“I saw that we needed help, and I just want to be part of something greater.”
David Garza is special.
He smiled ear to ear when asked to talk about his experience volunteering at Larkspur Elementary School.
“It’s awesome for me every day. It’s fun. Part of the fun of it is just getting to learn. I am learning with the kids.”
Garza’s son is a kindergartner at Larkspur.
When he realized the schools needed volunteers-- he stepped up.
At first, it was just helping students during lunchtime or watching them on the playground so that teachers could work on lessons. But Garza wanted more.
“I was hooked. I mean, once I did it one time, it was amazing. And just the feel, you know, like you’re part of something, you know, so. And yeah, it just took one time volunteering, and it was great. So, throwing the footballs out there with the kids or just hearing what they’re going through and then to go back the next day and the next day and the next day, I just got better and better at it, you know, I was looking forward to it.”
Those volunteer hours sparked something inside Garza.
He realized he actually has a passion for students and education.
Since he has a degree in business, he applied to be a substitute teacher for the District.
He says the hiring process was quick and motivating.
He spends a lot of his days now subbing in Pre-k classes at Larkspur.
But now when he’s not at Larkspur, he’s working on his teaching certification to become an NEISD teacher full-time.
“I just wish I had done all this sooner. I wish I could go back and go straight education because right now, I’m learning a lot of things on the job, and I love it. There’s something special here at Larkspur that, you know, it’s just contagious. I get to be a part of something bigger, and I think there are a lot of other parents and community members who can contribute in ways they don’t even know and actually get a lot out of it. On top of all that, my son thinks it’s pretty cool too.”
If you want to volunteer, check with your child’s campus or click here to apply to become an NEISD substitute.
