Meet Ms. Parra
Portland Adventist Academy is pleased to welcome Nathalia Parra. She’ll be teaching English I as well as English Language Learning (ELL) for the International Student Program.
“We are thrilled to have Nathalia join us at PAA,” says Principal Mechelle Peinado. “She comes with the highest recommendations and is a joy to speak with. She has been called to reach minds academically, spiritually, and emotionally. She believes Adventist education is a way God uses to reach all of us for His kingdom, to break down walls, inquire and inspire knowledge, and for us to become better people. I am eager for her students and families to get to know her.”
“I have not met my students yet,” says Ms. Parra, “but I already know each of them is exceptionally important and called for a great purpose in life. I hope they will feel embraced and loved in my classroom.” Nathalia has been teaching in Palau for two years as a missionary. She comes to PAA with a degree in Education for English Second Language (ESL) from Antillean Adventist University in Puerto Rico. Nathalia grew up both in Colombia and Puerto Rico where her parents still live. Her father is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor and her mother is a special education teacher. Nathalia also has two older sisters living in the United States as medical professionals.
“I love quality time with friends and family, camping with my sisters, and cooking international meals,” she says. “Also, getting to know other cultures, languages, countries and traditions, and making them my own. In my free time, I enjoy reading, especially historical fiction, biographies, and Christian self-growth. I love the outdoors and especially the ocean. While living in Palau for the past two years as a missionary teacher, I was able to indulge in my new hobby of scuba diving. I love diving with manta-rays and sharks. Nature is where I am one with God.”
Nathalia embraces the PAA motto. She says, “Christ-centered character-driven means that each day, while we learn English together, we get to grow and accept each other no matter our struggles and skills.” “I believe God is right there with us as we learn together and that brings me peace and joy as I teach. Jesus was a foreigner who studied literature. He understands all of the subjects I’ll be teaching. I hope my students will find Him as the One to be trusted, too.”
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