Ms. Lopez, the new dual eighth grade science teacher working alongside Ms. Warrix, is a promising new teacher. She clearly puts effort into her work and is described as caring, helpful, and an “All around good teacher,” by students including 8th grader Ceci McArthur. I had the privilege to chat with her about this new journey, and I’m excited to share it with you all.
What has your education been like? What degrees and certifications do you hold?
I went to Texas A&M International University and I studied biology, so I have a bachelors in biology…I have taken the content exams for life science and science 7-12, so I can teach 7-12.
What is your history in teaching?
I was at Harmony Science Academy in Laredo, Texas for two years. I taught seventh grade, and this is my third year teaching but my first with eighth grade.
What led you to Lively?
I would visit my friends… I’m from Laredo and I would visit them because they recently moved to Austin and they live on South Congress so whenever we would go past the street I would see the school and so I just decided to apply to AISD and this is one of the schools that called me.
What do you like and love about Lively so far?
I like the energy of the kids, it’s a little different from HSA since that was a charter school. I feel like over here they are pushed to be a little more themselves whereas over there they had dress code, they had a specific uniform, they were more strict on a lot of things. Even pep rallies, we had like one a year… I like the opportunities that it offers kids here, like to encourage them to be themselves, the clubs, the sports that are offered here, there’s just a lot more compared to the charter school I was at. I love the diversity, cause over there it was mainly hispanics so I would switch between English and Spanish frequently and over here you see more diversity, vs over there everyone has grown up the same, Laredo is a small town and over here people have more experiences.
What made you decide to be a teacher? Has it always been the plan?
No, originally it was healthcare. That’s why I studied biology, but then I decided not to go to graduate school. I decided to teach, I applied and they hired me there and I really like teaching science so I thought it was something I could continue. Hopefully later on I can become a teacher of the visually impaired, so that’s something I’m looking forward to.
What are your aspirations and goals for inside and outside of Lively?
So hopefully I get certified this year because technically it’s my internship year and with Harmony they didn’t ask for certification as long as you pass your content exams but here with public schools you have to be certified in Texas to be a teacher so hopefully I get that done by the end of the year.
Why do you teach science and why do you want to teach the visually impaired?
I love science. It was my major so I’m really big on biology… I want to work with the visually impaired because I feel like it would be a really rewarding experience.
What are your favorite and least favorite things about being a teacher?
My favorite things would be that it’s different everyday, I’m not in a monotonous routine so it’s constantly changing, everyday is different so work is different… My least favorite would be that it’s challenging to manage your time, with meetings, and grading paper work, and all of those side things besides teaching, so that’s kind of challenging.
If you could take any teachers class at Lively, who would you take and why?
I’d say Ms. Linda Lopez’s environmental science just because I’m interested in science and I wanna see what science she concentrates on and what she teaches.
What do you think makes a teacher good?
I think someone who gets along with the kids and understands their perspectives and what they’re going through or any hardships they might face, I think that’s what makes a good teacher. Someone who’s understanding.
What makes a good student?
I think someone who’s constantly trying, showing up everyday wanting to learn and putting effort into it. Even if they might not understand it, as long as they’re trying, that makes them a good student.
Who are your role models, in teaching and in general?
I’d say my mom is a role model that I look up to, she also works in a school district, she’s not a teacher, but she really likes her job. She’s been there for like twenty something years and I really look up to her. She’s just a kind person in general.
Do you have any secret talents or skills?
I was in chess in highschool so I know how to play chess and I was thinking of starting a chess club… I’d love to see what kinds of kids are interested and if I’d have enough to start a club.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?
I like going to concerts, I know everyone says this but traveling is one of them… just watching TV series, anime series, any movies. Mainly psychological horror movies.
What inspires you? What keeps you going?
I think when it clicks for the kids and they’re like “Oh I get it now”, I feel like that constantly inspires me to keep teaching them, because I really like when they actually understand it and it clicks for them.
