
DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710250132

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

ARLENE BERRIOS GOING THE EXTRA MILE PAYS OFF FOR LOCAL TEACHER

During the five years Arlene Berrios has been teaching, she has always gone the extra mile. And this year, she was rewarded for her efforts. This past August, Berrios learned that she was one of the 1,500 teachers from around the country to be named 1997 Wal-Mart teacher of the year.

Until this current school year, Berrios had been teaching part time at two different schools; Ivy League Academy in Virginia Beach and Portsmouth Christian Schools in Portsmouth. She was nominated for the award by Shirley Dimino, the administrator of Ivy League.

``I was very touched and very honored that she thought I was worth the effort,'' Berrios said.

This year, Berrios left Ivy League and began teaching Spanish I and II to 10th and 11th graders at Portsmouth Christian on a full-time basis.

She is still going that extra mile.

``I always tell (my students) that I am available before and after school,'' she said. ``I have given out my home phone number. I tell them I can help them through the homework on the phone if they want me to.''

While Berrios doesn't expect perfection from her students, she did say that she expects them to try. She believes that all students have the ability to succeed and offers encouragement by verbalizing this belief.

Berrios said that it makes her day when she sees comprehension in the eyes of her students, but that it frustrates her when she encounters students who really don't care.

``I'm afraid they might not realize how important schooling is until it's too late,'' she said.

Mastering a foreign language is an instrumental part of that schooling, according to Berrios. She believes the more languages a student masters, the better prepared that student will be for life after school.

``The more you know the better,'' she said, ``because we're so integrated. It opens a lot of doors if you know more than one language.''

Berrios studied pre-pharmacy in college and then decided to stay home with her children before entering the teaching profession. What began as an interest in becoming involved in her two daughters' education led her back to college and has evolved into what she calls ``a very rewarding job.''

While the award she received symbolizes her dedication to the job, Berrios said that she has not done it alone.

``I want to thank the Lord and my family: my parents, my husband and my kids. They have been my inspiration.''

Name: Arlene Berrios.

Neighborhood: North Siesta Gardens.

Number of years in Portsmouth: One year.

Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY.

Birthdate: July 19, 1964.

Occupation: Teacher.

What other job than your own would you like? I'll stay with teaching. I like what I do.

Marital status: Married to Jorge.

Children: Two daughters: Lynette, 12, and Natalie, 9.

Fondest childhood memory: Thanksgiving with my family.

What song title best describes your life? ``I Give You My Life, Oh Lord.''

If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? I'd pay off my parents' mortgage and my own.

If you could trade places with anyone in the world for just one day, who would it be and why? The president of the United States, so I could raise the pay scale of the police, teachers and firefighters, and also do something to help the poor.

Biggest accomplishment: My daughters.

Most embarrassing moment: When I was 12, I was in a Christmas pageant. I tripped over my costume and fell, and when I tried to get up, I fell again. When I finally got up on the stage, I was so shook up, I had forgotten my lines.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To have the speaking ability to lead people to Jesus Christ.

Perfect way to spend the day: Spending time with my girls, playing, reading and talking.

I can't resist: Veggie pizza.

Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: La Tolteca.

Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Crime and teenage motherhood.

If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?

1. Less crime.

2. Fewer teenage mothers.

3. More pride in community to keep it clean.

What do you like most about living in Portsmouth? It's tranquil, as compared to other areas. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIME WALKER