“I have been very fortunate to be a part of the Valdés Institute for several years now, starting from the summer of 2001. I took a three-year break after I gave birth to my daughter but came back to teach last summer of 2009. Over the years, Valdés has been true to its goals and mission in trying to close the achievement gap in Mathematics. As a math teacher, I am very confident that every year, the group of students who were being served by the Valdés Institute would come out of the program with a much better understanding of mathematics and its applications. As a mother, it is a program that I would send my own daughter to. I have seen and worked with remarkably professional and experienced teachers, office staff, and principals, and I am sure that with them, my daughter will be in good hands. I hope that the Valdés Math Institute will continue to prosper and serve our students in the coming years.”