Lou Catalan

About

I was born in Mexico City and raised in Waukegan, Illinois. My journey through education, first as a student navigating undocumented life, now as a bilingual teacher guiding newcomers, has shaped everything I do. I believe in the transformative power of education, not because I think education fixes everything, but because it at least creates a space to promote critical thinking, foster the building of communities, and provides the occasional life-altering moment of discovery that some people may have otherwise never known.

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My classroom isn’t about memorizing dates or adhering strictly to grammar rules; it’s about sharing stories, examining identity, and finding your voice. ​My teaching philosophy is based around 3 core tenets:

1. History should feel alive.​​

2. Speaking a language other than English should feel empowering.

3. Treat everyone as if they are God in drag.

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Having the opportunity to navigate the American public education system from the age of 5 has been a blessing I have not taken for granted, though not without difficulty. Having a teacher that looked like me would have been immensely helpful growing up, so that's what I'm here to be for students today; to provide representation for all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, or any other bureaucratic manmade gibberish. 

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​I created this site to share my work, connect with people from around the world, and maybe spark some bigger conversations about immigration, equity, and what it means to build a better world.​​ Outside the classroom, you can usually find me playing guitar, spending time with friends and family, reading into the late hours of the night, obsessing over the wording of something no one asked me to write, or walking my dog, Leo.​