San Antonio’s Southside is home to a very special community of creators, hard workers, and people that inspire—many of whom are leaders across the Alamo city. Our Southside Makers and Shakers blog series celebrates Southsiders making their mark. Each addition to the series offers new insight into the community and the gente that make the Southside so unique.
In this blog, we interview the inaugural superintendent for Celebrate Dyslexia Schools, Flor E. Gutiérrez.
Interview with Flor E. Gutiérrez
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Mexico and moved to San Antonio in 2007. Being a product of public education and personally witnessing how education changed the trajectory of my life, I knew very early on this was going to be my career of choice. I have been an educator on the southside of San Antonio for over 15 years intentionally serving emergent bilingual students.
Currently, I am the founding superintendent for Celebrate Dyslexia Schools—an open enrollment tuition free charter in San Antonio. The mission of Celebrate Dyslexia Schools is to serve a historically marginalized community by educating dyslexic children through an enriching, safe, environment. I am hoping this innovative model is what many of our families in San Antonio are looking for.
What inspired you to become a leader on San Antonio’s Southside, and what keeps you motivated to continue your work?
Understanding the need in the southside is what keeps me motivated. Seeing how education can change the trajectory of students’ lives is what keeps me going. I have older students that have gone off to college and are able to come and give back to their community.
How does your organization give back to San Antonio, foster collaboration, or build partnerships with other organizations?
Celebrate Dyslexia Schools has a great understanding of the city’s ecosystem. We have collaborated with various stakeholders in our community to better our families. Some of our school partners in the area include UTSA, The Doseum, and Social Venture Partners San Antonio.
Looking to the future, what initiatives or projects are you most excited about, and how do you believe they will benefit our city and its residents?
I would have to say I am most excited about offering a school model that meets the educational, social and academic needs of the community in San Antonio.
What makes the Southside unique compared to other parts of San Antonio?
The rich culture in South San Antonio is what makes it unique. There is so much love and pride on this side of town.
Where can folks find you and your work?
You can find Celebrate Dyslexia Schools on Facebook and Instagram.
Read more news about Celebrate Dyslexia Schools here.