Imperial shows appreciation for its teachers
IMPERIAL — As Joshua Lopez, keynote speaker for this year’s Welcome Back Teachers Luncheon event, stood on stage, he asked each of the 115 Imperial Unified School District teachers in attendance to think about why they had chosen to become a teacher.
Their reasons, Lopez explained during the event held Tuesday, would help them overcome any of the difficult situations they’ll most certainly face throughout the upcoming school year.
“Don’t forget why we’re in this profession to begin with,” Lopez, who is dean of students at Sam Web High School in Holtville, said. “Just because we got the job doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. We cranked it up, now we’re here and now we gotta continue that fire because life is going to hit us.”
The rest of Lopez’s written speech, which was entitled “Full Steam Ahead,” detailed how much of an impact teachers had on him growing up as a foster youth.
“Without knowing, you’re making a great impact on lives,” he said. “That’s why I called it “Full Steam Ahead,” because sometimes we forget why we did it, and I’m telling you right now I’m here because of people like you — because when I was in foster care and I saw families getting adopted, there are those teachers who took a chance on me, and I thank you guys. It’s hard — grading, dealing with kids, 20 students every 45 minutes — I get it, but don’t forget why we’re in this profession. When we’re good with ourselves, our product that we teach is going to be great, too.”
Lopez’s speech resonated with a majority of teachers in attendance during the ninth annual luncheon event, which was held at Frank Wright Middle School and hosted by the Imperial Chamber of Commerce.
The event was created with the idea of giving all IUSD teachers a chance to gather together, enjoy a meal and catch up with their colleagues, whom they might not have seen throughout summer break before the start of a new school year.
A number of local businesses and organizations who are chamber members also had informational booths set up during the event.
Susan Paradis, the chamber’s executive director, said that this year the luncheon had the most participation from its members and the most attendance from teachers that it’s ever had.
“The feedback I get from the teachers has always been just appreciative and happy,” Paradise said. “They love it. You can see they’re happy. They get together, they get to visit and mingle, and it’s just a good way to start the new year.”
To begin the event, Imperial City Councilwoman Betty Sampson led all those in attendance in a flag salute and prayer.
“Lord, I know it’s a thankless job, and sometimes it’s a hard task as well,” Sampson prayed, “so please give them the tools they need to continue to do the things that they do for Imperial Unified School District.”
The event continued with a Welcome Back speech from Imperial Chief of Police Leonard Barra, followed by lunch and Lopez’s keynote speech.
The event concluded with a prize drawing for items such as school supply gift baskets and gift cards.
“It is just such a small, small token of appreciation,” Paradis said. “I just want them to feel acknowledged and appreciated and that we’re paying attention. It is a thankless job a lot of times. They get oversized classrooms and bratty kids and they give so much of their own time as well as their money. It’s tough to be a teacher, and I just want them to know we appreciate them.”