A lasting impression: Meet inspiring teacher, Silvana Ibanez

Mrs. Ibanez was chosen as 2024-25 Swainsboro High School Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for 15 years, with 13 of those years spent in the United States. Mrs. Ibanez began her career teaching English as a Second Language in Colombia, and upon moving to the U.S., she transitioned to teaching Spanish. Throughout her career, she has had the honor of being recognized as Principal Teacher of the Month (SC) and is currently serving as the SHS Teacher of the Year.

“My name is Silvana Ibanez, and I am a teacher originally from Barranquilla, Colombia. I am married to Edgardo Manjarres, and we have two wonderful children, Luna and Samuel, who both attend Swainsboro Elementary School. We also have the sweetest dog, Draco. We moved to Swainsboro in December 2017 and have called it home ever since. I graduated from Universidad del Atlántico in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in foreign Languages. I am fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and I am currently working on improving my German and Italian. I have always had a passion for languages.” stated Ibanez

Her journey into education had an unconventional start. After graduating from high school, Ibanez was not sure what to major in—she just knew she wanted to be an actor. However, her mother was not too keen on that idea and suggested she explore foreign language courses instead, since she loved learning English. This led her to a career in teaching languages, and she discovered she was meant to be a teacher on her very first day of college.

When Mrs. Ibanez first moved to the United States, she began teaching at Colleton County High School in Walterboro, South Carolina. It was her first experience teaching Spanish, as in Colombia she had taught English as a second language. It was also when she earned the title “Señora Ibañez.” After five years in South Carolina, Ibanez relocated to Swainsboro to continue her journey as a Spanish teacher.

“As I mentioned earlier, I did not always know I wanted to be a teacher. However, during high school, I struggled in my English class and was not doing well at all. It was not until my teacher told my dad that I was going to fail that I decided to take matters into my own hands. I began listening to music in English, looking up the lyrics to songs I enjoyed, and translating them. Through this, I developed a love for the language and seized every opportunity to improve. One day, my mother suggested that I learn more languages and consider studying them in college. That was when I decided to make it my mission to ensure that my future students had a better experience learning a foreign language. What sets me apart is that I have been in their shoes—I know what it is like to struggle with learning a new language. Because of that, I am passionate about showing my students that it is possible to succeed, and I want to inspire them to develop a love for languages, for the culture of those who speak it, and the world out there. My chemistry teacher had a unique teaching style. He was not overly warm or affectionate, but you could tell he genuinely cared and valued building relationships with his students. He was funny, sarcastic, and often shared stories from his own life, making both himself and the class feel more relatable. In many ways, I think I resemble him as a teacher.” Ibanez commented.

Mrs. Ibanez loves dancing; in fact, she used to have a dance team back in South Carolina. She also loves baking new recipes, watching T.V. with her family, working out, traveling and singing.

“All I can say is how grateful I am to my school. They have always made me feel welcomed and included. Being selected Teacher of the Year is a reflection of the recognition and support from my coworkers. It means a lot to know that they appreciate the work I do. I truly love my school and the people who have been there every step of the way, helping me grow and become the teacher I am today.” added Ibanez.

Now that you’ve met the teacher and read her story, read her Q/A’s below to further understand Silvana Ibanez’s incredible values of teaching and how she’s changing and inspiring young lives in our community.

What have you found most rewarding in your career?

Ibanez: It is when my students’ faces light up after they finally grasp something I have taught them. It is when I see them after they leave my class, and they can still speak Spanish to me. But most of all, it is the lasting relationships I’ve built with them that mean the most.

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Do you feel that each of your students have left a lasting impression on you?

Ibanez: Each student has taught me something valuable. Every class brings a unique group of individuals, each with their own needs, and it is my job to help shape them in a way that prepares them for the future.

What advice would you like to give to new or upcoming educators?

Ibanez: Don’t get discouraged by the daily challenges; instead, focus on the bigger picture. In the end, what we do has an impact that extends far beyond what we can fully understand.

How does it make you feel to see the success that many of your previous students have become?

Ibanez: I am not exaggerating when I say it sometimes brings me to tears to see the amazing adults they have become. When I see their beautiful families, successful careers, and the exciting lives they are living, I feel incredibly proud. Especially, when they say they used something they learned from me.

If you could tell your past students or future students one thing that you hope will stick with them all throughout life, what would that be?

Ibanez: Just try. You would never know what you missed if you just let fear or laziness get in the way of your future.

What’s a favorite memory or some of your favorite memories that you have from your time as an educator?

Ibanez: The first time I taught Spanish 3 at SHS, we recreated a famous event from Colombia called the Carnaval de Barranquilla. It was incredibly fulfilling to see each student contribute to the project in his or her own way. Some worked backstage, others decorated, made costumes, or created signs. Some learned a dance or a song, while others researched the Carnaval to deepen their understanding and even wrote amazing lyrics in Spanish. Everyone played a part. This all happened just a few days before COVID hit, and we were sent home.