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This school year, we’re introducing a different teacher each month. In September’s spotlight is Lindsey Garces, whose students have used MY HERO to research people they admire and make films about them. This month, they are writing essays for Hispanic Heritage Month.
What inspired you to become an educator?
After working as a veterinary technician for 7 years, I was feeling burnt out and unfulfilled. I wanted to do work that felt meaningful and allowed me to make a difference. When I started teaching in the classroom, I could see my students' curiosity grow, and I quickly realized that education was where I wanted to be.
How have you used MY HERO in your classroom?
MY HERO has helped my students explore the qualities that make someone a hero and connect those qualities to people who have made a difference in their lives. In the past, students would choose their own hero and create a film about them using iMovie. This project allowed my students to combine research, creativity, technology, and personal interests while celebrating the people they admire.
What is one memorable moment you have experienced with your students?
One of my most memorable moments was celebrating the completion of my students’ MY HERO films by watching them together, as a class, with popcorn. Some students were shy and quietly smiled while others proudly exclaimed, “That’s me!” but every student clapped for each other, and they continued talking about their movies for weeks afterward. Sharing their films with families through ClassDojo made it even more special when students returned excited to tell me that their families had watched and shared their movies with others.
Who is your personal hero, and why?
My personal hero is my sister-in-law, who is an incredible mother to my two nephews and someone I deeply admire. She is strong, selfless, and devoted to her family, yet she never loses her kindness and compassion for others. She has a beautiful way of making the people around her feel cared for and loved, and I hope to carry those same qualities into my own life.
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