Introducing Irene Cerna
Recently, Irene Cerna joined SFSC as the DeSoto Campus coordinator. She was born and raised in Arcadia, where she attended DeSoto County schools. She is happily married and has three children. She loves to spend time with her family, read, and try new foods. As she embarks on this new endeavor, she’s thankful for the many families that entrusted her with their children over the years and looks forward to making a positive impact on students in their college education. We wanted to learn more about her, so we asked:
What does your job as DeSoto Campus coordinator entail?
As the DeSoto Campus coordinator, I will be responsible for the management and implementation of Campus activities and initiatives. These responsibilities include: working with the dual-enrolled students from DeSoto County High School, partnering with the community, networking within the community, and helping students succeed.
Tell us about your education.
I attended SFSC and earned my Associate in Arts before transferring to the University of South Florida, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I was awarded my master’s degree in Early Children’s Literacy Development from Trident University in Chandler, Ariz.
What attracted you to this job? And to working for SFSC?
For 22 years, I taught various grades at West Elementary School in Arcadia and worked at the school and district level on various committees. I knew this opportunity would allow me to continue to interact with students and impact their future in their post-secondary education. SFSC is my alma mater and I am forever grateful for the opportunities afforded to me as a student. I know SFSC is student-centered and seeks to help students reach their goals. My wish is to continue to serve and give back to my community.
What did you enjoy the most about teaching in the school system?
Building positive relationships with my students was the most enjoyable experience of my teaching career. Studies show that when students feel supported, loved, and cared for, they have better academic outcomes. It was always my goal to foster a loving environment where students felt comfortable enough to take risks, challenge themselves, and learn as much as possible.
You were named Teacher of the Year for DeSoto County in 2022. How did that come about?
I believe I was chosen as District Teacher of the Year for DeSoto County due to my work ethic, dedication, and knowledge in the classroom. I’m a team player who likes to elevate and inspire others to reach their fullest potential. This was probably the most humbling honor I could ever receive as a teacher. I loved my job and simply loved being able to do what I love every single day.
What skills and experiences are you bringing with you, from your days as a teacher, to college students?
As a teacher, I managed my time, along with various schedules, thought critically, was creative, found resolutions to conflicts, and organized many things all at once. My current job also requires many of the skills a teacher must possess on a daily basis. College students still want knowledge and guidance from someone as they learn to navigate post-secondary education. I’m able to help in many aspects of their college pathway.
What activities do you participate in within DeSoto County?
I’m actively involved at St. Paul Catholic Church in Arcadia as a catechist for Confirmation. I’ve also been a Take Stock in Children mentor for the past three years.
I’m part of the Florida Teacher Lead Network (FTLN). FTLN provides educators with one-on-one coaching. Beginning with coaching on their own instructional practices, members focus on four areas: culture of learning, essential content, academic ownership, and demonstration of learning. This is accomplished through lesson planning, school visits, coaching calls, and guided reflection. The second phase of the one-on-one coaching is focused on the members developing the skills to mentor colleagues with the goal of positively affecting classrooms beyond their own.
Members are a strong representation of Florida’s teaching force. Members work in elementary, middle, and high schools in a variety of roles including teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators. The wide range of experiences and background help build their robust program that propels its members to the next level of their careers and impact. After becoming part of the Network and working side-by-side with our coaches, I knew I could take on this job at SFSC and be quite successful.
Do you have a favorite sports team?
I support the DeSoto Bulldogs and South Florida State College Panthers.
Can you tell us something about yourself that people, generally, don’t know about you?
As an educator, I was able to take a Zero Gravity flight that was offered as a professional development opportunity. I was a general education teacher and taught all core classes including science. At the time, I was teaching third grade. I signed up for it because the emphasis was on science. I didn’t know a Zero Gravity flight was included, and it was a surprise indeed. As a teacher, I was always looking for ways to learn and grow professionally, so I could share these experiences with my students. On this flight, I was able to conduct science experiments, experience weightlessness, lunar gravity, Martian gravity, and the force of about 2 G’s.
Something else people may not know is that I’m a small business owner. My husband and I own an e-commerce business that helps people in various ways, including health and nutrition needs. We were introduced to the products and fell in love with them. We started the business in March 2024 to help people find solutions to their problems and to provide them with quality products.
