Martinez-Cruz honored
DAYVILLE — Illenys Martinez-Cruz earned applause and appreciation as Westview’s March Employee of the Month. She is a teacher at Westview Child Care Center in the 2-Year-Olds classroom, where she has gained many fans among her colleagues, students, and their families. In teaching this age group, Illenys’ efforts are as intentional as they are improvisational.
In her classroom, Illenys loves to see her students grow and gain confidence in a comfortable learning space. Preschool teaching is a familiar field for her, with four years of prior experience in public preschool settings before becoming a member of the original staff at Westview Child Care Center in 2023. Teaching new words to her students is a noteworthy joy for her. She delights in the excitement on their faces when they understand a new phrase, expression, or concept. She integrates elements of Spanish language and culture into her teaching and often uses music as a learning tool. Sign language concepts are often introduced in her classroom, offering students another stimulating method of essential communication.
She advocates lifelong learning. She values time spent with her “little family”—her husband, Alejandro Cardona, and her daughter, Angelica. Her devotion to her family is deeply rooted in lived experience. Illenys and her family relocated from Puerto Rico to the United States in pursuit of greater access to care and educational opportunities for her daughter.
Katy Holzer, director of Westview Child Care Center, said: “Ms. Illenys brings a rare combination of warmth, attentiveness, and creativity to her classroom. At Westview, we believe in building rich, engaging learning environments, and she embodies that in every lesson she plans. Her expertise is evident in the excitement and confidence of her students, and we are so fortunate to have her on the team.”
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