May 15, 2008

Austin High Teacher Named Austin Teacher of the Year for 2008

When Austin High School teacher Eric Cruz flipped the light switch in his classroom this morning, he discovered they worked, despite last night's storms. He entered the room - not just as his students' English teacher - but as the Austin School District's Teacher of the Year for 2008.

His selection was announced last night at AISD's 13th Annual Teacher of the Year Banquet, held in conjunction with the Partners in Education annual Salute event.

Other finalists for the honor were Catherine López, a first grade teacher at J.J. Pickle Elementary School; and Shamaa Lakshmanan, a seventh grade Math teacher at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.

Mr. Cruz's journey to becoming Teacher of the Year began as a high school student himself. In one day, he made a decision to change his life's direction after being told by a guidance counselor that he was not college material. At his mother's urging to believe in himself, he chose to become a "harbinger of possibility, self-improvement, and merit."

A freshman English teacher and coordinator of Austin High's literary magazine, Mr. Cruz believes he has found his niche in teaching and inspiring students to express themselves through writing. "It is one of my goals to lend encouragement and my talents to those who seek to produce powerful voices," he said.

Mr. Cruz joined AISD and has been teaching at Austin High School since 2003. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.