Child Development
Maria Baez, a native of Mexico, worked at a Random House book distributing center in Des Plaines for 11 years, but lost her job when it closed in 2000. She decided to enroll at Chicago Commons to improve her English and search for a new job. The mother of three - ages 3, 8 and 10 - also started volunteering in her youngest child's daycare program at Commons. Her volunteer efforts caught the eye of a supervisor, Melissa Larson, site director for the NIA Family Center. Larson hired Baez to be a teacher's aide in a pre-kindergarten Headstart classroom. Still working at Chicago Commons today, Maria also enrolled at St. Augustine College, where she is studying early childhood development.
"Two years ago I never thought I could learn English so well and even go to college," said Baez. "I'm not afraid anymore. I'm more comfortable and confident. Now, I know how to use resources and ask questions if I don't understand."
She's also pleased that her children can look up to her as both a teacher's aide and a college student.
"My becoming a Teacher Aide and college student supports and encourages my children to succeed, and it supports me, too," she said. "My husband is happy too. He tells me that even though school is expensive, I am intelligent and that I am going to do it."
McKay said he never doubted Baez would succeed.
"She demonstrated real leadership abilities from the beginning. Her first sentence to me was 'I don't want to be like a piece of furniture in the house; I want to start learning.' She's one of those students in adult education we just love - the ones who know what they need or what they want and have the courage to ask for it," McKay said.
