Three Generations of Teaching: Gladys Gómez Escamilla Carries Her Family’s Legacy to Vallejo

For Gladys Gómez Escamilla, becoming a teacher was more than a career choice. It was a way to continue her family’s legacy in education.

Her grandmother spent 30 years as a middle school teacher in Mexico, raising five children as a widow while dedicating her life to educating others. Her mother followed, spending 35 years as an elementary school teacher.

Then came Gladys.

Now in her 22nd year as an educator, the Cave Language Academy fifth-grade teacher is carrying that legacy forward in Vallejo, thousands of miles from where her own journey began.

“My grandmother and my mom were my first teachers and my greatest role models, not only in education, but in life,” Escamilla said. “From my grandmother, I learned resilience, strength, and the importance of continuing forward even when life is difficult. From my mother, I learned dedication, patience, and the importance of caring deeply about the people you serve.”

Gladys grew up in Mexico, with family roots in Pachuca, Hidalgo, and Mérida, Yucatán. She earned a degree in secondary education with a specialization in Spanish and later a master’s degree in educational administration.

Her education also took her far beyond Mexico. Through a scholarship, Gladys spent a year and a half studying in Japan, where she earned a master’s degree in education while representing her Mexican and Latino community.

But one of the biggest decisions of her life came in 2017.

At the time, Escamilla had a secure teaching position in Mexico and a 2-year-old son. As a single mother, she wanted to create more opportunities for him.

“I remember imagining California as a place where my son could grow up feeling free to be himself and believe that he could be whoever he wanted to be,” she said. “That vision gave me the courage to take a very big step.”

She began researching teaching opportunities in California. Then, in a Facebook group for working women, she saw a comment saying that Jesse Bethel High School in Vallejo was hiring Spanish teachers.

Gladys found the posting and applied.

In June 2017, she arrived in Vallejo without family or friends nearby and began teaching Spanish at Jesse Bethel.

“That opportunity changed the direction of my life,” she said. “What started as a job search eventually became a new home and community.”

After a year at Jesse Bethel, Gladys moved to Cave Language Academy, where she spent several years teaching middle school. But this year brought another first: she became a fifth-grade teacher.

The adjustment has also shown her new ways to support students at a different stage in their lives.

“After so many years at Cave, it feels special to continue growing within the same school community while taking on a new role,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to grow alongside the school and so many wonderful colleagues, staff members, students, and families.”

For Gladys, working at an immersion school carries particular significance. Spanish is not simply something she teaches; it is part of her identity.

“To me, language carries culture, history, family, and identity,” she said. “I want my students and the adults I work with to understand that speaking another language is a strength. It can create opportunities, connect people, and build bridges between cultures.”

Her work extends beyond Cave. Gladys has also worked with Spanish-speaking adults at the Vallejo Adult School, supporting them as they work toward their high school equivalency through GED and HiSET programs.

Sharing a language and, in some cases, similar cultural experiences has helped create a stronger sense of connection.

“We support and encourage one another, and there is a real sense of family among us,” she said.

That message about the power of language comes from Gladys's own experiences.

English is not her first language, and when she arrived in California, she had to navigate a new country, community, and school system while raising her young son.

Today, she views something that once could have made her feel different — her accent — as something worth embracing.

“I still have an accent,” Escamilla said. “But I have learned to see my accent not as something I need to hide, but as part of my story and my heritage. It reminds me of where I come from, the sacrifices I have made, and the journey that brought me here.”

It is a perspective she hopes her students carry with them, particularly those who may be navigating different languages, cultures, or questions about where they belong.

Gladys often recognizes pieces of her own experiences in the children and families she serves. That is why she works to make her classroom a place where students know their individual stories matter.

Some of her favorite moments aren't necessarily tied to a test score or completed assignment. They happen when a student who entered the classroom quietly or unsure begins to participate, smile, and become excited about learning.

“Sometimes, a child first needs to feel seen, valued, and believed in,” she said. “After 22 years in education, I have learned that students may not remember every lesson we teach, but they often remember how their teacher made them feel.”

As VCUSD celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Gladys is proud to share the culture and values that helped shape her.

She speaks Spanish at home and treasures the traditions that bring her family together — gathering around a table filled with tamales, enchiladas, pastes, tacos, cochinita pibil, and panuchos; listening to music; laughing; and cheering together while watching soccer.

But she hopes people understand that Mexican culture extends well beyond its food and celebrations.

“It is about family, community, generosity, and always making room for one more person at the table,” she said. “We may come from different places and have different traditions, but we have a strong sense of togetherness and a deep pride in our roots.”

That is also what this year's theme, “Unidos, somos más,” means to her.

For Gladys, the phrase is a reminder that people can accomplish more when they support one another, respect their differences, and combine their individual strengths. Put simply, together, we are stronger and can go farther.

It's a lesson reflected in her own life.

When Gladys arrived in Vallejo, she was the only member of her family living in the United States. Over time, colleagues, administrators, mentors, and members of the Vallejo community helped her build a new life.

Today, she is remarried and has a daughter who was born in Vallejo. The city she once arrived in, knowing no one, has become home.

Every morning that Gladys walks into her classroom, three generations of educators walk in with her.

“I carry my grandmother’s strength and my mother’s warmth into my classroom,” she said. “My grandmother and mother showed me that teaching is not simply a job. It is a way to serve your community, empower children, and leave something meaningful behind.”

Now Gladys hopes to leave that same lesson with another generation, including students whose languages, cultures, or journeys may look a little like her own.

“I hope to continue that legacy in my own way, by helping my students believe in themselves, be proud of who they are and where they come from, and understand that their background is a strength that can take them anywhere,” she said.

And there is one message she especially hopes they remember:

“Speaking two or more languages is a superpower.”