My name is Carla Ortiz, and I am a teacher here at the West Las Vegas Early Head Start. I have been

working with the Early Head Start since September 2021. I first started working with the West Las Vegas

District in August 2019 in the Food Service Dept. While doing so I became interest in teaching and

decided to make a change in my life and go back to school to get my BA in Elementary Education and in

Early Childhood. I am currently a student at New Mexico Highlands University. I graduated from West

Las Vegas High School in 1999. I have learned so much from being an Early Head Start Teacher from my

peers and from the children. It is so amazing to watch the children grow and learn what I must teach

them. I enjoy being around them so much and developing a special relationship with them. It is also a

wonderful feeling becoming close to the families of those children and allowing them to feel

comfortable with me. I love working with my Infants/Toddlers and I love seeing them come into my

classroom every day with a happy face. That really brightens my day and makes me feel good. I was a

parent of Head Start students and know how it feels to ensure that your children are happy and safe in

their environment and how it feels for the teacher to make you feel welcome in the classroom. I

encourage all parents to register their children in the program. I look forward to many more years to

come with this program and instructing your children.