At Jimmy Carter Early College, Brenda Ochoa is an English teacher helping students find their voices, both in writing and in life. She says her favorite part of teaching English Language Arts is “getting to see students grow not just as writers, but as thinkers.”
She loves when class discussions go beyond the page.
“I love the conversations we have in class, the moments when something in a story connects to real life,” she said.
One of her favorite memories at Jimmy Carter is watching students perform in UIL competitions. She especially remembers the year they competed in One Act and in Prose and Poetry.
“Seeing my students take risks, support each other, and step into their voice reminds me why I teach,” she said. “Those are the moments that stay with you.”
Teaching isn’t always easy, though. She said that one of the hardest parts is balancing high expectations with compassion.
“I overcome it by remembering that students are a whole person first, each with a story, strengths, and struggles,” she explained. “When I teach from that mindset everything else falls into place.”
“ My students inspire me every single day. Their resilience, their humor, their creativity, they remind me to stay curious and to keep learning.” she said.
Something most people don’t know about her is that she has written a book.
“I hope to self-publish it some day,” she said. “Writing has always been my way of making meaning out of life.”
She also talked about how much the Jimmy Carter Early College community has meant to her.
“This community has reminded me what education can be when relationships come first,” she said.” It’s helped me reconnect with the heart of teaching, seeing students as a whole complicated and extraordinary people.”
When she thinks about what moments mean the most to her she says they’re usually quiet ones.
” It’s when a student tells me they finally see themselves as a writer, or when something we read helps them understand a part of themselves,” she said. “Those are the moments that remind me why I love this work.”
