ST. GEORGE — A St. George elementary school teacher was surprised by her class of 25 students, waving American flags in congratulations after she passed her citizenship exam, and becoming an American on Feb. 2.
“I am proud to be an American,” Loreta Wisneske, a second-grade teacher at Bloomington Hills Elementary, said during a personal interview alongside principal April Heath.
“This is my home and my family’s home,” she added.
On Feb 3, all the teachers, staff and students wore red, white and blue. Heath said it was the day of the week when they usually wear the school color, green. Wisneske was the only one wearing green that day.
“She had no clue,” said Heath.
Later that day, Wisneske went outside to collect her students for class.
“I opened the back door,” she said. ” I was looking for my students because they were supposed to line up there but they were not there.”
She found her students to the right of the door all holding the small USA flags and waving them. Click here for the patriotic students video.
She thought she would go home and nothing special would happen, but something did happen the day after she got back from Salt Lake City.
“Oh my gosh,” she said with tears appearing in her eyes.
They sang “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood afterward in the classroom and she could not finish, because she got too emotional.
In 2018, Wisneske moved from America Samoa to St. George after exploring the Southern Utah area and finding it beautiful and everyone very friendly.
“I remember,” Wisneske said, “it’s still vivid in my mind, a four-year-old or five-year-old girl waved at us. In California, we don’t see that. We fell in love with this community.”
She lived in America Samoa for more than 20 years after leaving the Philippines to enjoy a better lifestyle.
She is married to her husband from California with two daughters, all American citizens. One daughter is currently attending the Air Force Academy.
Her husband is a fisherman who works on tuna fishing boats in the Pacific Ocean. Other than teaching she enjoys working out, playing tennis and “glamping.” The process of legal immigration is challenging she said, but well worth it.
“The application process is very hard,” she said. “It is nerve-breaking. Very challenging. They have very specific instructions. You have to follow every instruction.”
She explained, as English is her second language, she did not understand a lot of the legal terminology and had to ask for help understanding the instructions. She recieved her employment status in 2019 and started working for the school district.
Even though she said the immigration officer interviews were hard, she said the interviews with the principal were harder. Heath laughed as she knew her teacher was teasing.
Wisnecke did all of her own paperwork and filing, as an attorney would cost her anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.
“I am so grateful to belong to a community that is so patriotic,” she said, “and also teaches the kids to be that.”
The “harder” interviewer, Heath said the school administration is very proud of her.
“Mrs. Wisneske is one that we are very proud to be part of our Bloomington Hills family,” Heath said. “It really is a big deal and we are so proud of her.”
Wisneske gave advice to immigrants who are trying to get into the country by encouraging them to become citizens legally.
“Clear the borders and go to the immigration offices,” she said. “Do it the right way. I know it is hard but it is worth it. The end result is feeling good.”
Wisneske was amazed and full of love when talking about her students and their surprise. She said America is a land of opportunities and she now is on the next level of inspiration to give back to the community by educating “our” kids. She added she loves being part of their personal and academic growth.
“I love to teach and love to teach kids and I see these kids are going to be our future leaders,” she said.
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