In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the district is highlighting employees with Hispanic ancestry — their cultures, achievements and contributions to our Goshen Schools family!
Meet English as a New Language Teaching Assistant Cristal Peralta
Cristal Peralta has worked at Goshen High School for three years as an ENL Teaching Assistant. She attended high school and college in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she received a bachelors degree in social communications.
Cristal’s biggest influence in her career as an educator is her aunt Sor Alma, who is principal of a Catholic school in the Dominican Republic. In 2005, she began her career working with three year-olds at a preschool in the Dominican Republic before moving to the United States.
Why did you get into your field of study or employment?
I am passionate about teaching and I like helping children succeed. It is also a very rewarding career.
What do you enjoy most about working for the Goshen Central School District?
Working with ENL students has brought so much joy in my life personally and professionally. I can relate to the ENL students because I came from a foreign country and understand the struggles they go through.
What is your heritage?
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and emigrated to the United States in 2006, leaving behind my entire family.
What’s something you’d like others to know about your heritage/culture?
I come from a country with exotic beaches where the people are warm and friendly. We also have the best food in the world which includes our most popular dishes: rice and beans, Mangu (mashed green plantains) and Habichuela Con Dulce (sweet beans).
How do you celebrate your heritage/culture?
In my household, we maintain our heritage and honor our culture everyday for our son. We also celebrate Dominican holidays.
How do you think your heritage/culture has shaped you as a person/professional?
My culture has instilled in me the values I pass on to my son and my students.
What things do you like to enjoy or do when you aren’t working?
I like to spend time with my husband and son. I love to cook and go out to restaurants as well as shopping.
What’s a fun fact about you that others may not know?
I am obsessed with trying new foods.
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