Project Description
Dr. Rose Engelbrecht, Fellow
Hot Wells Middle School
San Antonio, TX
Dr. Rose Engelbrecht has been an educator for the last 27 years, serving as a special education teacher in grades K- 12 and also teaching aspiring administrators at Concordia University. Her love of teaching started at the age of nineteen when she was given an opportunity to teach, as an untrained teacher, at Arnesens Highschool in Burnt Forest, Kenya. The experiences she had at Arnesens led her to migrate to the United States in her early twenties where she studied Special Education and went on to earn a masters and doctorate degree in education administration and leadership. For the last fourteen years, she has been a campus administrator and is currently a principal at one of San Antonio Independent School District’s newest STEM campus, Hot Wells Middle school. Dr. Engelbrecht holds to the belief that every child is capable of learning when provided a supportive learning environment that focuses on individual academic needs. She believes that each student will rise to the teacher’s highest expectations, consistently teaches and models effective use of data to drive instruction. Dr. Engelbrecht collaborates with colleagues often through professional learning networks by exchanging ideas as well as learning new strategies that enhance her leadership skills. This, coupled with membership in district level committees, has helped her work towards being the best leader for her students and staff.
Juliana Castro, Ally
Counselor
Hot Wells Middle School
San Antonio, TX
Juliana Torres Castillo has been an educator since 2010 when she graduated from UTA in Arlington with her Bachelor’s degree in education. After seven years teaching primary grades in the Northside Independent School District she decided to move forward with a Master’s degree in school counseling. She completed her Master’s degree in School Counseling from UTSA in Dec. 2017. She began her school counseling journey in the 2018-2019 by accepting a school counseling position at Hidden Cove Elementary in the Southwest Independent School District. After learning the expectations and gaining her administrator’s trust she was asked to move to another campus and district from her administrator. With this transfer it brought change. Mrs. Castillo is now a middle school counselor at one of the newest campuses in the SAISD district. This is the first year Mrs. Castillo has the opportunity to work with middle school students. With her degree she also completed her license to work as a licensed professional counselor. Mrs. Castillo works as a school counselor by day working with shaping adolescents minds and providing therapy to adult clients by night. Mrs. Castillo is a helper at heart and enjoys growing people and making them better.