Today we’d like to introduce you to Dinna Bacordo.
Hi Dinna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in the Philippines, and after giving birth to my son, my husband and I decided to move to America so we could provide the life we wanted for our children. After working my way up, the corporate ladder for a Fortune 500 Company in the Philippines, I realized after moving here, that I wanted to work somewhere I was passionate about. I talked with a counselor about wanting to be a teacher hoping that I could be with my son while working and she recommended that I applied to her child’s daycare. So, I did, and their owner of the school hired me as a teacher for a center in Garland. I really took that as an opportunity to learn everything that I could about the field. I switched over to another school where I became the Assistant Director and met my mentor. After that, I took some time away from childcare and worked as a concierge at a prestigious hotel. A few months into that position, I realized that I wasn’t able to be the Mom I wanted to because of the hours and what the job demands. One day when I got a call from someone who knew my mentor who wanted me to be Director of their school So, after much consideration, I decided to come back to childcare and I became Director of a preschool for the first time! From there, my passion for children grew and I slowly became the woman I am today! I now work as the Director of Knowledge Beginnings in Allen, TX and I finally get the opportunity to build my dream team and create the school I have always wanted!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any life story has challenges along the way, I am not the exception to that. When I first moved here, it was hard finding a job because I was so used to my life back in the Philippines. Here, I was in a new place, without my family, and I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was thankful to have my counselor to help guide me once I decided I wanted to become a teacher. Once I started teaching, the hardest part for me was adjusting to the different environment. In the corporate world, I was used to being the big fish and having an organized environment. Then, in childcare, I was mopping, cleaning toilets, and changing diapers. It took me a minute to adjust and humble myself, but I know that God made me go through those challenges so that I could better understand my teachers in the future. I now get to have amazing relationships with my staff because I learned how to be humble and it taught me to have empathy towards them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of the fact that wherever I go, I leave my fellow employees happy. I learned to be a team member and a boss, instead of just coming in as a big boss, and that has allowed me to build life-lasting relationships. This passion that I have for childcare can be seen throughout my entire team. I have truly created a positive work environment and have been able to create my DREAM TEAM!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
My favorite thing about living in Dallas are all the amazing sports teams we have! Especially the Mavericks!!!
