Teacher to Know: Madeline Olivera- 5th-grade teacher at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS
Teaching is a calling, and for Madeline Olivera, a fifth-grade math teacher at Corbett Prep in Tampa, it was a lifelong dream to share her love of learning with a new generation of students.
Olivera gets to share this love of education at one of the most unique schools in the Tampa Bay Area, where outdoor classroom time is the norm and where the focus is on the whole child with a balance of academics and social-emotional learning.
TBPM: First, tell us about what inspired you to become a teacher.
MO: I have always loved school and learning and was drawn to work that allowed me to share that love with as many people as I can!
TBPM: What makes teaching at Corbett Prep so special/unique?
MO: Our community stands out. We work together with students, families and faculty as we strive to do what’s best for kids. Corbett Prep allows me to grow as a professional in so many ways, and that benefits my students and my own family.
TBPM: As a fifth-grade teacher, your role is even more crucial as you prepare your students for the next step in their education journey.
MO: Fifth grade at Corbett Prep is considered a “bridge” year between elementary and middle school, so as teachers, we are uniquely positioned to help students prepare for the independence of middle school and still provide the support they need.
At Corbett Prep, we have three classes of fifth grade, and I teach math for each of these classes. But I love that I can support the whole child through advisory groups and our social-emotional learning programs, including the Four Pillars of Wellbeing and RULER. I am always excited about providing that balance to our students.
TBPM: What would you say to a younger generation about considering teaching as a future career?
MO: They say teaching is a calling. I agree. The best educators are passionate and thrive in communities that build the best in each other for students, and this makes the work so rewarding.
TBPM: What are some of your favorite things to do in Tampa Bay when you are not in the classroom?
MO: As parents of small children, my husband and I love taking our family to ZooTampa [and] the Florida Aquarium, and we have season passes. We also enjoy visiting parks like Carrollwood Village and Lettuce Lake Park, as well as finding new parks! We like to get outside and move.
RULER
An acronym for recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing and regulating emotions, RULER equips students, faculty and parents with four core tools to develop emotional intelligence. Research shows that students perform better academically, improve their emotional intelligence and social skills, gain leadership skills and experience less anxiety and depression.
The Four Pillars of Wellbeing
Corbett Prep piloted The Contentment Foundation’s Four Pillars of Wellbeing, a social-emotional program that uses “evidence-based early childhood and K-8 lesson plans to empower students with tools to meaningfully understand and process their life experiences.” The pillars are:
Mindfulness – Cultivating focused and nonjudgmental attention to the present moment
Community – Bringing out the best in one another by bringing out the best in ourselves
Self Curiosity – Developing interest in and wonder about all our experiences through curious questioning
Contentment and Balance – Unconditionally accepting and appreciating our experiences
Learn more about how Corbett Prep is Building a Bridge to Middle School in Fifth Grade.