Today we’d like to introduce you to Rayen Inostroza.
Hi Rayen, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My teaching journey began 8 years ago in Chile when I received a scholarship and had the opportunity to live in the United States and teach at a public school. In Minnesota, I was immediately captivated by its culture and educational approach, which was an eye-opener. When I returned to Chile and completed my first master’s degree, I felt a strong pull to return to the U.S., inspired to learn more.
The beginning of COVID-19 marked a significant shift for educators globally, with many educational challenges and a sudden pivot to online teaching. It was during this time that I created “@la_profe_online” on Instagram. I aimed to share strategies, digital tools, and various teaching tips to support educators in navigating this new landscape. Recognizing that teachers in Spanish-speaking countries needed more access to information on how to teach online classes, as most resources were in English, I took it upon myself to translate this information into Spanish and offer free classes to ensure they had access to it. Since then, I’ve continued to provide my time and expertise, working alongside public schools and universities in Latin America and the U.S. to share insights on educational research and innovative teaching methods. Today, I host a podcast and am developing a YouTube channel to continue sharing ideas and resources with educators to support and enrich their teaching journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has undoubtedly been challenging, but every challenge has been an opportunity to learn and grow. Balancing my full-time job as a Spanish teacher with my role as a teacher influencer has been demanding. I strive to excel in both areas, which requires time management and a lot of dedication.
One of the biggest challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic was switching to online teaching. I noticed a massive gap in resources available for Hispanic teachers—all the instructional materials and courses were predominantly English. Seeing how much teachers in Chile needed help, I translated and adapted these resources into Spanish and taught free webinars to teachers.
This was a huge responsibility and took up most of my time. I used my Instagram platform, ‘La Profe Online,’ to share these resources. The work was intense and time-consuming, but its impact on helping teachers with the necessary tools to continue educating through challenging times made it all worthwhile.
Thanks for sharing that. So, tell us more about your work next.
I’m a Chilean Spanish teacher and an influencer for Hispanic educators. I specialize in teaching Spanish and Spanish literature classes at a public school in Minnesota. After school, I put on my influencer hat and enjoyed researching education to share with Hispanic teachers. This helps Hispanic teachers who might need more resources in their language. I’m known as ‘La Profe Online’ on Instagram, and I use that platform to share live courses and content exclusively for educators.
I’m proud of building a community of educators driven by knowledge and eager to become better professionals. As an indigenous immigrant woman, my proficiency in reading and writing English is essential, enabling me to make English-language resources available to teachers who might otherwise lack access to them. I take great pride in my heritage as a Hispanic woman and in being the first in my family to immigrate to another country. Through my videos, I aim to show others the opportunities abroad for teaching in diverse cultures.
My focus on the Hispanic community and my commitment to providing tools and information for Spanish-speaking educators distinguish me in my field. A service that has yet to be widely available and crucially needed. Coming from a family with no income, I earned scholarships to pursue my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. My experiences enabled me to teach in the U.S., a privilege I do not take lightly. As the first woman in my family to earn a university degree, I firmly believe in the transformative power of education. This belief fuels my mission to equip teachers with better tools, strategies, and resources, empowering them to show students the vast opportunities that education can unlock in their lives.
What’s next?
I am in the process of creating an AI-driven website designed to support teachers in their daily classroom activities. Teachers consistently face the challenge of crafting lesson plans, rubrics, and activities for their classes—all within a limited timeframe. Hispanic teachers, who may not have proficiency in English, find it particularly challenging as they cannot access the AI tools that are readily available to their English-speaking educators. Technology should be an accessible resource for all, which drives this initiative. I am working on this project with the belief that there must be equity and equal opportunities for teachers, regardless of their language. This project is not just about innovation; it’s about leveling the playing field and enriching educational experiences for teachers and students.
Pricing:
- I am currently looking for an investor who would believe in and support this project, so you can share my email if they want to contact me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laprofeonline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_profe_online/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayen-inostroza-63803988/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/0nLg9U5Vq8zevYXX9wNQCY?si=7f39d3cb0d3f4a54
