Against the Odds!
By Dr. Maria Pouncey
Sometimes, having experienced difficult times during our childhood and adolescence, we believe there is no future nor the hope of overcoming obstacles. Yet, every day there are individuals who have chosen to overcome obstacles and change lives for the better. Gloria Matos is one such person dedicated to bettering the lives of our Hispanic, English Learners and Migrant students in Gadsden County, Florida. After many years of serving our community and Hispanic children, Governor Rick Scott honored her with the Award for Excellence in Primary Education throughout the State of Florida. Knowing her, you would never have thought she too might have had to overcome life challenges. Her story is one of determination and service to bettering the lives of others. The following is just an excerpt of how Ms. Matos overcame life’s detours to be who she is today:
Gloria Matos was born on April 8, 1950. She was born in Cuba and married at fifteen years old; she had her oldest son at 16. Her mother was Emelina and she had to leave school in the second grade because her grandmother María died and she had to take care of her two brothers and her grandfather Francisco. Emelina married Ms. Matos’ dad Tomas when she was 32 years old. A year later Clarita was born, who died when she was two years old of Meningitis. Ms. Matos was eight months old when her sister died. Her parents were very sad.
Ms. Matos’ aunt Balbina, came to visit them, seeing them so sad, she took Ms. Matos to her house. There they lived with Grandmother Flora. A one-month visit turned into seven years. At age seven, it was time to go to school, and she did not want to go. Instead, her aunt taught her reading, writing and math. Her aunt and father had only a few years of school because her grandfather died and they had to help her grandmother on the farm. Despite having left school early, her dad and aunt had a lot of knowledge since they read a lot.
At seven years old, Ms. Matos’ mother came back for her because she said that it was time to go to school. Returning to her house was not easy; everyone was unknown to her. Contact with her brothers and parents was minimal. Ms. Matos had seen them once a month. She went to a private school run by Catholic nuns and was placed in the first grade. When they tested her, she was advanced to second grade. Emelina, her aunt did a good job teaching basic skills. Ms. Matos stayed until the government changed, and Fidel Castro took power. Castro had received a lot of Catholic support and from other religious organizations, but upon realizing that Cuba was going towards Socialism the church began to instruct its parishioners of the danger with Socialism. The government expelled the nuns and priests of Cuba and the private schools closed. The Cuban clergy were taken to prisons and concentration camps to work. These circumstances resulted in the decision to travel to the United States, Ms. Matos’ husband’s family had already left; Ms. Matos’ family did not want to leave because they had hope of a change, which has not been realized.
Pregnant with her second son Josue, Ms. Matos left Cuba in 1971 with her husband Rolando Raúl Matos. After a few days in Miami, they arrived in New York City where they lived with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Ms. Matos’ pilgrimage with English began. Her sister-in-law wrote what she had to tell the doctor, English spelled as it is heard in Spanish. She spoke English as if she was reading Spanish.
In 1976, they began their life in San Antonio, Texas studying at the Mexican Baptist Institute. In 1980, Ms. Matos received a certificate in Theology; first in her class. It was 17 years of living in Texas and Florida before beginning pastoral work in 1996 with immigrant workers in the counties of Gadsden, Liberty and Calhoun. She obtained a job because she was bilingual. Seeing an opportunity, Ms. Matos began the AmeriCorps Gadsden Reads program and started working as a tutor at Greensboro Elementary School helping children and parents who had English as a second language for two years. Followed as program coordinator for three years.
In 2000, Ms. Matos began her studies at the community college at night and graduated with an Associate of Arts in 2003. In 2004, she enrolled in Flagler College in Tallahassee, but for family reasons she had to quit. After living two more years in Miami, she returned to work in Greensboro as a paraprofessional. That same year, in September, she returned to Flagler College and graduated with a Bachelor of Education certificate in May 2009, at the age of 59. Yes – 59 years old – it is never too late to learn!
She is now a certified teacher in Pre-School Education, Elementary and Special Education. God opened the doors for her at the Elementary School in Greensboro as a Pre-School teacher; she was the only one who applied for the position. In 2012, she became a second-grade teacher because she was bilingual. Yes – being bilingual does make a difference! She is still the only teacher who is bilingual. Ms. Matos is passionate about her work with migrant and English learning children and their parents.
Ms. Matos said, “I thank God for every person that has helped me to be what I am. I once heard Dr. Maria Pouncey say that it was never too late to go back to school and finish what you want to achieve. I followed her recommendation and other people who always encouraged me”.
Thank you, Ms. Matos, for never giving up and being a role model for our children and families!