Making it happen in education
For Jose Torres, a teaching assistant at W.A. Blair Elementary School, the district’s 2024-2025 theme of Make it Happen has been more of an approach to life. He made it happen as a senior in high school during COVID when he stepped in to teach a chemistry class and is doing it now as he works on his teaching degree.
Torres, who graduated from Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. Early College High School at El Centro College, loves chemistry, and it was through that subject that he learned he also loves teaching. The pandemic led to a teacher shortage during a brief period, and he took on the challenge.
“I love chemistry, and so I took that opportunity to do this,” he said. “But I was just doing it because it was something I felt like I would enjoy.”
After graduating from Lassiter Early College with an associate’s degree in science, Torres tried a variety of jobs in which teaching was a recurring theme.
“I worked with the city of Dallas pools, teaching lifeguard classes,” he said. “I also worked in the medical field as a medical scribe. And then, even when I went to college, during my time in radiation therapy, I was teaching and making YouTube videos for my chemistry class.”
It was during that time in college that he took a step back and asked himself what he really wanted.
“In my last year, I was like, ‘What is something I’m actually passionate about?’ I realized that everything I’ve done in my life revolved around teaching, and so I looked into it,” he said.
Now pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from Dallas College, Torres is one semester away from completing his yearlong teacher residency at W.A. Blair Elementary School. He also has gained experience as a teacher while working for Park in the Woods Recreation Center in Dallas, where he worked with the after-school program, tutoring students with their homework. Sometimes, the students couldn’t read, so he took the time to teach them, he said.
Torres keeps making it happen as he juggles working at Blair and attending class at Eastfield College to finish his degree. He not only has fourth- and fifth-grade classes as a teacher assistant, but also coaches fourth- and fifth-grade soccer for girls and boys.
“Honestly, I help everywhere, wherever they need me,” he said. “In the morning, I start up with fifth-grade math, and after that, I teach fourth-grade Reading and Language Arts.”
On Wednesdays, he drives to Eastfield College to take a four-hour class composed of five courses compressed into one. His busy schedule and commitment to his studies is one of the things he believes allow him to connect with his students.
“The kids know. They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s Wednesday, Mr. Torres. You have class.’ I always tell them I know exactly how they feel coming into class.” he said. “I’m still a student.”
His own background growing up as a Spanish-dominant student in bilingual classes allows him to better understand and connect with his students at Blair Elementary, who were reluctant at first to participate in class, he said.
“The most rewarding part is just seeing [the students] grow, especially my Spanish-speaking students,” he said. “They would talk, of course, especially after seeing a familiar face they’re able to relate to. I also grew up going to bilingual classes when I was in elementary school, and I know that the language barrier can be difficult.”
Torres plans to continue in education—as a teacher in Dallas ISD once he graduates and pursuing a master’s degree in the future. One day, he said, he would like to become a chemistry professor.
Torres knows that being a teacher is a calling and acknowledges that it is not easy, nor should it be, he said. But making a difference for even one student matters greatly.
“It’s worth it in the long run,” he said.
