Real Estate 101 Gives New Liberty Students Lifelong Tools Along With Homebuying Savvy
Cynthia Nina-Soto, SHS Class of 1999, mentors six NLIS students to 40-hour state-mandated course
SALEM (Jan. 27, 2026) – The Real Estate 101 course at New Liberty Innovation Academy is not just about simply buying and selling homes.
Instructed by Cynthia Nina-Soto, a Salem High School Class of 1999 graduate and the owner/principal of Nina-Soto Realty, it dives much deeper into the many issues impacting home ownership such as finance and credit, zoning, tenant-landlord rights, and fair housing to name a few.
On Friday, the final day of the first semester, Ms. Nina-Soto presented her students with certificates noting the completion of The Salesperson 40-Hour Primary Education Course (a state-mandated course for aspiring realtors).
“They all came out rising stars,” Ms. Nina-Soto said. “Even if they don’t become real estate agents, they have the knowledge of what it’s like to buy a property and what to expect from a real estate agent.”
The course embodied the District’s 2023-26 Strategic Plan as well as its Portrait of a Graduate, which emphasizes critical thinking, creative problem solving and collaboration, communication, self awareness and cultural competence.
Throughout the 40-hour class, students were tasked with presenting to the class, requiring proper preparation time and appropriate attire.
The ceremony was attended by State Representative Manny Cruz, Salem Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stephen Zrike, and New Liberty Principal Jamaal Camah. Each student in attendance spoke of what they learned from the course, and that real estate would be a career path in some capacity.
Ms. Nina-Soto took the opportunity to announce her firm was hiring an intern for the first time, and that it will be awarded to senior Gilsarid (Sophia) Torres Alvarado, a member of her class.
Other members of the class included seniors Jay (J.T.) Thompson and Brennan Connor, along with Senaiah Lites, Yaniel Pache and Thaddeus Russell, who were unable to attend the ceremony.
The Real Estate 101 course at New Liberty marks the second time Ms. Nina-Soto has brought the course to the District. She offered the course in the Spring semester of 2024 at Salem High School.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.
