Professor Berta Reis is a name deeply etched in the memories of countless generations of students at Luis de Camoes School. From 1963 to 1989, she played a pivotal role in the transformation of our school, leaving an indelible mark on the Portuguese community in Newark.
Born in Ponta Delgada in 1922, Berta da Costa Reis completed her high school education at Liceu Antero de Quental and pursued her teaching studies at Jardim-Escola João de Deus in Lisbon. In 1948, she received a teaching diploma from the Ministry of National Education, laying the foundation for her illustrious career.
In 1945, Berta married Augusto dos Reis, an officer in the Portuguese Navy, and together, they embarked on a new chapter in their lives, settling in Lisbon. Berta joined the teaching staff in Lisbon in 1949 and dedicated herself to her profession until 1960 when she and her husband made the life-changing decision to relocate to the United States of America.
Just two years after their arrival, Berta Reis was approached by representatives from Luis de Camoes School in Newark, Mr. Anselmo Falorca and Abel Andrade, who offered her a teaching position. Luís de Camões School, sponsored by the Portuguese Sport Club of Newark, had already been serving the community for several years, but it was Berta Reis who brought renewed enthusiasm and expertise to the institution. She eagerly accepted the opportunity, marking her return to the teaching profession on American soil, even if initially on a part-time basis.
Berta Reis wasted no time in revitalizing and modernizing the teaching methodologies at Luis de Camoes School, aligning them with the educational standards of Portugal. In June 1963, she proudly presented a group of students from the school for the second-degree examination, a historic milestone for the New Jersey Portuguese community. The event was graced by esteemed individuals, including Dr. João de Freitas Cruz, the Consul-General of Portugal in New York, Professor Alfredo Rendeiro, and Berta Reis herself, as members of the jury.
Under Berta Reis’s leadership, Luis de Camoes School flourished, both in terms of student enrollment and the quality of education imparted. She skillfully adapted to the educational reforms that followed the April 25, 1974, revolution in Portugal, ensuring her students received a comprehensive education that celebrated the Portuguese language and culture. Berta Reis’s dedication and passion for teaching touched the lives of numerous migrant youth and those of Portuguese descent, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to shape generations. Many of her former students now proudly send their own children to Luis de Camoes School.
Despite the demands of a full-time job, Berta Reis managed to extend her commitment beyond the classroom. She actively contributed to the progress and well-being of the Portuguese community, assuming leadership roles in organizations such as the Portuguese Sport Club and the Luso-American Fraternal Association in Newark. In 1965, she achieved a significant victory for the Portuguese community by being elected vice president of the Parents and Teachers Association of East Side American High School, where a significant portion of the student population hailed from Portuguese backgrounds.
Berta Reis spearheaded the Portuguese community’s participation in the Ethnic Culture Festival held at East Side High School in 1966, a groundbreaking initiative that garnered first prize and became an annual highlight. Today, Portuguese festivals and events have become commonplace in the area, but it was Berta Reis’s pioneering efforts in the 1960s that laid the foundation for their success. Her tireless dedication to education and her numerous contributions.