Member Profile: Ruby Encarnacion, Volusia United Educators

This past summer was a long one for Ruby Encarnacion. The Volusia County School District cut programs to offset a decline in revenue from the state—money that was diverted to unaccountable, corporate school vouchers instead of neighborhood public schools.When Encarnacion found out the program she was teaching in was on the chopping block, she was devastated.  “I was ready to give up,” Encarnacion said, “but Volusia United Educators (VUE) helped to restore my love of teaching.”  

Encarnacion’s career in Volusia County Public schools began nearly a decade ago as a substitute teacher. With a background in social services, she began substitute teaching to work directly with children. She liked it so much, she would use her paid time off to spend the day as a substitute. This led to a full-time substituting job where her students did such a good job on the state tests, her administration wanted to hire her as a full-time teacher. Immediately, Encarnacion began taking the steps to make teaching her new career.  

Since Encarnacion’s college degrees are not in education, her first task was to get certified. In the process of earning her teaching certification, Encarnacion was diagnosed with dyscalculia, a learning disability that resulted from a traumatic brain injury and causes processing delays related to math. On top of her learning disability, she also was dealing with a lack of clarity and guidance from her school district and state on the certification process. That is when Encarnacion turned to her union who made sure she had the information she needed to earn her certification. “I’m super thankful, among other things, for my union because they were a support system to say ‘don’t forget to do this step, this step…’ the support was unbelievable,” Encarnacion said.  

Encarnacion earned her certification and continued to teach at Pine Ridge High School. There were days she still felt belittled and disvalued by her administration because of her multiple disabilities, but “VUE was a listening ear” and helped to resolve conflicts and helped Encarnacion to understand her rights.  With VUE’s help she was able to remain focused on student success. She relied on her extensive background in social services to make sure her students were supported not only academically but socially and emotionally. To help her students deal with the pressures of adolescence, Encarnacion would provide a safe space along with tools and strategies to help them cope with life events. Little did she know, soon she would be the one coping with an unexpected life event.   

At the end of the 2023-24 school year, Encarnacion received notification that the program at her high school was being cut.   

“My world shifted just like that and my faith, and VUE kept me grounded,” she said. She was informed that she was being “displaced”, and that she would be “reappointed” and would continue to have a job. For her reappointment, she was offered a job in ESE math facilitation—a job that would be nearly impossible for her to do effectively since he has dyscalculia. This job offer came as a harsh blow and she even wondered “God, do you want me to stop teaching?” Fortunately, she knew was not alone and that VUE would be right by her side to make sure she would be reappointed to an appropriate position. She remembers the words of VUE President Elizabeth Albert who reassured her—“we are not giving up.”   

Summer drew to a close, and classes were in session. However, Encarnacion was still uncertain whether she would remain employed with VCPS. VUE never left her side and encouraged her not to give up on her passion and love for teaching. VUE advocated for solutions every step of the way and helped Encarnacion express that her disabilities have nothing to do with her ability to teach and work professionally. “I may be a bit rough around the edges and require certain accommodations under ADA, but I just want my employer to know I put heart into my work and I value my employment at VCPS.”  

A few weeks into the 2024-25 school year Encarnacion then received a reappointment to Southwestern Middle School and has reignited her passion for teaching and love for helping students succeed. ” I believe God smiled at me when I learned part of my job function as an In School Suspension/ PASS Coordinator is to provide Social Emotional Learning (SEL) support to my new SMS kiddos.”   

Encarnacion wants to give back to her union that has helped her so much. She recently attended her first VUE stewards’ meeting and is training to be a union steward at her school. Her desire is to help other teachers like her who have disabilities. She summed up her goal like this: “The thing I want to focus on as I serve in the union is to make sure that all disabled employees know their rights. If there is a person working with a disability in Volusia County Public Schools, come talk to me.”