Jennifer Sanchez loves school. She always has. She remembers beating a friend in the spelling bee in fifth grade at Jackson-Keller Elementary School and being a part of the inaugural class of PALS at Lee High School. For Sanchez, school is bigger than the campus; it’s family.
“It doesn’t matter how big our District has gotten. It’s kind of like San Antonio. It might be a big city, but you will know someone everywhere. NEISD is a family. I love this District and this community.”
That’s why after Sanchez graduated from Lee in 1990, she went to college, became a teacher, and returned to NEISD as quickly as she could. She didn’t even apply at any other school district. She did her student teaching at Coker Elementary School and has pretty much been there ever since.
“I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to be a part of the teaching community. It’s like being part of this huge crazy family. But I wanted to be like those teachers I had, who gave me confidence—who believed in me.”
Sanchez has taught nearly every grade in elementary school, but kindergarten is her favorite. Kindergarten is the foundation of education and, that’s not lost on Sanchez. She realizes it’s a lot of responsibility, but it also comes with a big payoff.
“It’s a little bit scary, but it’s the best feeling in the world. And the reason why it’s scary is that these parents, especially if it’s first-time kids, they are putting their trust in you. I mean, all parents are putting their trust in their teachers, but they’re letting their kids go into a strange new world, and you feel a huge responsibility to do your very best for the parent. And then, yes, you’re trying to do your very best for the child and the school because you want them to learn everything they have to learn. But first and foremost, I want them to love school because if they don’t love it early, they may not love it later.”
And for kids lucky enough to begin their educational career in Mrs. Sanchez’s kindergarten class, her infectious love for school will rub off. Students return years later to ask her to be their Summa Cum Laude honoree, an honor given to a graduating student’s favorite teacher. And even more special is when they return later to bring their kids to Coker so that Mrs. Sanchez can teach them too. It’s that family and community connection that makes Sanchez love her decision to be a teacher at NEISD.
“I love it. It’s my family. This is my family and the kids and the families that come through and say, ‘You made my mom feel so welcome,’ or ‘You told me I was good at math,’ For me, that is the highest reward. I’ve been here 28 years. Times change a little bit, but this community is just as strong as ever, and I love it.”
Come join NEISD by applying now or registering your child today.
