Embodying your passion, purpose, and personal values as an educator, starring Daniela Anello
Meet Our Guest(s):
Daniela Anello
Daniela Anella, CEO, leads the strategic vision, implementation and growth of DC Bilingual both academically and operationally. Under her leadership, DC Bilingual received the National Blue Ribbon School Award in 2024 for Educational Excellence. This is her 16th year at the school; she’s also served as literacy coach, resident principal, interim principal, and head of school.
Daniela sits on multiple boards and councils, including the State Early Childhood Development Coordinating Council (SECDCC), the My School DC Common Lottery Board, the National Charter Collaborative Board, and others. She is a graduate of the New Leaders Emerging Leaders program and the Aspiring Principals Program. She earned her Literary Specialist Master of Arts at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor of arts in elementary education and teaching at SUNY Geneseo.
Meet our host, Ana Torres.
Ana has been an educator for 30 years, working in both the K–8 and higher education sectors. She served as an administrator and instructor at various public and private colleges and universities and as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dual language math and reading interventionist, dual language instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in K–8 schools. Ana is currently the Senior Biliteracy and Multilingual Product Specialist at Amplify, and delivers literacy and biliteracy presentations across the nation. Ana’s passion and advocacy for biliteracy and support for all students from all walks of life has led her to educate leaders, teachers, and parents about the positive impact of bilingualism and biliteracy in our world.
Meet our Classroom Insider, Eric Cross.
Eric Cross is a middle school science teacher who hopes to someday be a lifelong educator, like the guests on Beyond My Years! In each episode, Eric connects with host Ana Torres to discuss her guests’ best insights, gleaned from their long and rewarding careers in the classroom. Then, Eric talks about bringing some of their wisdom into his current classroom and busy life.
Quotes
“I needed to be in a place where I could be my full self, demonstrating all of the identities that make me who I am.”
“The first step is recognizing your own identity and your own values and the aspects of you that you want to see reflected in the place that you're going to pour your love and heart into.”
“Change and improvement happen over time.”
“Go where you’re going to grow.”
“If I'm in an environment where I can't be my authentic self, and I know what that is and I know what I value, then it might be time for me to go somewhere where I can flourish.”
“A system is not a person. If you build something on a person, then when that person leaves or gets burned out, your system falls apart.”