Category: World Languages

French Returns To Pueblo

By Saul Arias & Aubrey Garcia

Pueblo High School welcomes recent University of Arizona graduate Mr. Oliver Yizukoni as the new French teacher for the 2023-24 school year.

Yizukoni was born in Ghana, Africa, and graduated from Bolgatanga (aka “Big Boss Senior High School”). After 30 years in his native country, he came to the United States to complete his master’s degree in French and to begin a teaching career soon thereafter.

“Growing up in Ghana, I was able to learn multiple languages such as English, French, Twi, Talen, Dagbani and Grune,” said Yizukoni.

He first taught French to adults for nine years at the U of A before deciding to teach at the high school level. After four months into the school year, Yizukoni said that he loves his job, his students and has already made a commitment to stay as long as possible.

“I learned early on how much I loved teaching,” Yizukoni said. “When I was in the seventh and eighth grades, I really enjoyed helping my classmates with their work. I think I knew then how much I loved teaching.”

After several years of not having more than Spanish as a foreign language choice at Pueblo, Yizukoni said that he is glad to fill the “void”.

“I want my students to write and eventually speak fluent French,” Yizukoni said. “I wish my students the best as they learn a new language because I know how difficult it can be.”

Mr. Cortez—Back in ‘Familiar’ Territory

by Inez Gonzales

Spanish teacher Mr. Eleuterio Cortez is one out of the two dozen or more new teachers and staff members new to Pueblo this year.

Cortez, who teaches students in grades 9-12, is very motivated to teach them about the Spanish culture and language. If he looked familiar to some students on the first day, it is because he substituted at Pueblo last year.

“I have absolutely no complaints as a new, full-time teacher,” Cortez said. “I love it so far, and my students have been great!” he said.

“I enjoy my time in what I do, and I hope to be here for many years,” said Cortez.

As a Pueblo graduate from the Class of 2006, Cortez said that he is already familiar with the school, and he is glad that many of his former teachers are still here—such as science teacher Ms. Fatima Lopez; Spanish teacher Mr. Eleazar Ortiz; and English teachers Ms. Andrea Ayala and Ms. Kathryn Gunnels. He added that “it helps to have family here, too”; one of Pueblo’s newest English teachers, Ms. Imelda Cortez, is his cousin.

He added that even though Mr. Steve Lopez is now an administrator at Valencia Middle School, Cortez learned a great deal in his classroom.

“Pueblo was always very good to me,” Cortez said, “and it’s a privilege that I have this opportunity to return as a teacher and give something back in return.”

¡Bienvenida, Ms. Raquel Alonso!

by Laura Conde

Starting this 2017-18 school year, Ms. Raquel Alonso joins the Warrior Family—all of the way from Spain! Indeed, Pueblo High School is very proud to have her as our new Spanish teacher.

Despite the distance between Spain and Tucson, the transition to Pueblo has not been stressful or difficult for Alonso, as she had a positive attitude since the beginning.

Ms. Raquel Alonso (center) with some of her students.

“The students at Pueblo have adjusted very well in my classroom,” said Alonso. “They [students] work extremely hard, and I advise them to take advantage of every minute they are in my classroom.”

Despite this school year being Alonso’s first at Pueblo, she has had extensive teaching experiences as an international educator. Those include teaching in various positions in the United Kingdom and teaching Spanish courses at Reed College in Oregon (known for perhaps their most distinguished alumni, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple).

Coming from schools with rigorous curricula, Alonso said that she plans to apply that very same academic discipline to her students here at Pueblo.

“You always want to learn as much as you can,” said Alonso. “I really do believe that everyone is capable of going to college.”

In the near future, Alonso hopes  to continue enriching her own education.

“I love school!” she said. “That’s honestly the reason why I became a teacher in the first place. I do hope to earn a PhD in linguistics and maybe do some traveling along the way as well.”

For now, one of Alonso’s goals at Pueblo is to properly transition some of her current Spanish students to AP Spanish courses that will be available to them the following school year.