By Virginia Myers
Ezekiel Moreno was a self-described “poor inner-city kid” from Northside Houston, a first generation Mexican American who attended low-performing schools and grew up in low-income Latino neighborhoods. Now, he’s a Cornell University graduate with a successful career in the military, who is also an active father of four. How did it happen? Moreno says teachers played a big role by offering him opportunities he sometimes didn’t even know were there.
It started when he was a high school freshman and found out about an honors program at his school. Offended that he was not invited to participate, he remembers thinking, “Why am I not part of this program?” When he asked the school counselor about it, she told him he wasn’t performing well enough — but if he made straight A’s for the rest of the school year, he could enroll.
That was all Moreno needed: He made all A’s, enrolled in honors classes and met three teachers in the program who opened all sorts of doors for him. They raved about their own college experiences, planting a seed for Moreno to consider college for himself. One of them asked students to write down three life goals, which helped Moreno set a path for himself: Graduate from high school, go to college and be happy.
Teachers played a big role by offering him opportunities he sometimes didn’t even know were there.
He still “had no idea what college was,” says Moreno. But another teacher, a Cornell alumnus, started a program for high school students to attend her alma mater for the summer. As soon as he was old enough — a high school junior — Moreno applied for the program and was accepted. Another teacher helped him and nine other students raise money so they could afford to go. When he graduated from high school (check that goal off the list!), he got a full scholarship to Cornell — which he attributes in part to his summer experience.
“All these opportunities presented themselves not because I knew what I was doing but because I showed a little bit of interest, and I had teachers who said, ‘Hey, come here, you are capable, let me give you the opportunity.” Or, ‘You know what, you haven’t performed to standard yet, but let’s see what you can do, let’s guide you.’”
One teacher in particular, Mrs. Kravitz, was “phenomenal,” says Moreno. She came to school on Saturdays to be sure the students got all the material she felt they needed — even when she was eight months pregnant. And Lisa Newton, the teacher who organized the summer at Cornell, worked for hours outside of class to create the connections that made it possible for students to experience a real college campus for themselves.
For all the kids, teachers were there constantly; they were putting in the effort.
As the father of four, Moreno sees a similar dedication in his own children’s teachers. When one was being disruptive in the third grade, teachers saw it was not because he was “a bad kid,” but because the work was too easy for him, and they gave him more challenging work. Another child’s academic struggles have been addressed with consistent attention from teachers who have provided the special education programming he needs. “They’ve done wonders for him as a person,” says Moreno.
Moreno and his wife have a blended family that includes two adopted children. Before the adoptions, they fostered children, and he says the schools were “incredibly” supportive. “Teachers and staff were always seeking to help in any way possible to make sure that the kids entrusted to our care had a smooth transition.”
Looking back at his children’s experiences, Moreno says, “For all the kids, teachers were there constantly; they were putting in the effort. There was no doubt in my mind that if I sent a teacher an email, they would find a way to engage, across the board, from the second-grader all the way to the 10th- grader. They were always available in some fashion.”
Moreno also sees that same dedication in his wife, Melody, who is becoming a certified middle school art teacher. She started a Yarn Craft Club with her students to help them outside of class. “She is not unique,” says Moreno. “For every Melody out there, there are thousands doing the same and making a difference in their little corner of the world.
“Their dedication and effort may seem at times unrecognized and underappreciated, but for those whose lives they touch in myriad ways, their impact is never ending.”
Republished with permission from AFT Voices.
The AFT was formed by teachers more than 100 years ago and is now a 1.8 million-member union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are... See More
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