Kristina Ortega

Right now we are talking about world-view and getting the students to understand that where they come from uniquely affects how they see the world, even different from their best friends. Everyone has a unique world-view based on their past experiences, their culture, socio-economic, married, divorced, big or small family. Everyone sees the world in a different way. It’s kind of a new concept especially when they don’t have much to compare it to. They haven’t been outside of their normal. So the first step is seeing outside your little bubble. Next semester, we’ll talk about the unique contributions women make to spiritual life and how we approach matters of faith differently than men based on our unique experiences.



When Sr. Celeste Botello, Flintridge Sacred Heart's principal, interviewed me for the position of twelfth grade religion teacher, she asked me why I wanted to teach at a Catholic all-girls school. I told her that, as a product of a Catholic all girls high school, I believed in the mission of girls’ schools forming confident leaders who know themselves and are sure of their own voices. The six years I spent as a student in an all-girls school were foundational to who I am today and the way I see the world and interact with those around me. Read more from Kristina Ortega on Flintridge Sacred Heart's blog.

I hope that they take with them tools to approach their faith critically, and academically. Know that it’s not just believe A, B, and C because you’re supposed to. Know there’s a why, or they can find that why. Appreciation for being a woman and start to understand how women have been treated in history and turn that around and become positive role models for other girls, younger than they are.



I think, definitely for girls, there’s just this authenticity that girls in a co-ed environment are afraid of. They are afraid to be themselves, or come to school without makeup, but on a deeper level they are afraid to be goofy or to let boys know that they are smart. I know that there are strong girls in co-ed schools, but in general I have found that it’s a safer environment for girls figuring out who they are and still being formed and I want to be part of that.

My international students have been really great to have for discussions of world view. Unlike our day students, they have had the opportunity to live in their home countries and also see the American world-view. So they actually have a little bit more to contribute to that discussion than the day students. I think they have been waiting to say “You all think this is normal, but this is not how we do it in other parts of the world.” I am grateful for them to feel confident enough to speak up about their cultures. But the whole point of that lesson was that you have to meet people from other parts of the world to understand, appreciate and even address the problems of your own culture. They really added to that.

I do a lot of work with the Los Angeles Archdiocese and am really involved in the Religious Education Congress. I’m on the Liturgy Planning Team for Youth Day. I get to take three of our students to be part of that committee meetings to help design the liturgy. And I can take 10 of our dancers to dance at the liturgy in front of 10,000 people at the Anaheim Convention Center. I've also been dancing during the weekend long convention since I was three.