LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Alex Meyer,

(Laredo, Texas)-The Region One Education Service Center recently announced that United South High School 10th grade World History teacher and department chair Andrea Joy Garza won the 2018 Region One District Secondary Teacher of the Year award. As a winner, Ms. Garza will represent Region One at the Texas Teacher of the Year state level competition scheduled for September 14, 2017 in Austin Texas. 

Ms. Garza was flattered by the recognition, saying that it has always been her mission to improve life for students through education. Garza’s instruction goes well beyond fact and date memorization. She also incorporates interactive notebooks, book study assignments, document based essay writing, and current event analysis to teach her students. Her goal has always been to transcend the obvious objective of passing a state test; “I am relentless about creating culturally relevant lessons that engage and empower my students to think globally while applying concepts to their local community. I am passionate about cultivating lessons with rigor, relevance, consistency, creativity, global perspective, and civic competency. My ultimate goal is to evaluate the human experience while gaining the insights and critical thinking skills to make our community, nation, and world more fair and free” said Garza.

     As a Region One District Teacher of the Year nominee, Ms. Garza received a commemorative Gold Apple Bell and a Star Polisher Award, which is a statue of four children, each holding up a star. She also received a personalized Teacher of the Year ring from Jostens, the class ring company. Finally, It should be noted that in May 2017 Ms. Garza garnered the title of 2016-2017 District-Wide Secondary Teacher of the Year at UISD. The Board of Trustees, Superintendent Roberto J. Santos and United South High School Principal Adriana Ramirez Congratulate Ms. Garza, and wish her the best at the upcoming state level contest.