Engineer by Trade. Teacher by Calling.
Published: | by Alex Skov
Jorge Castañeda was making good money and living well as an industrial engineer in Honduras. By most measures, he’d made it.
But he wasn’t happy.
“I felt that I was missing something,” Castañeda said. “Maybe I was not making the best choices. I didn’t have a vision in my life.”
So, he made a change.
“One summer, I just felt the passion to go into teaching,” he said, “and I have never stopped since then.”
Discovering Each Student’s Talent
Castañeda’s parents were college professors, and he traces his own teaching instincts back to fourth grade, when a family friend asked if he would tutor her daughter. Industrial engineering made more sense as a career, though, as he checked off academic goals and graduated high school at 15. But the pull toward teaching never went away, and eventually, he stopped ignoring it.
Today, Castañeda teaches ESL in North Carolina, where he helps students recognize their talents and realize their potential.
“It’s so satisfying that we can see students going on to continue their learning experiences in college and make a difference,” he said. “It makes me feel so happy when they reach out to me and say, ‘Mr. C, I just graduated with a bachelor’s degree.'”
Breaking Down the Language Barrier
While he chose teaching as his second career, Castañeda’s move into ESL wasn’t something he planned. He already had a license to instruct math, but his colleagues consistently asked if he would ever consider leading ESL classes so he could teach the content and the language objective at the same time.
Castañeda was hesitant, but he had plenty of support.
“I remember people letting me know, ‘You’re going to be okay, Jorge, because if you’re able to do math, you’re going to be able to break down the language barriers for the kids,'” he said.
Castañeda knew he didn’t have enough credit hours for an ESL certification, so he started researching programs that would help him qualify. Moreland University kept coming up.
“I didn’t see anything else but the great, wonderful reviews on Moreland,” he said. “I remember speaking with some other teachers that had gone to Moreland, and they told me, ‘Jorge, that’s the place. It’s worth it.'”
That sealed it. He enrolled in Moreland’s 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program.
Practical, Relevant, and Immediately Useful
Castañeda was already working full time, tutoring on the side, and juggling a packed schedule. He says TEACH-NOW’s structure with one virtual class per week made it manageable.
“The coursework was practical, it was relevant, and it helped me immediately,” he said. “I was able to apply what I learned after every class.”
In addition to learning new skills, Castañeda also credits the program with changing how he thinks about his own teaching.
“It helped me become a more reflective educator in a daily way, in a weekly way,” he said, “so it actually strengthens your confidence.”
A Network That Lasts
Even after finishing TEACH-NOW, Castañeda is still in a group chat with members of his cohort.
“We made [the chat] to work together, to support each other, and to share ideas,” he said. “We keep in contact and share what is working on my side, what is not working, and how we can help each other adjust.”
One way Castañeda is adjusting? He’s beginning the process of adding a master’s degree onto his TEACH-NOW credential with the goal of moving into school leadership, and he trusts Moreland to help him make the leap.
“I’m satisfied with how they deliver instruction. I’m satisfied with the experience,” he said. “I definitely recommend Moreland University.”
In the meantime, Castañeda will continue providing free tutoring via his 67MathTok account on TikTok and inspiring students — though his career arc can also serve as an inspiring story for career changers who want to become educators.
“If you have the passion, go for it… and don’t stay only as a teacher. Try to grow and become a mentor, then you can also become a leader and just keep growing,” he advised. “It’s an impactful thing that has no limits on how far you can go.”
Moreland is ready to support you, your career goals, and your impact on student growth. Complete your free application to our 100% online 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program or one of our 12-month master’s degree programs today. It takes less than 15 minutes to take this important step in your professional journey.
