teacher makes classroom feel like home.
In room E-23 at Southwest High School, a floral scent wafts through the air, a globe of the earth hangs from the center of the ceiling surrounded by the flags of different countries of the world, and photos of past graduates decorate the wall.
Cindy Garcia has taught history for the past three years at Southwest out of her 16-year teaching career. Garcia’s personality has made her an essential part of the Southwest staff to both her students and her coworkers.
Nick Santana, the social science department chair, said that throughout the whole history department only two of the 10 current members are women.
“She offers sanity to a group of men,” Santana said. He said that she is willing to go the extra mile, such as if it’s someone’s birthday or wedding anniversary, Garcia makes sure he or she feels included.
Garcia said she likes to work at Southwest not only because of the students but also her co-workers because, since they’re at work most of the time, they develop friendships and a family bond.
“Southwest is like a second home for me,” Garcia said. Her teaching style is different from others. She said she doesn’t like to spoon feed her students. She likes to keep it interesting and incorporate a little bit of everything because she knows that history is not everyone’s favorite subject.
Past and current students come to visit her for being a great teacher because not only did she teach them, she was there for the students whether it was school-related, a personal problem, or just needed someone to talk to for advice.
“She provides a comfortable space and atmosphere,” said Robert Mendez, a 16-year-old junior.
He also said he likes how she communicates with students and how she pays attention to detail. Robert said he likes the environment because she goes out of her way to make the students feel at home. Many other students say that they can relate to her because when she is not teaching, she gives advice and is there not only as a teacher but also as a friend. For junior Arlett Torregrosa, 16, the relationship between teacher and student is important.
“She doesn’t make us do something that we’re not comfortable doing such as reading out loud,” said Arlett.
Southwest junior Mitsy Matzuo, 16, also said she feels Garcia’s teaching approach is beneficial.
“She doesn’t lecture the whole time and lets us figure it out on our own, then she helps us, which I believe teaches us to be focused, actually do our work, and teaches us responsibility,” Mitsy said.
She said she liked a specific project they did, the president project, where they would pick any four former presidents and write about why they became president and what they did to help the country.
Many students agreed that Garcia’s teaching style is very specific, to the point, organized, and involves a lot of teamwork, which they enjoy.
“The President project was a group assignment which we collaborated and worked together,” said Mitsy.
Garcia’s students genuinely like and respect her as a teacher. Not only do the students appreciate her teaching style but also her consideration and empathy.