Red Gold News

NHS Plans Teacher Appreciation Week Luncheon

Guiding Students Through Mathematics: Mr. Hinojosa

Mr. Hinojosa is a Sophomore math teacher who has a passion for educating students and inspiring them to do their best in their education and lifestyle decisions. Mr. Hinojosa has achieved many challenges to get where he is today.
He originally graduated with a Bachelor’s in electrical engineering from UTRGV, Mr. Hinojosa’s journey into teaching wasn’t a predetermined path. However, his desire to help others with his knowledge of mathematics moved him into the realm of education. “It was a natural thing for me to do because I just liked helping people with any math problems.” he stated.
“I always liked to teach people how to do math problems because I always got them right away,” Mr. Hinojosa reminisces; he’s reflecting on the countless hours spent helping peers grasp the intricacies of mathematics since his grade school days. “It was always in me to help people out.”
His teaching began 14 years ago at La Joya High School, where he taught young minds. Fast forward to the present, and Mr. Hinojosa finds himself in his fourth year at Jimmy Carter, relishing the collaborative spirit among colleagues. “What I like about working here in Jimmy Carter is the way the teachers work together,” he beams. “I felt like I was in a team, and that’s one thing that I like.”
But Mr. Hinojosa’s educational journey didn’t stop with his engineering degree. In 2020, he embarked on a new chapter, earning a Masters in mathematics teaching from none other than Harvard University. Reflecting on his time at Harvard, he notes how it broadened his perspective on mathematics education, allowing him to tailor his teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Hinojosa is serving as the sponsor of the Alpha Delta Mathematics Honor Society and when asked about his advice to students, his words resonate with wisdom and encouragement: “Never give up on the things you really want.”
For Mr. Hinojosa, the most rewarding aspect of being a teacher lies in the heartfelt gratitude of his students. “I like when the students just come to me and say thank you for helping them and pushing them to be successful,” he confides.
As he continues to teach mathematical proficiency to his students, Mr. Hinojosa remains a loyal person of support, guiding them toward their goals with unwavering determination and boundless enthusiasm.

Empowering Futures: The Journey of a Dedicated Educator

Brenda Trevino’s commitment and dedication to her job as the school’s Biology and dual enrollment Spanish and Education teacher.
Treviño has embarked on a captivating journey toward becoming a teacher, one marked by an unexpected turn.
“It was definitely an interesting one,” Trevino said. “I had always wanted to be a doctor or nurse, so I have always had a passion for science. When things did not work out for me, I decided to go into education.”
“I remember the positive impact my 9th-grade biology teacher, Mr. Campos, had on me the year that I came from Mexico. He really cared for me and helped me survive my first year in the United States.” Trevino said. Campos inspired her to go into the field of teaching and led her to strive to do the same thing as he did, helping students to succeed academically regardless of the circumstances.
Prior to joining Jimmy Carter, Trevino devoted herself to teaching across various educational levels. For nine years, she worked in 7th and 8th-grade Science at Memorial Middle School, followed by six years teaching 5th-grade Mathematics and self-contained classes. This diverse experience equipped her with a deep understanding of student’s needs at different stages of her academic journey.
“Since I have done all levels, elementary, middle, and high school, I can truly say that I enjoy teaching everywhere I go,” Trevino said.
Trevino’s approach to teaching is a mix of different styles that she tailors to fit her students’ needs. She tries to keep things balanced between leading the class and letting students take the reins.
“As far as my teaching style, I think I am a hybrid-style type of teacher, who offers a balanced approach between teacher and student-centered approaches, allowing for dynamic adjustment of activities to engage students,” Trevino said.
However, she still maintains some strict guidelines, particularly regarding technology use, to maximize instructional time and minimize distractions.
“I know that my students know that I am coming from the right place and that I care about them deeply and want what is best for them.”
For Trevino, the most fulfilling aspect of being a teacher lies in witnessing her students’ growth, both academically and personally; she finds immense joy in observing them overcome challenges.
“I set high expectations for them and push them to meet them until success becomes a habit and they want more of it. They start to believe in themselves and start meeting those expectations that seem so high at the beginning of the year.”
Trevino’s main goals as a teacher extend beyond the classroom, aiming for her students to achieve success in any path they pursue, provided they put in their best effort. She expresses her desire for them to reach their fullest potential, echoing her own journey of resilience and determination and strengthening her motivation as a teacher.
“I stay motivated and inspired in my role as a teacher because of my students. They make teaching interesting and fun. I focus on the positive experiences rather than the challenging ones.”
From her journey from aspiring doctor to dedicated teacher to her commitment to nurturing student success, Trevino’s impact is profound. Looking ahead, her aspirations extend beyond the classroom as she remains steadfast in her mission to inspire students to reach their fullest potential.

Managing Both Coaching and Teaching

Juggling both teaching and coaching is a challenge that not many teachers can say they do; however, educator Juan Guajardo manages both daily. Being a PE coach in the morning, a health teacher in the afternoon, and an athletics coach, Guajardo does it all. 
While coaching wasn’t Guajardo’s first pathway, he has come to love what he does. He started out wanting to become an art teacher but took a position as an assistant teacher. Guajardo now has a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in English. 
“Before I became a coach, I was an English teacher, and then I got the opportunity to be a health and PE coach,” Guajardo said.  “This is where I have been, and I love it. I try to take care of the kids as much as possible.”
Guajardo was inspired to choose teaching as his career path because it provides him with both of his passions: education and sports. Coaching is teaching, and both go hand in hand. 
“This is a good job for me because I get to mentor kids and coach sports that I love,” Guajardo said. “Teaching just came as a bundle.”
Out of Guajardo’s 19 years of teaching, he has taught at Jimmy Carter for 11 of those years. Guajardo mentioned that Jimmy Carter’s environment built strong relationships with both students and fellow teachers. 
“This is where I have been, and I love it. I try to take care of the kids as much as possible,” Guajardo said. 
Being an educator does come with its ups and downs, including talking to students and creating a safe environment. Guajardo mentioned that he tries his best to talk to students at their level to create trust and respect. 
“I think that they respond well, and they all have respect for me,” Guajardo said. 
Other challenges that coaches often face are motivating students and encouraging them to participate. Guajardo wants kids to be able to reach their full potential while always having fun with sports and learning. 
“As a coach, it’s challenging, motivating kids that might not see themselves as really good in a sport and encouraging them to do things,” Guajardo said. 
One of the most rewarding moments for Guajardo was being named teacher of the year two years ago. Guajardo mentioned that PE coaches aren’t typically the kind of educator that gets selected for teacher of the year and that he was very grateful to have received that title. 
“Well, two years ago, I was named teacher of the year, and I was surprised since PE coaches don’t usually get teacher of the year,” Guajardo said. “I had never gotten teacher of the year, so it meant a lot.” 
Educators should always strive to be there for their students and try to help them learn and grow. Guajardo’s advice to fellow teachers is to do their jobs, be themselves, and be patient. 
“Kids are changing, and we have to adjust to their style at times,” Guajardo said.

Diving into the World of Teaching: V. Salinas

Victorio Salinas is a chemistry teacher at Jimmy Carter Early College High School, and as the school year comes to an end, he reflects on his experiences teaching. However, becoming a chemistry teacher was not in his books.
“I have always wanted to become a teacher.” said Salinas, “I became a Chemistry teacher by default; I never wanted to become a chemistry teacher.” Sometimes, life has a funny way of leading us to where we need to be.
Looking back at his early days of teaching, he recalls his transition from CCC (College and Career Center) to JCECHS, he explains, “I moved from CCC to Jimmy Carter because I wanted to teach a class, and the classes I was teaching were filled with great students.” Said Salinas.
Despite the challenges that come with teaching, and asking him why he still teaches, his answer was straightforward, “I enjoy teaching students who like to learn and love gaining insight into their experiences.” Said Salinas.
Being a teacher might seem like a “go-lucky” job, only having to teach and grade papers as many students as I would’ve thought. But that is not always the case; Salinas said, “sometimes I regret becoming a teacher because of the documentation that is required of teachers today.”
“Every time I have that regret, a student shows me why I became a teacher and rejuvenates my passion.” Said Salinas.
Along with that, he expresses his frustration and gratitude as I ask him both his hardest and proudest moments of being a teacher.
“At the end of the year, when the students have checked out, they do not want to work, no matter what strategies we use.” He explains, “But my proudest moment is waiting for my students to graduate, even coming back to the district and teaching,” Salinas said.
For him, teaching isn’t just a job—it’s his passion. Inspired by his students’ potential, he remains committed to shaping futures. With each day’s end, he’s reminded of the heartfelt impact of education and the joy it brings.

With ten years of experience under her belt, Garza teaches Intro to Computing, Graphic Design, and Principles of Audio/Video in both dual-credit and high school courses. She has been working at Jimmy Carter since 2014, when she first started teaching at La Joya, and has come to love her experience as a teacher here. “I find it […]

Embracing Destiny: From Unplanned Paths to Passion

Destiny often leads us down unexpected paths, shaping our lives in ways we never imagined. For Ms. Bagsalud, teaching was not a career she had dreamed of pursuing. Instead, it was destiny that guided her into the profession she now passionately embraces.
“Becoming a teacher was not my dream. However, destiny has its own designs that turn the wheels of life. I decided that being a strong force to help mold the young generation to make this world a better place motivated me to become an educator.”
Ms. Bangsalud serves as an inclusion teacher for grades 9-12, primarily focusing on core area classes. Yet, her true passion lies in collaborating with fellow educators and empowering her students by providing them with the tools they need to thrive as individuals.
“[I] enjoy working with exceptional teachers in equipping the students to become empowered, responsible individuals and great citizens within their worlds.”
In Ms. Bangsalud’s classroom, her teaching style and philosophy can be captured in the following quote: “I accept and allow students to challenge my ideas and hopefully empower them to create a just and democratic world for themselves.”
Teaching is often challenging, particularly when it comes to fostering student engagement in the classroom. But despite these obstacles, Ms. Bangs stands out. How does she do it? Through collaborative efforts with her students, she not only builds their academic skills but also nurtures their confidence.
“My students and I work together to build our skills and confidence as learners. Over the years, I have had the privilege of learning alongside students the value of  justice, resilience, and confidence to take on life challenges.”
Despite the challenges of teaching, there are moments that stand out as precious memories. For Ms. Bangsalud, one moment holds a special place in her heart:
“Making a difference in the lives of young people, modeling values, skills, and ethics they need as they embark on their journey to the workplace and become people that will continue to build a better world.”

Passion Ignited: Journeying Through the Joys of Teaching

As Teachers’ Appreciation Week approaches, Red Gold News is shining spotlights on all of our amazing teachers.
One such teacher is Mrs. Charles, who has been teaching Biology DE since the beginning of Jimmy Carter Early College High School (JCECH).
A job that seemed small at first but ended up being way more than just a casual decision to try it out.
Ms. Charles’s journey to becoming a teacher began with a simple thought: ‘Why not.’ This led her on an exciting path filled with unexpected twists and turns. Join us as we explore how she discovered her passion for teaching and the moments that shaped her decision to pursue this rewarding career.
“I landed in this career because of a scholarship I had,” Ms. Charles said. “This scholarship paid for four years of college. I was a Biology major in college and wanted to ultimately become a Pharmacist. When I was in my 3rd year at school, I already qualified to graduate, but my counselor told me I would be giving up a year and a half of my scholarship. She suggested that I take the Secondary Certification Program with the Education Department. So I  figured, why not.”
Knowing that she needed to take the PCAT to pursue a career as a pharmacist, Ms. Charles made the decision to become a teacher while simultaneously preparing for the exam. “Once I scored high enough, I would apply to pharmacy schools. So, being a teacher, it just kind of happened to me. I completed my teaching courses and my student teaching at Idea and graduated on May 15th, 2010. I took my PPR and Life Science content Teacher exams and passed both on the first try.”
After deciding to pursue teaching, Ms. Charles eagerly applied to four different school districts and eagerly waited for an interview response. Then, one day, she received a call from Mrs. Sepulveda, the first principal at Jimmy Carter Early College High School (JCECH). This phone call marked a turning point in Ms. Charles’s career.
“I applied to jobs and got a call from Mrs. Sepulveda when I was at work to come in for an interview. I left to have my interview, and I remember she showed me my classroom, which is the room I’m currently in today. After the interview, she recommended me for the job, and I was approved by the board. I loved the vision that she had for the school and the whole goal of being an Early College HS. At that time, I didn’t know of any other campus that was an ECHS in the valley, so I was excited to be a part of it.”
Ms. Charles is among some teachers at Carter who started their careers at the first early college in the valley, paving the way for a generation of college-ready students.
“I have been teaching as long as Jimmy Carter ECHS has been open (14 years), but that first year, the school was called College Transition Academy. 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.”
Ms. Charles became so enthusiastic about this new opportunity that she decided not to take her PCAT, as she had fallen in love with JCECH.
“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.”
But, teaching is far from a breeze; with each new generation of students, educators face fresh techniques and obstacles to overcome. Despite the challenges of teaching in different environments every year, Mrs. Charles remains committed to creating a supportive and encouraging environment for her students.
“…what truly makes teaching special for me is the opportunity to connect with my students on a personal level. Building these relationships not only enhances their learning journey but also makes my own experience as an educator incredibly enjoyable.”
However, teaching ultimately has its perks, whether it’s the cherished memories being made along the way or the joy of witnessing students like Jimmy Carter grow throughout the years.
“A memorable moment would probably be when we were recognized as a Blue Ribbon Campus in 2018. To this day, none of the Early College HS in our district has gotten that. In the past eight years, the first-generation requirement has been removed, and our school has taken in all students wanting to join us and become RedWolf. The student body that we had then and that we have now is almost the same. What we offer them is an environment in which to grow and excel.”