Not an exact science

If you want to see Churchill High School’s Silverio Hernandez light up, don’t ask him about himself; ask him about his students.

Hernandez isn’t big on talking about what led him to become a teacher—because, if you ask him, it wasn’t that spectacular. His mom was a teacher. His wife is in education, but he had his sights set on something else.

“My wife recommended that I get my teaching certificate, and my mom also encouraged me to do it,” said Hernandez. “I guess they saw something in me. I liked interacting with the kids. It suited me.”

It certainly does. When you see Hernandez in front of a classroom of students, it’s obvious that’s where he is supposed to be.

He’s engaging.

He’s exciting.

He’s putting it all on the line to connect with his students and help them connect with his lesson.

And he’s been doing it for nearly 20 years.

“It’s almost like I was predetermined to go into it whether I wanted to or not,” said Hernandez.

This summer, he’s teaching chemistry in summer school at LEE High School. He knew help would be needed, especially after the last year everyone had. And he’s glad to be getting the opportunity to help.

“I can’t even express how wonderful it is to see the kids,” said Hernandez. “They were going to need someone in the front of the class that was going to go all-in with them. I knew as soon as I signed up for summer school, I knew I was going to have to go all-in, and it’s been beneficial for all of us.”

Chemistry is one of those classes that is a bit more fun when you can be hands-on and really visualize the science. Of course, it’s also a bit more fun when Hernandez is the one teaching it too.

Silverio Hernandez is showing his students how to get the most out of summer school #theNEISDway