Isabel Cabral Johnson Interview
Item
Title
Isabel Cabral Johnson Interview
Description
Isabel Cabral-Johnson was born on the island of Terceira, with parents from the island of São Jorge in the Azores. She came to California as a young child and early on developed a passion for education. A leader in Portuguese language education in Central California, Isabel Cabral-Johnson has instituted many successful programs, including the only immersion Portuguese program in our state. She has been a volunteer and leader at an array of Portuguese educational and cultural institutions.
Creator
Cabral Johnson, Isabel
McCoy, Kelley
Relation
Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute
Identifier
SCUAD_pbbi_00003
Date
08-12-2019
extracted text
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Isabel Maria Alva Cabral.
Kelley McCoy: Were you named after anyone?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I was. I was named after my paternal grandmother.
Kelley McCoy: And when were you born?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: July 16, 1957.
Kelley McCoy: Where were you born?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I was born in Lajes, Terceira.
Kelley McCoy: When did your family immigrate to the United States?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: My mother and my siblings and I immigrated in
1964. My dad had gone to the United States prior to us.
Kelley McCoy: And how old were you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I was seven years old.
Kelley McCoy: Why did your family leave the Azores?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: My dad had originally come to the United States
actually with some of his brothers, and for the same reason probably most
people come. They figured they could come over here, make
some money, and then go back to the Azores, and kind of get a head start
on life. And then unfortunately there was some earthquakes that happened
during that time. And as my father was here, the family was there, it
became very difficult for our family. My dad was having a hard time being
away from us. We were having a hard time being away from him. And so he
decided that if he was going to be here, then we were all going to come.
And then when we finished, and had enough money, we would go back.
Kelley McCoy: And did that ever happen?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: No.
Kelley McCoy: So when your mother and your siblings and you came over,
do you remember: Did you bring any possessions with you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: You know, I don't remember a lot of that. So if we
did, it was just basic things. I do remember we had to wait in San Miguel
for a while. So I know we did not have a lot of things. But, to be
honest, in those days we didn't have a lot of things.
Kelley McCoy: So your father was already here. I'm assuming you joined
him where he was living. Where was he living, and what was he doing?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: He was actually living in Hilmar at -- on Faith
Home Road which is where we came to, and where we have lived, and
actually my sister still lives there. So we have been there in that ranch
for over 50 years.
Kelley McCoy: So he was working on a ranch?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: He was. He was a milker.
Kelley McCoy: Now you were seven years old. Do you remember what your
first impressions were of this country?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, I remember the airplane ride. I remember,
you know, not being able to communicate. I -- For some reason, I knew the
word sugar, and I knew -- I remember -- But there was not much of an
opportunity to use that word. And so I remember it being busy. Felt a
little overwhelmed with things. But I was a kid so it was also I think a
new adventure, and so I don't remember it being a traumatic experience.
Kelley McCoy: Do you remember what some of the biggest adjustments were
that you had to make?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Being away from family. We had lived -- There we
lived with my grandmother and my great aunt. And so coming here, and
being away from family -- And of course we went to a dairy. So dairies
are isolated. We didn't go to a town or we didn't go to a city. So, going
to a dairy, we were isolated. So I think that's the thing I noticed that
was the most significant. Even as a child, I noticed that.
Kelley McCoy: How about when you started school? Were there any language
barriers? Anything with other children like, "Boy, what are you saying?"
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I started -- When I started school, I went to a
little country school. It was called Riverside School. And it had first
and second grade. And I was very fortunate. There was a gal there that
spoke Portuguese. And so she really was my interpreter, and so I probably
had it easier than others because of that.
Kelley McCoy: And was this a teacher or was this another little girl?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: It was another little girl in my class.
Kelley McCoy: So were there other Portuguese then who settled in this
area that your family became friends with?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Oh. Absolutely. Yeah. At that time there wasn't a
lot, but eventually, you know, more and more Portuguese settled in this
area because of the agriculture and the opportunities there. And so yeah.
Now Hilmar is well known as a Portuguese community.
Kelley McCoy: So now what was it like for your mom and your dad? You were
young. How old were your siblings?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: My brother was two years younger than I was so he
was five. And then I had a younger sibling that when he left there he was
two. And then -- My younger brother. And then actually I have a younger
sister who was born in the U.S.
Kelley McCoy: Do you recall anything about your parents' experiences
here? Was it difficult for them to adjust to life in the United States?
How were they treated?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I think it was difficult especially for my mom
because I think she was completely away from family where we did have
some of my dad's brothers here. So there was some. And he'd been here for
a while so he was already a little bit more used to it. I think for my
mom it was very difficult. The food was different. You know? Grocery
stores were different. Everything was different. And even though there
was some Portuguese connections, and we could grow couves and those kinds
of things, it was still difficult. And we didn't have a lot. So I can
remember we would go to the thrift store. We would call it [loja da
segunda mão][a] the secondhand store. And I can remember in those days
my mom buying, for example, a dress that had a big full skirt. And then
she would take it all apart. She would use that, the fabric from that
skirt, then to make dresses for me, and so I could go to school because
we didn't have a lot.
Kelley McCoy: So at seven years old, did you -- Do you have enough memory
of your life in the Azores to have missed anything from there other than
like your family?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I think the thing I missed the most was my grandma
and my great aunt. I -- That, I remember because they were part of our
daily life. As far as other things, not really. I -- Matter of fact, I
think I got my first toothbrush when I was probably like five or six
because I can remember the experience of having this toothbrush. So we
didn't have a lot. I mean we certainly had enough to get by, and our life
was fine, and we were happy, but I don't remember missing. I do remember
actually. I take it back. I do remember missing some of my playmates, and
some of the -- you know, the girls that I played with in the
neighborhood. But it was the people that I missed.
Kelley McCoy: What traditions did your family maintain here when they
came to the United States?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Wow. OK. So we had I think a lot of the typical
traditions that Portuguese have. We continued with our matanza so we had
matanza and everybody would come over, and we'd have that. We'd make
linguica all that. Of course our food remained the same. You know, my mom
cooked as much as she could like she had there. So I think we had the -still the experience of the traditional food. Matter of fact, I remember
thinking we always had papas for breakfast. And when I first found out
that Americans ate cold cereal for breakfast, I can actually remember
that as a, "Wow. Why would they want to eat something cold in the morning
like that?" So that was, you know -- There was those little cultural
things like that. But otherwise, you know, we pretty much kept those
traditions. We went to church every Sunday. We tried to get together with
family and friends when we could. So I think a lot of those typical
traditions -- festas you know, the festas [festas do espirito santo][b]
those kinds of things I think we continued with.
Kelley McCoy: Now forgive me because I don't speak Portuguese, but you
said matança what -- Can you explain what that is?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Sure. The matança is the butchering of the pig, of
the hog. And so in the Azores that's very common. Everyone, you know -You raise a pig, and then that becomes your food. Then that sustains you.
So they continued that tradition here. And then out of that you make, you
know, the linguica and morcela also is a type of -- type of linguica. But
you use that, and so every part of the pig is used basically. So that's
how you provide food for the year.
Kelley McCoy: So what new traditions did you adopt?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, like everyone else, I probably became
acculturated as a kid. I do remember Halloween was an odd one for me.
I remember at school kids did Halloween, and I really didn't participate
in Halloween. And I was -- I began to join 4H and those kinds of things.
My parents were very supportive of that. And I could remember my trick or
treating was trick or treating for UNICEF. And I can remember going home
to home collecting money that we would collect, and then send to UNICEF.
So that was my trick or treating experiences. I don't remember trick or
treating as a kid ever. I don't think I dressed up as anything. Nothing.
Later on in high school I can remember we'd have high school dances, and
that kind of stuff, so I did those kinds of things. So traditions that I
took on. Well, we adopted, I suppose, some of the Christmas things. You
know, we still kept our nativity, but we had a Christmas tree. So I
think, you know, we adopted some of those things. And then the other
things, you know, there's nothing that stands out that was unique or
different. But, you know, little by little, you become acculturated and
learn more and more.
Kelley McCoy: Now did you grow up on a ranch then, Isabel?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I did. I actually grew up -- The place that we
immigrated to on Faith Home Road is the place that I lived then for,
well, the rest of my life until I moved to college. So yeah. So we lived
there for most of my life. Hilmar has been a home to me.
Kelley McCoy: Did your siblings and you, did you work, do agricultural
work, growing up? Do you remember? Did you work on the farm?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yeah. I do remember my brothers were very involved
in, you know, helping to milk, and feed calves, and, you know, taking hay
to the cattle, and all that kind of thing. I did not do so much. My
responsibility was basically around the house. So, you know, I was
expected to watch my siblings. I was expected to clean house and dust,
and those kinds of things. And every now and then I'd help outside, but
basically my role was inside, and then my brothers' role was outside.
Kelley McCoy: And again the longer that you lived here, the more
Portuguese families moved over.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yes.
Kelley McCoy: So now that you're older, and have a family of your own,
you have three children –
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Correct.
Kelley McCoy: Right? What Portuguese traditions and customs, if any,
did you make an effort to preserve while you were raising them? And why?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, the nativity and the Christmas and all that.
And, for example, on the sixth of June we would put out our shoes. I did
that when I -- I remember that when I was a child. In the Azores we would
put out our shoe by the nativity. So I've done that with my children.
They put out their shoe, and [menino Jesus][c] comes during the night,
and fills their shoe with wonderful things. Always a book. And then some
little trinkets, and some fruit. Over there that you -- If we got an
orange, that was a big deal so I typically will put some kind of fruit in
their shoe, and some candy, and that kind of thing. So that we preserved.
The making [filós][d] on the day before Lent begins, we would do that.
That was something typical that we did.
Kelley McCoy: May I ask what that is.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: [Filós][e] is a Portuguese doughy pastry that is
deep fried, and it's delicious. So we do -- We've done that. Gosh. What
are some of the -- Of course we attended some festas and [bodo de leite)
which is the -- It's a parade kind of before the festas that take place.
I've tried to make sure that we incorporate the Portuguese language into
their world, and the Portuguese culture. So when I was growing up my mom
and dad were very adamant that we were going to continue to speak
Portuguese. So at home we spoke Portuguese. And every day after school my
mom would sit us down at the kitchen table, and we had our Portuguese
lesson. So she had brought books from the Azores, and so we actually had
lessons in Portuguese. And so I wanted to make sure that that happened
with my kids. So I enrolled them in Portuguese language schools. Actually
that was, I think, part of the impetus for me to be involved in the
Portuguese language and culture because I wanted to make sure that
happened for my children. So I was a founding member of the Jorge de Sena
Portuguese Language School in Turlock. Later on began actually a
bilingual program, Portuguese bilingual program, in Hilmar. So I always
wanted to make sure my kids had that opportunity. We went back to the
Azores. I think the first trip they took back, I think my son was three,
and my daughter was probably two. So we try to keep those connections to
our home because I wanted that to be important to them. I knew it would
never be like it was -- I knew it wouldn't be for them like it was for me
because it was in my soul, but I wanted it to be at least in their heart.
So I think that was real important for me.
Kelley McCoy: Why was it important to you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I think it was important because it's who we are,
and it's real important for me to have my children proud of who they are,
to accept who they are. And even though I was in a community that had
some Portuguese in it, there were some biases and some prejudices. And so
-- And that's okay because that makes you who you are. You grow through
that. You learn. But I wanted to make sure that my children were never
ashamed to say that they were Portuguese. So I wanted them to be proud of
that, and to just understand a little bit of where they came from because
I knew eventually it would matter to them. May not matter to them when
they were five or seven. Or even 22. But I knew it would matter to them
when they were 30 and older as they wanted to know more and more. So I
didn't want to regret that I hadn't done, and hadn't provided, some of
these things for them.
Kelley McCoy: When you talk about biases and prejudices, can you go into
a little more detail?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, when we -- When I first immigrated to the
U.S, Portuguese were still fairly new to this community. Not -- You know,
we were certainly not the first immigrants, but, you know, we were seen
as the workers. And luckily I think the Portuguese had a real good
reputation. They had the reputation of being hard workers, of being
religious, of being honest and fair. So I think all those things were
good. But, as a child, you know, children are not always kind. And so
they would say things that would be hurtful to me. Or sometimes -Actually later on I can remember specifically in sixth grade people
saying things that were unkind about other Portuguese immigrants
that came. And I felt very protective that – I mean in general that
kindness even back then just really hurt my heart. And I just felt this
need to protect them, and to try to help them out.
Kelley McCoy: Are there any stories that have come down to you from your
parents and even your grandparents, Isabel, that have shaped your
sense of who you are and what's important?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: That's a deep question. I don't know about
stories. My family was very much -- My parents and -- were very much
about us being honest and fair and doing our very best and hard working.
So I think we held those traditional values. So I do remember a story
that my mom told me, you know. It was real important for our family that
we mind our own business, we do what we're supposed to do, we -- So I can
remember my mom one time -- Actually, I was in school. And I can remember
my mom telling me this story, and it was basically a story about gossip,
and how, you know, we shouldn't exaggerate, and those kinds of things. So
she tells me this story about how there was this -- Yeah. Of course it
always has to do with religion. So about how this young man came to
confession, and talked about how he had spread these rumors, and
it was too late to change it. He was trying to make it good, but he
couldn't. And so the priest told him, "Well, for your penance, I want you
to take a feather pillow. I want you to go to the highest point that you
can. Cut open that feather pillow. Shake all those -- Shake that
feathered pillow until there's no feathers left. And then, after all the
feathers have settled, go back and pick up every single one of them." And
so the young man said, "Well, that's impossible. I can't.
I can't go back and pick up all those feathers." And he said, "That's
absolutely right. And that's what happens when you tell an untruth or
when you spread rumors." And that story has stuck with me for the rest of
my life. I've told my kids that story. I've told -- You know, of course,
you know, in the educational field I have to change it a little bit. But,
you know, so those kinds of stories were the things I think that they
shared with us. That one specifically sticks in my mind, but those kinds
of stories that helped you to think about, you know, what it was to have
good character, and to be honest, and all that.
Kelley McCoy: So tell me what it was like being a teenager growing up in
Hilmar.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: You know, I think I was really blessed because
Hilmar was a small town. So I think that helped. Because I'd been here
since first grade, that helped. So I was already -- I got to know the
classmates, my classmates. So I began to blend in. So I think that was a
positive. And there were other Portuguese immigrants that began to
come in. So I think I did have a support. So I think I was really blessed
to grow up in Hilmar. I'm really thankful that I had that opportunity.
Kelley McCoy: Did you know that you were going to go into education from
the time that you were young or -- What happened? What was -- What were
your dreams? Explain the trajectory that brought you to where you are
right now.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yeah. No. I don't – I think probably like every
teenager you begin to wonder what are you going to do, and how are
you going to do it. But I definitely didn't say, "I'm going to be an
educator. I'm going to be a teacher." Let alone, "I'm going to be a
superintendent." So I think it was just the experience that I had. So it
began when I was in high school. I was -- I did things like I was a camp
counselor. And then I was involved in 4H. And so I helped others. And I
was involved in Girl Scouts. So those -- I think it began as I enjoyed
working with other people, and helping people, and it translated
eventually to working with children. So then I actually was a TA. I was
able to help -- A teacher's assistant. Help in -- at a high school. So I
think those are the things, those experiences -- I began to realize that
I had a talent in that area, and that it was very fulfilling for me. I
really enjoyed that. So then I volunteered more. I went to a Green Beret
camp where I helped students with disabilities. Did those kinds of
things. And eventually became an instructional aide. So I was an
instructional aide actually at Turlock School District, at a Head Start
program at a special education school in Modesto. So just had
instructional aide experiences as I was going to school. So I actually
went in to school as an undeclared. I was an undeclared student. Began
to have those experiences as an instructional aide, and then realized I
really like this. And so then decided to pursue the teaching career. I
did have to work part time because my parents didn't have the ability to
put me through school completely. And so they paid for my gas, provided a
car, and then I did tuition on that. So I did work part time. Took me a
little bit longer to get through school than some of my friends. So I
went part time for two years. I was a full time student, part time
worker. Then I took two years off school and just worked full time. And I
worked at a Head Start program, preschool, and then I also worked at a
school for children with -- children and adults with disabilities. And
then after that went back to school full time, and continued working as
an instructional aide part time. And then became a teacher.
Kelley McCoy: So what school did you go to? Where did you get your
degree?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I went to Stanislaus State here in Turlock.
Kelley McCoy: Excellent. And so tell me what it is -- Because we were
speaking in the kitchen about how teaching is a calling. Would you say
that it's a calling?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Oh. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. No doubt. And I
think -- I think it almost needs to be a calling because I think
teaching is not easy. Education is not easy. So I think it really needs
to be the place where your heart and soul are in order for it to be
fulfilling, and for you to really make a difference and an impact on
students. It has to be something that's really deep. So yeah, I do
believe I -- I believe it's my calling. I believe it's my vocation. And I
just feel real blessed that I found that because I think there's many
people that don't find that in life. So yeah. I feel very blessed that I
did.
Kelley McCoy: So you're now the superintendent of Hilmar Unified School
District. When did you assume that role?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: In 2007. So I -- I think going on my 12th year.
Kelley McCoy: So tell me what that experience has been like. I mean
teaching has been your calling. Your heart, your soul, has been in it.
And now you're an administrator. So tell me -- Tell me how that changes
things for you in terms of how you're able to contribute to the lives of
teachers and students.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yeah. Well, I think every teacher goes in wanting
to help students and help kids. And that was really the same thing I did.
And then my administrator -- Actually, I'm going to pull back a little
bit. When I student taught, I did a student teaching assignment in
Livingston, and I did another student -- Which is a nearby town. I did
another student teaching assignment in Hilmar. And so I was really
blessed to have job offers at both school sites. And I can remember
coming home and talking to my dad. And saying, "Oh, my gosh. I don't
know. You know, they're both nice schools. They're both great." And I can
remember that time. And this really influenced my life. My dad telling me
-- My dad telling me, "You know, we are really blessed. Hilmar has been
good to us." He goes, "You know it's time for us to give back." And so I
decided, "Yep. I'm going to work for Hilmar." And so I did. I began
working for Hilmar as a teacher. And then in teaching I had a principal
who came to me, and said, "Hey, you know, there's this program that
we applied for. It's a federal program. We'd like you to help coordinate
it." And it was actually a program to help Portuguese students. So it
was actually for Portuguese and Spanish speaking students. And so of
course my normal response was, "Oh, my gosh. I'm still new." I think I'd
been in the classroom maybe three or four years. You know, "I'm probably
not the person. I'm happy to help, but I don't know that I should be the
one doing this." And he really encouraged me to take the leap, and I did.
So I began working through -- Back then it was called the Title VII
development program. So I worked through -- I had the opportunity to work
with parents. My focus was Portuguese. So I had the first -- Actually,
even before I was out of the classroom I had the first Portuguese
bilingual classroom. Back then I think -- Gosh. That was probably 1984 or
something like that. And so I had the Portuguese bilingual classroom for
a while. Then left the classroom and ran the program basically as a
program director for it. And so I had the opportunity to work with lots
of Portuguese families and Portuguese children coming in. And we had a
large number at that point. I would have -- I would have meetings with
200 parents in the cafeteria. So then it was awesome, and I felt the
opportunity to help them get a hold of this culture and really make the
most of it, and know how to balance. You can keep your culture and add a
different culture to it. So helping them navigate through that I think
was real rewarding for me. So I think that's when I found that, "Wow.
Working with children is rewarding, but working with adults is rewarding
too." And then in that job I also had the responsibility of working with
instructional aides. I had several instructional aides that I worked
with. I did various workshops for teachers, and that kind of thing. So
that -- I slowly moved into administration because I really was not in an
administrative role, but it was out of the classroom. So then from there
then I actually became assistant principal at one of the elementary
schools, and then became principal at one school, then later on became
principal at another school, then became curriculum director, and
eventually became superintendent. And honestly that was never my goal. I
-- I liked all my jobs, but I really never aspired to be a
superintendent. But circumstances happened, and it looked like that's
kind of where I needed to go. And so I have been doing that for 12 years.
So I do feel like I have an influence. I think at the beginning of my
career I really thought that could only happen through working with
children. Now I know that your efforts can really be multiplied if you
can make a difference with adults because they in turn will make a
difference with students. So -- So yeah. I do like what I do. It's
definitely different than being a teacher in a classroom, but yet it's
also very similar.
Kelley McCoy: Now you were principal at the school that you attended as a
little girl, weren't you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Correct. Yes. And that was -- Actually, when I was
hired, some of the teachers who had been my teachers were actually there.
And I could not call them by their first names. So it was Missus Peterson
and Missus Granden and they'd say, "Oh. You know, go ahead, honey. You
can just call me Elaine." It's like, "Oh, no I can't." So it took a while
because they had been my teachers. But it was also so awesome because
they -- They would help me. And of course I think to them they were
thrilled that I was there, and that I had -- that they had had an
influence on my life. So -- So yeah. I did. I had the opportunity to
actually teach, and then be a principal at the school that I had been a
student in.
Kelley McCoy: So how many students are there in the school district? How
many teachers? How many students are we talking about?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: At this point we have approximately 2,400
students. We have five schools. We have two elementaries, one middle
school, one high school, and one alternative setting.
Kelley McCoy: So I have only a few more questions to ask you, but before
I do, I wanted to ask you when you were in the classroom and teaching,
what grades were you teaching?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I began in kindergarten. So I was a kindergarten
teacher. I always say I'm a kindergarten teacher at heart because that's
where I began. And then I became a resource teacher. I was a language
resource teacher. So at that point then I worked with students anywhere
from kindergarten through 12th grade. I actually was assigned to work
with all of the students who -- students or teachers who were working
with students who needed language development in English. So then I
rotated through all the school sites. So at that point it was K12.
Kelley McCoy: So again, as I said, I only have a few more questions. Two
more, actually.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Sure.
Kelley McCoy: These are more philosophical, but to what extent do you
believe that being Portuguese American has shaped the way that you have
moved through your life both professionally and personally?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Okay. Well, I think, as I shared earlier -- I
think we are experiences, and we are who we are. So being Portuguese I
think has really shaped my character. I think a lot of the
characteristics, the morals, ethics, all of that that I have, really have
to do with being Portuguese. I don't know if they would be the same if I
wasn't raised in a Portuguese home. It might have been, but I'm not sure.
So I think all of that, you know, the hard work, the being honest, the
being fair, the being empathetic, being kind, understanding others, I
think all that came I think at least in part from my being Portuguese.
And then I think family, and the importance of family, and people in
general, I think comes from being Portuguese. I think Portuguese have a
very strong family commitment and family ties. And, matter of fact, I've
gone back to the Azores several times. My children have gone back. I want
to make sure my children go back because I want that family connection.
So I think that's -- I think that's very Portuguese. I think those
characteristics of hard work, fairness, all that stuff is, I think,
very Portuguese. I think the importance of family is definitely
Portuguese. So I -- I'd say those two things. And then, you know, culture
and that importance of passing on that culture and those celebrations and
those wonderful things that make us up, make us who we are, I think also
has influenced who I am. And I think, in part, I've stayed in Hilmar
because I want to make a difference. I mean I want to make a difference.
I can make a difference, I believe, to students no matter what district I
was in, but Hilmar has a very strong Portuguese community, and I think
sometimes it's easier to make change from the inside than it is from the
outside. And so I think hanging in there, so to speak, I think is why we
have done many of the things that we have for children who speak another
language. Not just Portuguese, but specifically Portuguese. So and I
think being patient and understanding that, and having that background
of, you know, where we come from, and understanding our town, and all
that, so I think all those things have made a difference. Yeah.
Absolutely.
Kelley McCoy: So, when all is said and done, what does being Portuguese
American mean to you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Okay. I think it means -- I think it means being
blessed by two worlds. I think in some ways it's -- there's a difficulty
because you're pulled two ways. And then eventually I think you recognize
where you belong, and for me it was here in the U.S. And then -- And then
I think there's another transition where you begin to set another foot
again in the Azores, and it's that. Now I can go over there and spend a
summer there or I hope to spend even more time there later on, and feel
just as comfortable there as I do here. So I think it's being blessed by
two cultures. And two very strong cultures, you know. The culture of the
U.S which has been my home, and has shaped me, and made me who I am, but
also the values and the culture of the Portuguese. So it's who I am. I
can't imagine not being a Portuguese American.
Kelley McCoy: Is there anything that we didn't cover during the course of
the interview that you'd like to share?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, I guess, first of all, I just think it's so
awesome that this project is happening, that we're able to chronicle the
experiences I think of Portuguese Americans. I think that's really
important. And for me, of course, the importance is that educational
piece. That's been my life. This is I think my 37th year in education. So
I've dedicated my life to education. And -- And I think specifically to
not just helping those that speak another language, but to the growth and
development of all, you know. As a teacher, yes, when your -- when -with children, and then later on an administrator with that. So I just
feel so totally -- I've had such a blessed life. And really that is in
part to the sacrifice that my parents made. I can't imagine leaving a
world that you know for a world that you don't know. Thousands of miles.
Not knowing the language. Not knowing what's going to come your way. And
why are you doing it? You're doing it for the better life of your
children. So I just will be eternally forever grateful for -- to my
parents for giving me the opportunity to live in this wonderful world in
between these two worlds that I live in. So that's it.
Kelley McCoy: Thank you so much.
Kelley McCoy: Were you named after anyone?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I was. I was named after my paternal grandmother.
Kelley McCoy: And when were you born?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: July 16, 1957.
Kelley McCoy: Where were you born?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I was born in Lajes, Terceira.
Kelley McCoy: When did your family immigrate to the United States?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: My mother and my siblings and I immigrated in
1964. My dad had gone to the United States prior to us.
Kelley McCoy: And how old were you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I was seven years old.
Kelley McCoy: Why did your family leave the Azores?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: My dad had originally come to the United States
actually with some of his brothers, and for the same reason probably most
people come. They figured they could come over here, make
some money, and then go back to the Azores, and kind of get a head start
on life. And then unfortunately there was some earthquakes that happened
during that time. And as my father was here, the family was there, it
became very difficult for our family. My dad was having a hard time being
away from us. We were having a hard time being away from him. And so he
decided that if he was going to be here, then we were all going to come.
And then when we finished, and had enough money, we would go back.
Kelley McCoy: And did that ever happen?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: No.
Kelley McCoy: So when your mother and your siblings and you came over,
do you remember: Did you bring any possessions with you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: You know, I don't remember a lot of that. So if we
did, it was just basic things. I do remember we had to wait in San Miguel
for a while. So I know we did not have a lot of things. But, to be
honest, in those days we didn't have a lot of things.
Kelley McCoy: So your father was already here. I'm assuming you joined
him where he was living. Where was he living, and what was he doing?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: He was actually living in Hilmar at -- on Faith
Home Road which is where we came to, and where we have lived, and
actually my sister still lives there. So we have been there in that ranch
for over 50 years.
Kelley McCoy: So he was working on a ranch?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: He was. He was a milker.
Kelley McCoy: Now you were seven years old. Do you remember what your
first impressions were of this country?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, I remember the airplane ride. I remember,
you know, not being able to communicate. I -- For some reason, I knew the
word sugar, and I knew -- I remember -- But there was not much of an
opportunity to use that word. And so I remember it being busy. Felt a
little overwhelmed with things. But I was a kid so it was also I think a
new adventure, and so I don't remember it being a traumatic experience.
Kelley McCoy: Do you remember what some of the biggest adjustments were
that you had to make?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Being away from family. We had lived -- There we
lived with my grandmother and my great aunt. And so coming here, and
being away from family -- And of course we went to a dairy. So dairies
are isolated. We didn't go to a town or we didn't go to a city. So, going
to a dairy, we were isolated. So I think that's the thing I noticed that
was the most significant. Even as a child, I noticed that.
Kelley McCoy: How about when you started school? Were there any language
barriers? Anything with other children like, "Boy, what are you saying?"
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I started -- When I started school, I went to a
little country school. It was called Riverside School. And it had first
and second grade. And I was very fortunate. There was a gal there that
spoke Portuguese. And so she really was my interpreter, and so I probably
had it easier than others because of that.
Kelley McCoy: And was this a teacher or was this another little girl?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: It was another little girl in my class.
Kelley McCoy: So were there other Portuguese then who settled in this
area that your family became friends with?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Oh. Absolutely. Yeah. At that time there wasn't a
lot, but eventually, you know, more and more Portuguese settled in this
area because of the agriculture and the opportunities there. And so yeah.
Now Hilmar is well known as a Portuguese community.
Kelley McCoy: So now what was it like for your mom and your dad? You were
young. How old were your siblings?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: My brother was two years younger than I was so he
was five. And then I had a younger sibling that when he left there he was
two. And then -- My younger brother. And then actually I have a younger
sister who was born in the U.S.
Kelley McCoy: Do you recall anything about your parents' experiences
here? Was it difficult for them to adjust to life in the United States?
How were they treated?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I think it was difficult especially for my mom
because I think she was completely away from family where we did have
some of my dad's brothers here. So there was some. And he'd been here for
a while so he was already a little bit more used to it. I think for my
mom it was very difficult. The food was different. You know? Grocery
stores were different. Everything was different. And even though there
was some Portuguese connections, and we could grow couves and those kinds
of things, it was still difficult. And we didn't have a lot. So I can
remember we would go to the thrift store. We would call it [loja da
segunda mão][a] the secondhand store. And I can remember in those days
my mom buying, for example, a dress that had a big full skirt. And then
she would take it all apart. She would use that, the fabric from that
skirt, then to make dresses for me, and so I could go to school because
we didn't have a lot.
Kelley McCoy: So at seven years old, did you -- Do you have enough memory
of your life in the Azores to have missed anything from there other than
like your family?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I think the thing I missed the most was my grandma
and my great aunt. I -- That, I remember because they were part of our
daily life. As far as other things, not really. I -- Matter of fact, I
think I got my first toothbrush when I was probably like five or six
because I can remember the experience of having this toothbrush. So we
didn't have a lot. I mean we certainly had enough to get by, and our life
was fine, and we were happy, but I don't remember missing. I do remember
actually. I take it back. I do remember missing some of my playmates, and
some of the -- you know, the girls that I played with in the
neighborhood. But it was the people that I missed.
Kelley McCoy: What traditions did your family maintain here when they
came to the United States?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Wow. OK. So we had I think a lot of the typical
traditions that Portuguese have. We continued with our matanza so we had
matanza and everybody would come over, and we'd have that. We'd make
linguica all that. Of course our food remained the same. You know, my mom
cooked as much as she could like she had there. So I think we had the -still the experience of the traditional food. Matter of fact, I remember
thinking we always had papas for breakfast. And when I first found out
that Americans ate cold cereal for breakfast, I can actually remember
that as a, "Wow. Why would they want to eat something cold in the morning
like that?" So that was, you know -- There was those little cultural
things like that. But otherwise, you know, we pretty much kept those
traditions. We went to church every Sunday. We tried to get together with
family and friends when we could. So I think a lot of those typical
traditions -- festas you know, the festas [festas do espirito santo][b]
those kinds of things I think we continued with.
Kelley McCoy: Now forgive me because I don't speak Portuguese, but you
said matança what -- Can you explain what that is?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Sure. The matança is the butchering of the pig, of
the hog. And so in the Azores that's very common. Everyone, you know -You raise a pig, and then that becomes your food. Then that sustains you.
So they continued that tradition here. And then out of that you make, you
know, the linguica and morcela also is a type of -- type of linguica. But
you use that, and so every part of the pig is used basically. So that's
how you provide food for the year.
Kelley McCoy: So what new traditions did you adopt?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, like everyone else, I probably became
acculturated as a kid. I do remember Halloween was an odd one for me.
I remember at school kids did Halloween, and I really didn't participate
in Halloween. And I was -- I began to join 4H and those kinds of things.
My parents were very supportive of that. And I could remember my trick or
treating was trick or treating for UNICEF. And I can remember going home
to home collecting money that we would collect, and then send to UNICEF.
So that was my trick or treating experiences. I don't remember trick or
treating as a kid ever. I don't think I dressed up as anything. Nothing.
Later on in high school I can remember we'd have high school dances, and
that kind of stuff, so I did those kinds of things. So traditions that I
took on. Well, we adopted, I suppose, some of the Christmas things. You
know, we still kept our nativity, but we had a Christmas tree. So I
think, you know, we adopted some of those things. And then the other
things, you know, there's nothing that stands out that was unique or
different. But, you know, little by little, you become acculturated and
learn more and more.
Kelley McCoy: Now did you grow up on a ranch then, Isabel?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I did. I actually grew up -- The place that we
immigrated to on Faith Home Road is the place that I lived then for,
well, the rest of my life until I moved to college. So yeah. So we lived
there for most of my life. Hilmar has been a home to me.
Kelley McCoy: Did your siblings and you, did you work, do agricultural
work, growing up? Do you remember? Did you work on the farm?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yeah. I do remember my brothers were very involved
in, you know, helping to milk, and feed calves, and, you know, taking hay
to the cattle, and all that kind of thing. I did not do so much. My
responsibility was basically around the house. So, you know, I was
expected to watch my siblings. I was expected to clean house and dust,
and those kinds of things. And every now and then I'd help outside, but
basically my role was inside, and then my brothers' role was outside.
Kelley McCoy: And again the longer that you lived here, the more
Portuguese families moved over.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yes.
Kelley McCoy: So now that you're older, and have a family of your own,
you have three children –
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Correct.
Kelley McCoy: Right? What Portuguese traditions and customs, if any,
did you make an effort to preserve while you were raising them? And why?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, the nativity and the Christmas and all that.
And, for example, on the sixth of June we would put out our shoes. I did
that when I -- I remember that when I was a child. In the Azores we would
put out our shoe by the nativity. So I've done that with my children.
They put out their shoe, and [menino Jesus][c] comes during the night,
and fills their shoe with wonderful things. Always a book. And then some
little trinkets, and some fruit. Over there that you -- If we got an
orange, that was a big deal so I typically will put some kind of fruit in
their shoe, and some candy, and that kind of thing. So that we preserved.
The making [filós][d] on the day before Lent begins, we would do that.
That was something typical that we did.
Kelley McCoy: May I ask what that is.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: [Filós][e] is a Portuguese doughy pastry that is
deep fried, and it's delicious. So we do -- We've done that. Gosh. What
are some of the -- Of course we attended some festas and [bodo de leite)
which is the -- It's a parade kind of before the festas that take place.
I've tried to make sure that we incorporate the Portuguese language into
their world, and the Portuguese culture. So when I was growing up my mom
and dad were very adamant that we were going to continue to speak
Portuguese. So at home we spoke Portuguese. And every day after school my
mom would sit us down at the kitchen table, and we had our Portuguese
lesson. So she had brought books from the Azores, and so we actually had
lessons in Portuguese. And so I wanted to make sure that that happened
with my kids. So I enrolled them in Portuguese language schools. Actually
that was, I think, part of the impetus for me to be involved in the
Portuguese language and culture because I wanted to make sure that
happened for my children. So I was a founding member of the Jorge de Sena
Portuguese Language School in Turlock. Later on began actually a
bilingual program, Portuguese bilingual program, in Hilmar. So I always
wanted to make sure my kids had that opportunity. We went back to the
Azores. I think the first trip they took back, I think my son was three,
and my daughter was probably two. So we try to keep those connections to
our home because I wanted that to be important to them. I knew it would
never be like it was -- I knew it wouldn't be for them like it was for me
because it was in my soul, but I wanted it to be at least in their heart.
So I think that was real important for me.
Kelley McCoy: Why was it important to you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I think it was important because it's who we are,
and it's real important for me to have my children proud of who they are,
to accept who they are. And even though I was in a community that had
some Portuguese in it, there were some biases and some prejudices. And so
-- And that's okay because that makes you who you are. You grow through
that. You learn. But I wanted to make sure that my children were never
ashamed to say that they were Portuguese. So I wanted them to be proud of
that, and to just understand a little bit of where they came from because
I knew eventually it would matter to them. May not matter to them when
they were five or seven. Or even 22. But I knew it would matter to them
when they were 30 and older as they wanted to know more and more. So I
didn't want to regret that I hadn't done, and hadn't provided, some of
these things for them.
Kelley McCoy: When you talk about biases and prejudices, can you go into
a little more detail?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, when we -- When I first immigrated to the
U.S, Portuguese were still fairly new to this community. Not -- You know,
we were certainly not the first immigrants, but, you know, we were seen
as the workers. And luckily I think the Portuguese had a real good
reputation. They had the reputation of being hard workers, of being
religious, of being honest and fair. So I think all those things were
good. But, as a child, you know, children are not always kind. And so
they would say things that would be hurtful to me. Or sometimes -Actually later on I can remember specifically in sixth grade people
saying things that were unkind about other Portuguese immigrants
that came. And I felt very protective that – I mean in general that
kindness even back then just really hurt my heart. And I just felt this
need to protect them, and to try to help them out.
Kelley McCoy: Are there any stories that have come down to you from your
parents and even your grandparents, Isabel, that have shaped your
sense of who you are and what's important?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: That's a deep question. I don't know about
stories. My family was very much -- My parents and -- were very much
about us being honest and fair and doing our very best and hard working.
So I think we held those traditional values. So I do remember a story
that my mom told me, you know. It was real important for our family that
we mind our own business, we do what we're supposed to do, we -- So I can
remember my mom one time -- Actually, I was in school. And I can remember
my mom telling me this story, and it was basically a story about gossip,
and how, you know, we shouldn't exaggerate, and those kinds of things. So
she tells me this story about how there was this -- Yeah. Of course it
always has to do with religion. So about how this young man came to
confession, and talked about how he had spread these rumors, and
it was too late to change it. He was trying to make it good, but he
couldn't. And so the priest told him, "Well, for your penance, I want you
to take a feather pillow. I want you to go to the highest point that you
can. Cut open that feather pillow. Shake all those -- Shake that
feathered pillow until there's no feathers left. And then, after all the
feathers have settled, go back and pick up every single one of them." And
so the young man said, "Well, that's impossible. I can't.
I can't go back and pick up all those feathers." And he said, "That's
absolutely right. And that's what happens when you tell an untruth or
when you spread rumors." And that story has stuck with me for the rest of
my life. I've told my kids that story. I've told -- You know, of course,
you know, in the educational field I have to change it a little bit. But,
you know, so those kinds of stories were the things I think that they
shared with us. That one specifically sticks in my mind, but those kinds
of stories that helped you to think about, you know, what it was to have
good character, and to be honest, and all that.
Kelley McCoy: So tell me what it was like being a teenager growing up in
Hilmar.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: You know, I think I was really blessed because
Hilmar was a small town. So I think that helped. Because I'd been here
since first grade, that helped. So I was already -- I got to know the
classmates, my classmates. So I began to blend in. So I think that was a
positive. And there were other Portuguese immigrants that began to
come in. So I think I did have a support. So I think I was really blessed
to grow up in Hilmar. I'm really thankful that I had that opportunity.
Kelley McCoy: Did you know that you were going to go into education from
the time that you were young or -- What happened? What was -- What were
your dreams? Explain the trajectory that brought you to where you are
right now.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yeah. No. I don't – I think probably like every
teenager you begin to wonder what are you going to do, and how are
you going to do it. But I definitely didn't say, "I'm going to be an
educator. I'm going to be a teacher." Let alone, "I'm going to be a
superintendent." So I think it was just the experience that I had. So it
began when I was in high school. I was -- I did things like I was a camp
counselor. And then I was involved in 4H. And so I helped others. And I
was involved in Girl Scouts. So those -- I think it began as I enjoyed
working with other people, and helping people, and it translated
eventually to working with children. So then I actually was a TA. I was
able to help -- A teacher's assistant. Help in -- at a high school. So I
think those are the things, those experiences -- I began to realize that
I had a talent in that area, and that it was very fulfilling for me. I
really enjoyed that. So then I volunteered more. I went to a Green Beret
camp where I helped students with disabilities. Did those kinds of
things. And eventually became an instructional aide. So I was an
instructional aide actually at Turlock School District, at a Head Start
program at a special education school in Modesto. So just had
instructional aide experiences as I was going to school. So I actually
went in to school as an undeclared. I was an undeclared student. Began
to have those experiences as an instructional aide, and then realized I
really like this. And so then decided to pursue the teaching career. I
did have to work part time because my parents didn't have the ability to
put me through school completely. And so they paid for my gas, provided a
car, and then I did tuition on that. So I did work part time. Took me a
little bit longer to get through school than some of my friends. So I
went part time for two years. I was a full time student, part time
worker. Then I took two years off school and just worked full time. And I
worked at a Head Start program, preschool, and then I also worked at a
school for children with -- children and adults with disabilities. And
then after that went back to school full time, and continued working as
an instructional aide part time. And then became a teacher.
Kelley McCoy: So what school did you go to? Where did you get your
degree?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I went to Stanislaus State here in Turlock.
Kelley McCoy: Excellent. And so tell me what it is -- Because we were
speaking in the kitchen about how teaching is a calling. Would you say
that it's a calling?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Oh. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. No doubt. And I
think -- I think it almost needs to be a calling because I think
teaching is not easy. Education is not easy. So I think it really needs
to be the place where your heart and soul are in order for it to be
fulfilling, and for you to really make a difference and an impact on
students. It has to be something that's really deep. So yeah, I do
believe I -- I believe it's my calling. I believe it's my vocation. And I
just feel real blessed that I found that because I think there's many
people that don't find that in life. So yeah. I feel very blessed that I
did.
Kelley McCoy: So you're now the superintendent of Hilmar Unified School
District. When did you assume that role?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: In 2007. So I -- I think going on my 12th year.
Kelley McCoy: So tell me what that experience has been like. I mean
teaching has been your calling. Your heart, your soul, has been in it.
And now you're an administrator. So tell me -- Tell me how that changes
things for you in terms of how you're able to contribute to the lives of
teachers and students.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Yeah. Well, I think every teacher goes in wanting
to help students and help kids. And that was really the same thing I did.
And then my administrator -- Actually, I'm going to pull back a little
bit. When I student taught, I did a student teaching assignment in
Livingston, and I did another student -- Which is a nearby town. I did
another student teaching assignment in Hilmar. And so I was really
blessed to have job offers at both school sites. And I can remember
coming home and talking to my dad. And saying, "Oh, my gosh. I don't
know. You know, they're both nice schools. They're both great." And I can
remember that time. And this really influenced my life. My dad telling me
-- My dad telling me, "You know, we are really blessed. Hilmar has been
good to us." He goes, "You know it's time for us to give back." And so I
decided, "Yep. I'm going to work for Hilmar." And so I did. I began
working for Hilmar as a teacher. And then in teaching I had a principal
who came to me, and said, "Hey, you know, there's this program that
we applied for. It's a federal program. We'd like you to help coordinate
it." And it was actually a program to help Portuguese students. So it
was actually for Portuguese and Spanish speaking students. And so of
course my normal response was, "Oh, my gosh. I'm still new." I think I'd
been in the classroom maybe three or four years. You know, "I'm probably
not the person. I'm happy to help, but I don't know that I should be the
one doing this." And he really encouraged me to take the leap, and I did.
So I began working through -- Back then it was called the Title VII
development program. So I worked through -- I had the opportunity to work
with parents. My focus was Portuguese. So I had the first -- Actually,
even before I was out of the classroom I had the first Portuguese
bilingual classroom. Back then I think -- Gosh. That was probably 1984 or
something like that. And so I had the Portuguese bilingual classroom for
a while. Then left the classroom and ran the program basically as a
program director for it. And so I had the opportunity to work with lots
of Portuguese families and Portuguese children coming in. And we had a
large number at that point. I would have -- I would have meetings with
200 parents in the cafeteria. So then it was awesome, and I felt the
opportunity to help them get a hold of this culture and really make the
most of it, and know how to balance. You can keep your culture and add a
different culture to it. So helping them navigate through that I think
was real rewarding for me. So I think that's when I found that, "Wow.
Working with children is rewarding, but working with adults is rewarding
too." And then in that job I also had the responsibility of working with
instructional aides. I had several instructional aides that I worked
with. I did various workshops for teachers, and that kind of thing. So
that -- I slowly moved into administration because I really was not in an
administrative role, but it was out of the classroom. So then from there
then I actually became assistant principal at one of the elementary
schools, and then became principal at one school, then later on became
principal at another school, then became curriculum director, and
eventually became superintendent. And honestly that was never my goal. I
-- I liked all my jobs, but I really never aspired to be a
superintendent. But circumstances happened, and it looked like that's
kind of where I needed to go. And so I have been doing that for 12 years.
So I do feel like I have an influence. I think at the beginning of my
career I really thought that could only happen through working with
children. Now I know that your efforts can really be multiplied if you
can make a difference with adults because they in turn will make a
difference with students. So -- So yeah. I do like what I do. It's
definitely different than being a teacher in a classroom, but yet it's
also very similar.
Kelley McCoy: Now you were principal at the school that you attended as a
little girl, weren't you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Correct. Yes. And that was -- Actually, when I was
hired, some of the teachers who had been my teachers were actually there.
And I could not call them by their first names. So it was Missus Peterson
and Missus Granden and they'd say, "Oh. You know, go ahead, honey. You
can just call me Elaine." It's like, "Oh, no I can't." So it took a while
because they had been my teachers. But it was also so awesome because
they -- They would help me. And of course I think to them they were
thrilled that I was there, and that I had -- that they had had an
influence on my life. So -- So yeah. I did. I had the opportunity to
actually teach, and then be a principal at the school that I had been a
student in.
Kelley McCoy: So how many students are there in the school district? How
many teachers? How many students are we talking about?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: At this point we have approximately 2,400
students. We have five schools. We have two elementaries, one middle
school, one high school, and one alternative setting.
Kelley McCoy: So I have only a few more questions to ask you, but before
I do, I wanted to ask you when you were in the classroom and teaching,
what grades were you teaching?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: I began in kindergarten. So I was a kindergarten
teacher. I always say I'm a kindergarten teacher at heart because that's
where I began. And then I became a resource teacher. I was a language
resource teacher. So at that point then I worked with students anywhere
from kindergarten through 12th grade. I actually was assigned to work
with all of the students who -- students or teachers who were working
with students who needed language development in English. So then I
rotated through all the school sites. So at that point it was K12.
Kelley McCoy: So again, as I said, I only have a few more questions. Two
more, actually.
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Sure.
Kelley McCoy: These are more philosophical, but to what extent do you
believe that being Portuguese American has shaped the way that you have
moved through your life both professionally and personally?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Okay. Well, I think, as I shared earlier -- I
think we are experiences, and we are who we are. So being Portuguese I
think has really shaped my character. I think a lot of the
characteristics, the morals, ethics, all of that that I have, really have
to do with being Portuguese. I don't know if they would be the same if I
wasn't raised in a Portuguese home. It might have been, but I'm not sure.
So I think all of that, you know, the hard work, the being honest, the
being fair, the being empathetic, being kind, understanding others, I
think all that came I think at least in part from my being Portuguese.
And then I think family, and the importance of family, and people in
general, I think comes from being Portuguese. I think Portuguese have a
very strong family commitment and family ties. And, matter of fact, I've
gone back to the Azores several times. My children have gone back. I want
to make sure my children go back because I want that family connection.
So I think that's -- I think that's very Portuguese. I think those
characteristics of hard work, fairness, all that stuff is, I think,
very Portuguese. I think the importance of family is definitely
Portuguese. So I -- I'd say those two things. And then, you know, culture
and that importance of passing on that culture and those celebrations and
those wonderful things that make us up, make us who we are, I think also
has influenced who I am. And I think, in part, I've stayed in Hilmar
because I want to make a difference. I mean I want to make a difference.
I can make a difference, I believe, to students no matter what district I
was in, but Hilmar has a very strong Portuguese community, and I think
sometimes it's easier to make change from the inside than it is from the
outside. And so I think hanging in there, so to speak, I think is why we
have done many of the things that we have for children who speak another
language. Not just Portuguese, but specifically Portuguese. So and I
think being patient and understanding that, and having that background
of, you know, where we come from, and understanding our town, and all
that, so I think all those things have made a difference. Yeah.
Absolutely.
Kelley McCoy: So, when all is said and done, what does being Portuguese
American mean to you?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Okay. I think it means -- I think it means being
blessed by two worlds. I think in some ways it's -- there's a difficulty
because you're pulled two ways. And then eventually I think you recognize
where you belong, and for me it was here in the U.S. And then -- And then
I think there's another transition where you begin to set another foot
again in the Azores, and it's that. Now I can go over there and spend a
summer there or I hope to spend even more time there later on, and feel
just as comfortable there as I do here. So I think it's being blessed by
two cultures. And two very strong cultures, you know. The culture of the
U.S which has been my home, and has shaped me, and made me who I am, but
also the values and the culture of the Portuguese. So it's who I am. I
can't imagine not being a Portuguese American.
Kelley McCoy: Is there anything that we didn't cover during the course of
the interview that you'd like to share?
Isabel Cabral Johnson: Well, I guess, first of all, I just think it's so
awesome that this project is happening, that we're able to chronicle the
experiences I think of Portuguese Americans. I think that's really
important. And for me, of course, the importance is that educational
piece. That's been my life. This is I think my 37th year in education. So
I've dedicated my life to education. And -- And I think specifically to
not just helping those that speak another language, but to the growth and
development of all, you know. As a teacher, yes, when your -- when -with children, and then later on an administrator with that. So I just
feel so totally -- I've had such a blessed life. And really that is in
part to the sacrifice that my parents made. I can't imagine leaving a
world that you know for a world that you don't know. Thousands of miles.
Not knowing the language. Not knowing what's going to come your way. And
why are you doing it? You're doing it for the better life of your
children. So I just will be eternally forever grateful for -- to my
parents for giving me the opportunity to live in this wonderful world in
between these two worlds that I live in. So that's it.
Kelley McCoy: Thank you so much.