Milagros Otero

Affiliation

Richard Edwards Elementary

Biography

Milagros Otero Wallace was born in Cumaná, Venezuela, and has been a proud Venezuelan immigrant in the United States for thirty-five years. She began her college studies at the University of Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela, and later completed her education in Chicago. Milagros pursued her studies at Rosary College, Dominican University, National Louis University, and the American College of Education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and three master’s degrees in education, with specializations in Special Education, Instruction and Curriculum, and School Leadership. Throughout her professional career, Milagros has dedicated herself to education, serving in various roles, including bilingual teacher, special education teacher, bilingual department head, and assistant principal. In 2007, she was recognized as a finalist for the DRIVE Awards in Chicago Public Schools. She currently serves as a Case Manager at Richard Edwards Elementary School, where she continues her commitment to equity and high-quality opportunities for students from diverse communities. Her professional journey has been marked by her mastery of effective educational techniques and teaching practices, which have led to excellence in multiple areas. Driven by the need to provide her students with authentic, culturally relevant materials in high-quality Spanish, Milagros began writing children’s literature, which she first used in her own classroom. In 2021, she published her first book under the name Milagros Wallace, beginning a journey that has been both literary and educational. She is the author of the acclaimed Gregorina series, featuring a curious and thoughtful Venezuelan girl who represents thousands of immigrant children in the United States.