Category: Staff Profile

Staff Profile / Education

The undying flame of hard work: The business journey of Yesenia Torres  

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Featured Teacher

From orange picking to a Whataburger employee to a business teacher, hard work is a staple of Torres’ life. Her academic journey is one of dedication, novelty seeking, and time management.
Since she was 13 years old Torres picked oranges with her family on Saturdays and Sundays while simultaneously going to school during the week.
“My biggest challenge is that I never had the privilege of only focusing on my academics,” Torres said. “When I was 17, I decided that I didn’t want that for me, that I’m not somebody who wants to work in hard labor.”
Torres holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business administration. Becoming an accountant was her initial goal, and she became a Lone Star National Bank auditor. It was not until one of the state auditors came to audit the bank that Torres realized teaching was a skill of hers.
“It was after I got out of school that I wanted to be a teacher,” Torres said. “I did accounting as an auditor for seven years, and while I was there, someone told me that I’d be good as a teacher. So, I said, ‘Let me give it a shot.’”
Torres was hesitant to apply her accounting skills to teaching because she thought no school offered any business classes other than business information management. Still, to her surprise, some schools provided marketing, management, and accounting positions.
Torres now works as a BIM teacher, practicum of entrepreneurship, and as a dual enrollment business instructor at Jimmy Carter Early College High School. She said her past taught her about hard work and that there is no bad job if it pays the bills, and you give it your 100%.
“I like to say business is one of the best careers you can go into,” Torres said. “It’s so vast. There are endless possibilities.” “Every business out there needs an accountant, a manager, and people who studied business. And if you want to be a teacher, that’s also a possibility for you. Just like me.”

Staff Profile / Education / Profiles / Community / Culture

Thania Robles: The Adventures of Teaching

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Featured Teacher

Thania Robles is a dedicated teacher at JCECHS. She completed her education at Lamar University and UTRGV, and Robles is known for her commitment to her students.
Before stepping into the classroom as an educator, Robles pursued her academic goals with vigor.
“I got my bachelor’s at Lamar University and later on got my masters at UTRGV,” Robles said.
Robles was driven to education by wanting to effect change in her community.
“I saw a need for better educators and education in the RGV, and I wanted to be a part of it,” she said.
Her passion for teaching stems from a lifelong ambition to advance educational standards and positively impact her community.
“Yes, because I wanted to help grow the field of education and help my community,” Robles said.
Despite the rewards, Robles acknowledges the profession’s challenges, particularly in engaging students.
“The apathy from students and to get them to care for their education,” she said, highlighting the motivational hurdles she faces.
Reflecting on her career, Robles has occasionally pondered other professional avenues but remains satisfied with her decision to pursue teaching.
“Sometimes I would think maybe I would be better in a different field, but no, I don’t regret coming into teaching,” she said.

Staff Profile / Education / Profiles / Community / Culture

Passion Ignited: Journeying Through the Joys of Teaching

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Featured Teacher

Written by: MaryJane E. and Janet G.
Since its inception, Felicia Charles has been an integral part of Jimmy Carter Early College High School (JCECHS), teaching dual enrollment biology. Her unexpected journey into teaching began with a simple thought: “Why not?”

Initially, on a path to becoming a pharmacist, Charles was advised by her counselor to enroll in the Secondary Certification Program with the Education Department.

“I landed in this career because of a scholarship I had,” she said. “This scholarship paid for four years of college. When I was in my 3rd year, I already qualified to graduate, but my counselor told me I would give up most of my scholarship.”

Though she planned to take the PCAT exam, Charles fell in love with teaching instead.

“I loved the superintendent’s vision for the school,” she said. “At that time, I didn’t know of any other campus that was an ECHS in the valley, so I was excited to be part of it.”

Charles has grown alongside JCECHS.

“I have been teaching as long as Jimmy Carter ECHS has been open (14 years),” she said. “During that first year of opening our doors to the first graduating class of 2014, we worked diligently to apply to be an Early College High School.”

Her enthusiasm led her to abandon the PCAT.

“Needless to say, I never attempted the PCAT because I loved what I did and didn’t feel the need to explore that initial career goal.”

Despite the challenges of adapting to new environments annually, Charles remains committed to creating a supportive classroom environment.

“What truly makes teaching special for me is the opportunity to connect with my students on a personal level,” she said. “Building these relationships not only enhances their learning journey but also makes my own experience as an educator incredibly enjoyable.”

Her unyielding dedication to her students and her positive personality embody the essence of a great teacher. As we approach Teachers’ Appreciation Week, it’s a fitting time to honor Ms. Charles and all dedicated educators for their unwavering commitment to shaping future generations.

Staff Profile / Education

Her journey to becoming a Criminal Justice Teacher.

Criminal Justice Teacher Marybelle Salinas explains her struggles while aiming to receive her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

She has been fascinated by the background of the Criminal Justice Field, and what motivated her more to join was that she is a woman.

“I guess what motivated me more was just being a female and just trying to break those stereotypes of a male-dominated field and that women too can be successful in the criminal justice field,” said Salinas.

She graduated from Texas State with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement in 2004. Still, the journey to her master’s degree was an overextended challenge until recently.

“I was married, had three children, and had a full-time job, so it was kinda hard to find a balance between my life, my daily life, and finding time for school,” Salinas said.

She has overcome her work and daily life challenges and joined Jimmy Carter ECHS as a special education teacher in 2007.

“I kinda was testing the field here as far as, do I wanna teach or no? and 17 years later, I’m still here,” Salinas said.

Today, Salinas handles multiple teaching preparations, including Reading and Criminal Justice classes.

“Sometimes it’s a nice break from trading from Criminal justice to reading, but it’s been a challenge to juggle and manage both,” said Salinas.

Salinas admits that moving back and forth between her assignments has made her feel like she is stumbling at times, but she admires how students learn information from both courses that they can apply in the real world.

Even though Salinas has struggled with many challenges throughout the years, she has accomplished all her goals and has done a successful job as a Criminal Justice Teacher.

Education / Carter Update / News / Staff Profile

With a new administrative position waiting for her, Mrs. Brown says her goodbyes to students and staff.

Walking out of school while parents walked in for Meet the Teacher Night, mixed sadness and excitement flooded Vanessa Brown as she drove off campus for the last time as a staff member.
After seven years of teaching at Jimmy Carter Early College High School, Brown, formally Mrs. Brown, says her goodbyes to her students and staff.
On Sep. 1, 2023, Brown received a phone call confirming her new position as assistant principal at Palmview High School.
“I’m really excited, and obviously there’s a lot of sadness because this has been my home for 7 years,” Brown said.
Mrs. Brown has had the credentials to be an administrator since 2009, and this is the opportunity to apply her new experience.
“Every year, there has been something different, and I’ve been learning something new and being challenged,” Brown said. “And so, I think that’s why I’ve stayed so long because it kept being a new exciting thing for me every year.”
One of Brown’s favorite things about being a staff member at JCECHS was the campus’ small size and seeing the students grow up in their high school years.

“We get to see our students from the beginning of their time here,” Brown said.
Another thing that stands out to Brown is her co-workers’ qualities.
“You’re working with people who are like the most qualified people, the most experienced people,” Brown said.
Having those relationships with people who are specialists in what they do was a learning experience for Brown.
The moments of leaving the campus were bittersweet for Brown.
“I knew I would be back on campus for events with my daughter, but as a parent and not as a RedWolf,” Brown said.
Mrs. Brown’s last day teaching at Jimmy Carter ECHS was Tuesday, Sep. 5.
“I’m going to miss my students and co-workers, but I’m super excited for what this next challenge is and how I can learn and grow in this experience,” Brown said. “I’m ready, I have the skills to be successful, and this is scary/exciting.”