I am a special education teacher. I am a parent. I am a student. I say I am all of these things because they all flow together. I was a student first, then became a parent and soon a teacher. The relationship each of those has with one another are prominent to my role in the schoolhouse. This is something I do not take for granted.
I teach at Equipo Academy in East Las Vegas NV. My principal had this idea to cultivate a college prep school on the side of town that was deemed by outsiders as “no hope” and “low achievers”. Now five years strong, Equipo has been ranked a five star middle school and four star high school, making us a nine star school. Our students are given the best of the best education, with AP classes at their fingertips, college visits, sport opportunities and student body spirit that runs deep into our bones.
“Now five years strong, Equipo has been ranked a five star middle school and four star high school, making us a nine star school.”
Equipo is the right fit because it’s a school doing things right. Bullying is non existent and our behavior policy allows students to reflect on their actions, then learn and grow from them. Families who pick Equipo – pick a school that is goal oriented in getting their child to and through college.
We have a set of core values that run deep at Equipo. Prior to working here, I hadn’t been employed at a school that stated core values but then stood by them. The core values are: Respect and Humility, Integrity, Passion, Perseverance, Empowerment, and Team Love & Family. With these core values, everyone who is apart of our team leads with these values in their mindsets.
“I love my school because there is a true investment in the mission and success of the entire team.”
I love Equipo because of the commitment every meme we of the school has to education. It doesn’t start with just the teachers, I mean it’s the families, students, donors, custodial staff – literally everyone! Take for instance the pandemic, we have stuck together, communicated and extended our love and resources so no one is forgotten or in a troubling situation. I love our commitment. I love my school because there is a true investment in the mission and success of the entire team.
“ALL families should have the opportunity to receive the best of the best for their children no matter the amount of money they make or their background.”
We still have a huge task when it comes to education. There is a gap in our education system that only allots education to certain individuals based on income and background. However ALL families should have the opportunity to receive the best of the best for their children no matter the amount of money they make or their background. We are shaping these young minds for the future of our world and with that said, everyone needs to be equip to be the best they can be for our future generations. All student should be striving to be the best versions of themselves and the schoolhouse should be one of the biggest influences for that to be a reality. No one is better than the next and deserves better education than the next. We are all important and capable – we need to close the gap.
Each day we are striving for better education opportunities. This cannot be done in one day, however with mindsets directed in one direction, this is more than possible. I want to be able to empower school leaders to take on more stances that lead to an education system of change. I would love to see school-wide assemblies centered around the need for a systematic change in education. If we do not inform our youth, then the generation we are preparing do not know. If possible, having this idea of change become real and embed this into work within the classrooms, because this is relatable to our students and the real world. Charter schools open up that forum for more choices and pathways to explore where education can be taken.
