Written By: Samantha Reed, Staff Writer
TEACHERS: The people who make the biggest difference and impact on a student’s education.
Teachers are the foundation of the world. They provide the education younger generations need to enter society. Without teachers, future generations would never learn basic skills, life lessons, and absorb the knowledge they need to continue onto college and beyond.
Riverside Polytechnic High School is lucky enough to have several amazing teachers that are dedicated to helping their students succeed day in and day out. These people make countless sacrifices to make sure their students can achieve their ultimate potential.
The teacher who has received the most votes for February’s Teacher of the Month is Sra. Garcia. Sra. Garcia has taught for a total of twenty-four years and counting. She is one of Poly’s Spanish teachers and oversees the National Honors Society club (NHS) on campus alongside Madame Kund. But the real question is, how well do you know our Teacher of the Month? Let’s find out!
Let’s discuss some of Sra. Garcia’s favorite things. Sra. Garcia’s favorite color is purple. Her favorite food is anything Mexican. Lastly, her favorite activity is sleeping, which is something we all have in common.
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s go a bit further. During our conversation, she shared with me one of her hidden talents. This hidden talent was that she can dance! To be specific, she is very familiar with Hawaiian and Tahitian dances. If you do not know, Hawaiian dance is centered on slow and fluid movement of hips and hands that work together to tell a story or convey certain emotions.
Tahitian dance also focuses on telling a story but requires rapid and rhythmic motion and movement of the hips and is more energetic.
When asking her how and why she became a teacher, she shared that “teaching has always been [her] call” and that “[she] always knew [she] wanted to be a teacher.” Even when asked what accomplishment fills her with the most pride so far this year, she answered that she is “extremely proud of [her] 5th period” because “[they] have a unique bond as teacher and class.” She also shared that “in Spanish Literature class, 95% of [her] students have had an “A” this school year” and that “they are exceptional.” Sra. Garcia demonstrates positive and loving qualities that make her special and different from other teachers on campus. Her actions and answers reflect how passionate she is towards her job and the subject she teaches. It is evident teaching is more than her job; it is truly something she loves.
This leads me to my last point. We may all know why she was chosen as February’s Teacher of the Month, but we do not know why she thinks she was chosen. According to Sra. Garcia, she believes she was chosen because “students see [her] genuine desire to help anyone outside and inside the classroom.” While this is true, we all know she has gone above and beyond for her students and has rightfully earned the position of Teacher of the Month. Sra. Garcia does not only exhibit qualities and interests that make her cool and unique, but her love and enthusiasm she displays towards her students in and out of the classroom are unmatched.
Now that the month of February has come to an end, the title of Teacher of the Month is once again up for grabs. Each teacher has their own unique style and hobbies, and it is interesting to learn more about the people who make Poly successful. With so many incredible options, it’s easy to wonder: who will it be next?