Angelica Maria Huante

Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School

Nominated in 2024

Growing up as the sixth child of seven, Angelica Huante’s parents and siblings motivated and instilled a passion for studying. Upon graduating high school in Caurio de Guadalupe, Michoacan, Mexico, Angelica studied public accounting at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. She then began working for an auditing company while beginning her master’s program in administration.

Plans changed in 2011 when she married her husband and moved to his home in Norwalk. Moving to a new country didn’t give her any exceptions. She arrived on Saturday and on the following Monday, she was already enrolled at the Norwalk La Mirada Adult School to take an ESL class. After completing several ESL levels, due to personal family problems, a high risk pregnancy, she had to pause her studies.

Once her daughter turned 3, Angelica returned to the adult school with her daughter. She continued to learn English while her daughter was at the Child Care program. It was a win-win situation. After finishing ESL 5, she entered the High School Diploma Program, where she obtained her diploma in 2019. She also studied and took her US Citizenship exam and paraeducator exam right after.

After graduation and her daughter entering elementary school, Angelica volunteered in her daughter’s classroom for the entire year. After seeing how hardworking she was, they offered her a position as a supervisor aide. Then, the school invited her to work in the ELP After School Program where she tutors students. She also continues to volunteer in the classroom which will eventually grant her 150 plus hours for classroom experience which she will need for the Title 22 requirement to be employed at a preschool or child care program as a teacher or aide.

Currently, she is taking courses back at the adult school for the Preschool/ Child Care Professions Certificate Program to ultimately become a preschool teacher. She has had a change of heart, going from public accounting to education, because she enjoys helping and watching the children grow. This also gives her time to be with her daughter as much as possible especially during school breaks.