Today, August 16th, 2022 is the first day of school in the Lake Travis Independent School District and I want to feature three wonderful teachers in the district. With the new report coming out today about the shortage of teachers and why they are leaving the profession in droves, it is important to focus on why teachers chose this profession.
As a Lake Travis community member and studio owner, I feel it is important to give back. Teachers have had a positive impact on my life. When I first came to the US as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975 at age 8, I started 2nd grade without knowing one word in English. The teachers in my ESL class helped me learn the English language quickly. I remember Teachers believing in me throughout my years in school, but Mr. Thieme at Valwood Elementary, in Farmers Branch, Texas made the most impact in my life. He made me feel like I could accomplish anything. He was right because I did. Teachers make a huge impact in the life of our children and they deserve more. They deserve more pay, more respect, more support by the district and community.
In June, I had the community nominate teachers they feel deserve a complimentary family portrait session and gift print with my studio. I want to blog and share their story as to their WHY for becoming a teacher and staying in the profession. A few nominations came in and 3 teachers were able to come into the studio to get their portrait done. I want to share their story.
Kristan Cogan-Sais, a mom with a daughter at Lake Travis Middle School nominated Mr. Jose Gonzalez, a 7th and 8th grade teacher at Lake Travis Middle School. This is what she said about Mr. Gonzalez.
"Mr. G has an incredible energy, love and passion for teaching. He reaches students on a whole different level and excites them about science and learning. He’s made an incredible difference in my daughter’s life 2 years in a row. We’ve been so fortunate to have him."
The universe must have been listening because a few days before I received the nomination in my email, I was at the Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club scholarship award luncheon as a Rotarian and Jose, his wife Raquel and daughter Sophia who was receiving the scholarship from the Rotary were at my table. They are such a lovely family and I learned that both of them are teachers at the Lake Travis Middle School.
Thank you to Jose and Raquel Gonzalez for being a positive influence on the children of Lake Travis. Here is more about them:
5)What are some things that you would like to be available to teachers to make their job easier?
Money, smaller class sizes, and resources would make teaching easier.