Milena Blanco
Lower School Spanish and Culture Teacher
B.A., Elementary Education, The Catholic University of Chile. Antofagasta, Chile
English Language Education, University of Havana, Cuba
English Language Education, University of Havana, Cuba
Lower School
Milena Blanco is the Lower School Spanish and Culture teacher. Sra. Blanco studied English Language Education in Cuba, then she completed Elementary Education in the prestigious Catholic University of Chile. She also achieved a Post Graduate Diploma in Innovative Education and Creativity. She has been teaching Spanish in the United States since 2017, first at Buncombe County Schools and then at CDS. Sra. Blanco is originally from Cuba and lived for 20 years in Chile. She lives in Candler with her Argentinian husband and two Chilean daughters—"our international family," as she describes it. She enjoys yoga, dancing, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her friends and family.
Get to know Milena Blanco:
What interesting background, training, etc. do you bring to your position?
"I have studied language teaching and elementary education which makes it very rich and connected with my current position. I worked for 16 years in an international school in Chile with the International baccalaureate program. There, students learned through inquiry, project based education, and cross-curricular experiences. Having the opportunity to use my previous experience at CDS is a great plus.
In what ways can you teach/engage children at CDS that you couldn't at other schools?
"Students are respectful, curious and happy. It is really important for me to feel that I am bringing windows for these students sharing my culture and language with them."
"Students are respectful, curious and happy. It is really important for me to feel that I am bringing windows for these students sharing my culture and language with them."
What do you like most about your job at CDS?
"My students and colleagues. People are truly awesome, compassionate, and knowledgeable in this school."
How would you describe your classroom?
"My classroom is cheerful (learning doesn't happen without enjoyment), noisy (in different languages), a lot of movement, colors, and music. We learn a language through movement (Total Physical Response, TPR), music (repetition and rhythm), asking questions, and sharing ideas in a safe environment."
What books and authors inspire you, your curriculum, and your classroom?
"I love authentic Spanish literature. I do not have the space to mention all the amazing authors that have influenced my career and life. However, there is an American writer I really love and it is really inspiring to me: Robert Frost. I always post this quote in the classes where I have taught around the world, 'I took the road less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.'"
How would you describe yourself and/or your approach to your job in 10 words or less?
"I want to help students open their minds and build confidence, so they can go out there and make the world into a more equal and fair place. I believe language and culture are great tools to achieve this."
"I want to help students open their minds and build confidence, so they can go out there and make the world into a more equal and fair place. I believe language and culture are great tools to achieve this."
Which classroom projects/events are you known for?
"I love celebrating Hispanic Heritage. Last year we celebrated The Day of the Dead with a beautiful altar where we placed the photos of the ancestors sent by the CDS families to honor our past, as Mexican people do on this date. It was touching and such a different perspective!"