INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK: Amarilis Malave-Acosta, Bay Lake Elementary School

Amarilis Malave-Acosta is the program assistant at Bay Lake Elementary School.

She covers the needs of her school, from looking out for the safety of the students and staff, to handling lunch duty and interventions, covering classes when needed and more. This year, she was recognized as the Orange County Public Schools Support Person of the Year at Bay Lake.

What brought you to your school?

I moved to the Windermere area in 2016, and since then I've loved this community. After being home after the pandemic I started looking for jobs in the area, and I found Bay Lake was looking for a school assistant. Since I had previous experience in the school setting, I decided to apply and I got the job. After a few months working at Bay Lake, I was offered the Program Assistant Position and that's what I've been doing since then.

What do you love most about your school?

I love the students and the sense of family that we have as a school.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

For me, the most rewarding thing about my job is seeing the students learn and progress through the years.

What would you be if you weren’t in this profession?

I think an event planner or something in that category. I love crafting and more than crafting I love birthday parties. Every year I create beautiful birthdays for my own kids.

Who influences you?

My biggest influence is my mother. She was a young mother when she had me, and she had to pause her career to take care of me and my siblings. After we all grew up, she decided to go back to school and now she is a CT and MRI scan technologist. Seeing her progress to being the best person she can be makes me feel proud and full of joy for her. This inspires me to continue my education and offer the best from me to my family, kids and my profession.

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why?

That’s a good question! Growing up I had amazing teachers, but I think Mr. Cruz will be the one who had the most impact on my school years. Mr. Cruz was my math teacher in seventh grade, and he was a very kind, understanding, thoughtful teacher. I will always remember him taking his time to explain in great detail the things I was struggling with at the time. Mr. Cruz is a very good role model and an inspiration for my career.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

My favorite book is “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold. This book talks about inclusion in schools, and as a Hispanic person myself, this is a very important topic for me. I want every student to feel included and welcome at my school and in my classroom.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my free time I love to read, craft and spend time with my family.

If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Neil deGrasse Tyson — I would love to sit down and just talk and learn more about everything around us. He is a very smart scientist, and I know I can learn a lot from him.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

This is a tough question, but I think my superpower would be healing people. One thing that I wish is for everyone to be healthy and never suffer. With a healing power, I can help others and keep the people that I love with me longer.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?

Taylor Swift because is a very talented woman, and she is an inspiration for a lot of people. Selena Gomez is also a very strong woman, her voice is amazing, and I enjoy her music a lot. I love Lady Gaga’s music, talent and voice.

What was your go-to lunch and favorite snack as an elementary student?

I went to school in Puerto Rico, and the lunches there looked very different from here. My favorite lunch was white rice, garbanzos or beans, shredded chicken, pears and white milk. My favorite snack was pizza empanadas with frozen Coke.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Definitely Christmas, because of the tradition and significance behind it and it’s the most important the time that I spend with my family. The traditional Puerto Rican food and gifts are an extra treat this holiday.

Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?

Ivelisse Alvarez — We were very close to each other, and we were born just a few days apart. During summer we used to go for lunch together and celebrate our birthdays. We still keep in touch, but not that often as we used to since she lives in Puerto Rico and I live in Florida, but we still communicate.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you win any accolades or honors?

That varied from time to time. I did dance for a few years, music for a little bit, and I learned how to play Cuatro puertorriqueño (a string instrument), but mostly I enjoyed crafting with my sisters after school. While in school, I always had honors and even took honor classes during my high school years.

How long have you been at your school and with OCPS?

This year will mark my fourth year at Bay Lake and OCPS, and I'm looking forward to many more.

What does it mean to you to receive a scholarship to continue your studies at Rollins College?

Receiving the scholarship is a blessing and a huge relief for my family. As a student I depend on scholarships and student loans to be able to pay for my degree. Receiving a scholarship means I’m one step closer to obtaining my degree and my certification.