001[Music] Part of my visit today is really also to recognize in Arlington public schools each year we select one teacher of the year and it is one of your teachers, Miss Katherine Garcia Arer. Please come on up. As Dr. Duran started to speak, I turned around and I just I almost blanked out. My whole thing was what is happening? It was first big surprise. Um it's very humbling um to know that I was selected. I never thought that this was going to happen. So, I'm very like it's very humbling and it's it feels like a great honor and it's something that I will remember for the rest of my life. [Music] Your colleagues shared and many of their colleagues are here that you are the cornerstone of this community that you foster strong relationship building
002with everyone here. You possess that combination of a strong teacher but yet also care, flexibility and concern. You're the kind of teacher this colleague wants to be by one day. And a ninth grade student wrote about you that Miss Garcia Honor makes everyone feel so welcome. She helps every one of us no matter where we're from. And we're very, very proud of you. Let's give her another big round of applause. You are the reason that we come to our jobs is we come here for you. And I see myself in each of you. I know what it's like to learn a second language. I know what it's like to work two to three jobs. I know what it's like to be a provider for your families. Do not let those challenges define you. I want
003you to know that I see each of you and I believe in you. I like to make sure that students know that they are welcomed first. Um, not just students that speak Spanish, any student. I like to highlight and celebrate who they are, their home language, because having them just makes my classroom and my it makes me a better teacher. It makes me a better person. So I make sure that they feel welcome and everything that I do that I plan is around them and I hope that they become positive contributors of our society and that they can say with pride that they graduated from Arlington Community High School. She came into my class unexpectedly. I didn't know I was getting a co-teer and she had never taught high school English, but she jumped right
004in um as my English language support teacher and was just it was it made all the difference in the world having her there. She could teach with empathy and sympathy. However, she also is very rigorous and holds very high standards for our students knowing that they can achieve and she's also a mirror for them to see all things are possible with hard work, dedication and focus. Ultimately, they all end with the same sentiment like, "Thank you. Thank you for helping me reach my max capacity and helping me and supporting me throughout the way." She enhances all the lessons in the classroom. Um, I teach English and then she would be in there just creating games to help the kids learn English. Um, and just supporting in any way she could, test prep, etc. It is
005the best decision I made coming to work in this county. There's so many opportunities. Um there are moments where people get recognized big and small. This being one of the bigs right now. Um but having the opportunity to to work in such a diverse area with so many different supervisors with so many support systems. Um anybody that works here is fortunate to be here. And you'll see because there's so many people that work and stay in Arlington public schools and I'm one of them. You're going to Disney World? I want to.