Meet the Faculty: Cristina Salazar
By Suzanne Morrissey
Cristina Salazar joined Brewster’s World Languages faculty this year, teaching Spanish and serving as CLP of Fox House. Originally from San José, Costa Rica, she discovered her passion for teaching while volunteering at a middle school, which led to career moves including high school Spanish teacher, English teacher in Italy, and paraprofessional and substitute in N.H. A self-described “Model UN geek,” she has coordinated cultural events and earned recognition as a Model UN award recipient. Ms. Salazar was a competitive soccer player, once scouted for Costa Rica’s U17 national games. Let’s get to know her better!
Q. Please tell us more about how you became a teacher. We hear you had a job in education before you even graduated from Bates College!
A. I became a teacher through an Education & Politics, Community Engaged Learning course, where I volunteered at the local middle school. There, I was advised to apply to be a substitute for the district and found my way to a Spanish teaching position at Lewiston, Maine’s high school my last semester of college at Bates. I fell in love with teaching through that experience!
Q. And going back a step, you had some leadership roles in your undergrad years, correct?
A. Yes, I was the Social Justice Intern for the Bates Communication Office, a Dana Scholar nominee, and was a Harvard Secondary School Program Student. I was also a manager for one of the oldest Bates traditions called the Village Club Series for two years.
Q. What’s the Village Club Series?
A. It’s a coffeehouse-style setting on Thursday nights where students perform. It can run the gamut from comedy and music to magic and poetry.
Q. And your bio says you loved Model UN. Tell us more about that.
A. I am a Model UN geek! I loved debating throughout my high school years, and I was feared at conferences because I never lost—I even won the Model UN Honorary Award in 2021.
Q. I assume you love to travel, too?
A. Yes, I have visited 10 countries, learning Italian along the way.
Q. What was your focus in your education training?
A. I had four “GECs,” which stands for General Education Concentrations: 1. Identity, Race, and Ethnicity. 2. Class, Inequity, Poverty, and Justice. 3. Dance. 4. Knowledge, Action, and the Public Good. I also studied gender and sexuality studies in college. It was going to be my minor, but the seminar I needed to finish in my last semester in college was only once a week, and did not match my schedule. However, I am still very passionate about learning and advocating for those whose voices are overlooked.
Q. That’s an impressive lineup…and you managed to squeeze dance in too!
A. I dance the salsa, bachata, dancehall…anything! I really enjoy dancing and working out—and cooking.
Q. Any specialties in the kitchen?
A. I love making my mother’s famous cheese tortillas. My partner, Jhon Henry [yes, that is the correct spelling], makes amazing arepas. He’s Venezuelan and a great cook—and a basketball player. The way to my heart is definitely through sweet treats.
Q. As an athlete, soccer was your sport. Where did that path take you?
A. I was a cheerleader, gymnast, and ballet dancer before committing to soccer. I was doing everything at once for a while (I guess I’m insane!), but was scouted to participate in the U17 Costa Rican Women's National Games. I loved it. I was center defense for many years, but became a goalie and grew from there. But I fractured my pinky finger on my right hand and have had three surgeries, which made me retire.
Q. Well, I’m sorry about the injury, but glad it led you to teaching and ultimately Brewster. What appeals to you about being here?
A. Brewster has a distinguished collaborative characteristic, and I like the way everyone in the community gathers together to make it better, fun, and enriching for everyone in it.
Q. What are some things people might find surprising about you?
A. Everyone calls me “Crispy,” but students will call me Ms. Cristina. My mom, my brother, and almost my whole family are singers and musicians, so I'm very knowledgeable about music, as I grew up around it, and it's an essential part of my life. I love tattoos and have a total of 10 tattoos.
