Spanish Department
Spanish Department Coordinator
I was born and raised in Panamá, 100% Panamanian, until I got married and moved to New York. I studied English for one year at Hostos Community College and after that, I received my Associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences as a member of the Teacher Academy Program. I attended Queens College of CUNY and got my Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Mathematics and Hispanic Languages and Literature where I received the Faculty Prize and I was elected to the Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish Honor Society.
During my time at Queens College, I was part of the CUNY Service Corps and I was able to work on a research project at Columbia University called the YPAR program or "Youth Participatory Action Research". As part of my research, I worked with the Cyphers for Justice's team which included hip-hop artist and educator, Mikal Lee, who planted a passion for rap and poetry in me. A quick fact about me is that I have taught every single grade for the last 10 years from kindergarten through high school in Queens, Brooklyn, and The Bronx. Also, I am the only Mets fan in my entire family including my kids, my husband, my cousins, my siblings, and my dog.
Laura Keyt was born and raised in Washington State. She graduated with a BA in Spanish and History from Mount Holyoke College in 2013 and then obtained her Masters in Romance Languages from the University of Oregon in 2015. Laura moved to NYC in 2017 to start a PhD focusing on the culture and literature of medieval and early modern Spain. Things that Laura loves include cats, conversations, and crosswords.
Ms. Pollard was raised between Alabama and the Dominican Republic. She is a third generation teacher and a first generation Spanish speaker. For her undergrad, she attended the College of Charleston for the main purpose of the Cuba study abroad program. At CofC, Ms. Pollard was an active member of her rugby team and sorority. After undergrad she worked as a school interpreter in the Outer Banks in North Carolina before moving to Boston, MA to receive her Master's in the Art of Teaching World Language. In Boston, she worked as a high school Spanish teacher and an instructional designer. She is passionate about language, specifically the sounds and development of language. Outside of the classroom you can find her creating new recipes, attending dance classes, and performing stand-up comedy.