Úrsula Pomares, an educator by early vocation

Some titles are earned through sheer commitment and dedication. Úrsula Cristina Pomares Ortega holds the title of an exemplary educator. “I have brought education to many, many places—even to adults—but I teach every single class with my whole heart. I truly, deeply love my profession. I chose it out of a genuine calling.”

Several generations of people from Trinidad were educated under the guidance of a woman who simply cannot bring herself to leave the classroom for good. There was only a brief interval between her retirement and her return—a decision, in fact, that had taken root back when she was just starting out. From childhood, her calling for pedagogy had already eclipsed the path her mother had hoped for her: medicine.

Back then, the “Guerrillas for Education” movement—which emerged within primary schooling—further fueled her passion for teaching. “There is something beautiful about being a teacher, about sharing knowledge with others. It’s striking how, even as very young children, we knew we wanted to be teachers. By the fifth grade, we had already decided that teaching would be our path.”

Úrsula Cristina Pomares Ortega’s professional record includes her role as coordinator for the first four editions of master’s degree programs held in Trinidad—a responsibility that brought her into the realm of higher education. “We managed to bring the thesis defenses right into the local communities. It was a truly wonderful experience. We even held defenses in Manaca—we managed to take them all the way there—and we also reached San Pedro. I still remember the older residents who attended those sessions at the school in San Pedro, and how deeply the community expressed their gratitude to us.”