‘It was just perfect’: Retiring teacher reflects on 30 years with Adult Education

For Dominika Michell, teaching has always been about more than what happens inside a classroom. It has been about helping people build confidence and create new opportunities for themselves.

That commitment guided Michell throughout her 30 years with San Juan Adult Education, where she served as a teacher, English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator and department chair.

But her passion for teaching began thousands of miles away.

“My first job was in a refugee camp, teaching Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees on Galang Island in Indonesia, preparing them for settlement in other countries,” Michell said.

The experience introduced Michell to teaching and ultimately helped shape the educator she would become. Shortly after immigrating to the United States, Michell brought that experience and her own perspective as an immigrant to San Juan Unified. She began working as a substitute teacher before accepting a position as a permanent teacher with Adult Education. 

“That got me into the love of teaching,” Michell said. “These are immigrants, and with me being an immigrant too, it was just perfect. I knew their experiences and I could help.”

Over the next three decades, Michell became a familiar face to the adult learners working to improve their English while balancing jobs, families and other responsibilities.

She said it was their determination that made working with adult learners so rewarding.

“They were always motivated, and it’s always different each day,” Michell said. “What they want is to improve themselves. As an immigrant, I can feel that too. We strive to improve ourselves.”

“She is at her core a service-oriented educator,” said Adult Education Principal Richard Judge. “Students and their learning needs and goals are at the center of why she does what she does.”

Judge describes Michell as tireless, dedicated, generous and always willing to help. He said her ability to push those around her while still making them feel supported has also made her a distinctive colleague and leader.

“She has a great mix of bluntness and sweetness,” Judge said. “She has a way of demanding more of you while making you smile.”

As she prepares to retire after 30 years with San Juan Adult Education, Michell hopes her students continue to pursue their education, even when doing so is difficult.

“It’s very hard for them, especially if they have kids and they have to juggle job, family and school,” Michell said. “I want them to keep learning and to persevere and to just be kind and do the best they can.”