Get to know us: Daniel Hernández

We return with our “Get to Know Us” section, and this time we have the pleasure of learning more about Daniel Hernández Brooke, our new Dual Baccalaureate Coordinator.

Tell us a little bit about yourself (name, education, background, etc.)

My name is Daniel Hernández Brooke and my family is half English, half from Madrid.

I was born in Madrid, but I have also lived in England and Portugal, where I have studied and worked.

I studied Environmental Sciences and, after finishing my degree, I joined the Estação Marinha do Ramalhete, a laboratory associated with the Universidade do Algarve in Portugal, specialising in Marine Biology and Aquaculture. There I developed a method of breeding and reproduction in captivity of some species of cephalopods, a particularly interesting group of organisms that includes cuttlefish and octopuses.

After some time devoted to research and scientific dissemination, I discovered my true passion: teaching.

I took a Master’s degree in Teacher Training and, since then, I have combined teaching at Atalaya International School with university teaching.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

While I was working in the research laboratory, some students from the university came to do their internships. As I was in charge of research at the time, one of my duties was to train the new workers, teaching them the protocols and how to use the different instruments in the laboratory.

Little by little, the desire to train the students really grew on me, until I reached a point where I began to enjoy teaching more than the actual work in the lab.

There was no turning back. The poison of teaching had invaded my body.

That same year I taught some classes at the university and decided to take the definitive step: to also train as a teacher of Secondary and Baccalaureate education.

How long have you been at Atalaya?

I have been at Atalaya School for two years, which have been full of learning, unforgettable experiences, incredible students and the opportunity to work with an exceptional teaching team, made up of great people and magnificent professionals.

In these two years, I have been a form teacher in 3rd and 4th years of Secondary Education, which I consider a fundamental pillar of a teacher’s work and has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.

This year, I am looking forward to a new challenge: the coordination of the DUAL Baccalaureate, an initiative that gives our students the opportunity to simultaneously obtain the Spanish Baccalaureate and the American High School Diploma.

What do you like most about your work?

The best thing about working as a teacher is the feeling that you are helping students and guiding them in the acquisition of skills, abilities and knowledge that help them develop as people.

In addition, this profession has a constant intellectual stimulus that makes every day a challenge.

– What do you like to do in your free time?

I am a nature and sea lover. I enjoy diving, fishing and aquariums, which, along with spending time with my family and friends, are some of my passions outside of teaching.