Mercy Peña Brings Taste of World to Classes
Exceptional teachers are worth their weight in gold. Mercy Peña, a dynamic Huntington High School foreign language teacher is just such an educator. While often flying slightly under the radar, she is one of the most well-regarded faculty members at the school.
Mrs. Peña has been at the high school since 2001 and is currently teaching AP Spanish and Native Language Arts 1, 2 and 3. The latter course consists of teaching language arts in the native language to English as-a-second language (ESL) students.
“My first teaching experience was in my native country, teaching English as a foreign language in various schools in Cuenca, Ecuador,” Mrs. Peña said. “From the first day of teaching, I knew it was for me.”
The skilled Huntington teacher earned a BA degree from the State University of Cuenca (Universidad Estatal de Cuenca), majoring in teaching English to speakers of other languages. She traveled to New York for her master’s degree, studying at New York University at night while working as an administrative assistant at Plenum Press during the day. She met her future husband at the Xerox machine there.
In New York, Mrs. Peña volunteered as an ESL teacher at an East Village church. “After I got my MA from NYU, I returned to Cuenca, and taught TESOL methodology courses to future EFL/ESL teachers in the State University of Cuenca,” she said. “I was also director of the foreign language department in a high school that was annexed to the State University of Cuenca.”
It was around this time that she married Kenneth Wishnia, an American. “After a year we moved back to New York,” Mrs. Peña said. “I taught ESL at Lehman College, Suffolk Community College and BOCES. I also took additional graduate classes at SUNY Stony Brook for my Spanish certification.”
In addition to all of her academic achievements and impressive teaching skills, the Huntington teacher also has a humorous, if not practical side. It even surfaces when it comes to her last name. “I keep my maiden name because I look more like a Peña than a Wishnia,” she said.
While she’s a very busy person, with many personal and professional commitments, Mrs. Peña likes to do the background work that helps her stay on the cutting edge of her craft. She is also proud of her success and the kudos that have come her way.
“According to research, students who master reading and writing strategies in their native language will learn to read and write better in their second language,” she says about the Native Language Arts course she teaches. “Telemundo, a Spanish TV network, interviewed me a few years ago about my innovative NLA course. El Tiempo, an Ecuadorean newspaper, also wrote an article about my NLA classes. Last year, I was invited by the Ecuadorean Ministry of Culture to share my best practices in teaching at Huntington High School at an international conference held in Quito.”
Huntington students attest to Mrs. Peña’s reputation as an often demanding teacher. “I set high standards in my classes because I really want my students to take full advantage of improving their language skills,” she said. “Many students who have graduated have kept in touch with me over the years. I always have former AP students who tell me that they have qualified in advanced Spanish courses in college thanks to the intense language experience in my classes.”
The Spanish honor society is another joy for Mrs. Peña, who is the faculty advisor for the organization. “My favorite activity in the society is when we have the social group with the ESL students,” she said. “Students get to make friends with peers that would normally not be in their classes. The Spanish speakers practice English with their English speaking peers, and the members practice Spanish skills with their Spanish speaking peers. It is gratifying to see these multi-cultural groups interacting and working with one another.”
When not in the classroom or at home with her family, the Huntington teacher often takes to the road. “I love to travel and learn about different cultures,” Mrs. Peña said. “Aside from Ecuador, I’ve visited France, Spain and Mexico a few times. I’ve also been to Scotland, England, Canada and Curacao.”
Mrs. Peña’s husband teaches at Suffolk Community College and is the author of six novels. She has a daughter who is a senior at Rhode Island School of Design and a son who attends a BOCES program.
Her students have won so many honors it’s hard to keep track of them all, from an avalanche of medals in the national Spanish exam competition to first prize in a prestigious essay contest to top awards in the Hofstra poetry contest. Huntington’s top students have frequently sung Mrs. Peña’s praises.
“I love teaching because it is so rewarding,” Mrs. Peña said. “I am not only a teacher, but I also play the role of an aunt and a counselor, especially to the needy students.”
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