am and would stay as late as 5pm on some days. To say I loved school and learning is probably an understatement!

4. How did your experience as a student inform your leadership style as an educator?

I was always most impacted by the dedication of the educators who were in my life. Their examples inspired me to always be the type of educator who truly took the time to get to know each of my students and their families and to love them like my own. I take my job so seriously because I know that it is a job that will shape the future of each of my students and the world that they build.

5. When did you start your work as an educator and what was your role?

I began teaching in a small Nursery school as a teacher’s assistant. It was a fun role and was a great way to ease into the field of education.

6. What was your favorite/most informative role?

My favorite role as an educator was serving as an afterschool Reading tutor with the 21st Century program in Kenton. Getting to help students in areas where they struggle the most is so rewarding. It reminds me that no one is beyond help if there is someone in the world willing to step up to help!

7. What advice do you have for educators today?

Do not give up! Working with kids can be so challenging. Everyone has an individual personality and their own set of trials and struggles. However, everyone also has a purpose that they were created to fulfill. There is a reward of staying the course despite daily challenges. That reward is seeing the kids we work with fulfilled the purpose that they were created for. Not everyone has this opportunity because they do not have someone willing to stick with them through thick or thin. Educators have the unique opportunity to do that for their students if they do not give up!

8. What is your theory on human potential?

Humans have endless potential with the right love and support. Often the home life of many children is not set up to provide the type of nurture needed for these children to succeed and reach their full potential. However, when they come to school it is like they have another chance at life! If educators can bravely provide the love and support needed to nurture their students, there is a particularly good chance that their students will reach the potential that’s inside of them!

9. What is the single most important value/thing to keep in mind when working with students?

Something I say in my mind often is: “One day this kid could be my president”. At first, that may seem crazy, but the reason I do this is that I want to elevate my students in my mind to a place of honor and respect that they deserve. If every educator mentally pictured a beautiful future for their students, then the chances of each of their students realizing a beautiful future would increase exponentially. If we treat and teach our students like presidents, scientists, engineers, educators… One day, they will go on to fill these very roles.

10. What is the most important thing a student taught you?

Working with children teaches you to stop comparing. Every human develops at a different rate and the end goal for every human is distinctly different than the person next to them. Students are individuals and should be treated and taught as such. We cannot compare one student’s development to another and expect good results. We must nurture individualistic growth!