BRIDGEPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Violet Mireles

GRADE: 1

PARENTS: Tabitha Mata and Miguel Mireles

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Reading, “because it helps me learn.”

ACTIVITIES: She likes to play games with her sister, swing, sit down and talk with Madi (her friend from school) and watch TV, but when there are commercials, she likes to go into the other room and exercise like Coach Jones and Coach Colbert taught her.

“Violet is a quiet student, but she is very smart. She is so sweet and goes out of her way to make her classmates and me feel special. She will do things for the good of the class without me having to ask. Her reading has excelled this year. She never gives up on hard words and is always looking for ways to figure them out. She is a hard worker and perseveres through tough work. She is definitely an outstanding student, and I am lucky to have her in my class this year!” – Amanda Serafin, first-grade teacher

BRIDGEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL

Eli and Aaliyah DeHoyos

GRADE: 6

PARENTS: Emilio DeHoyos and Cecilia DeHoyos

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math

ACTIVITIES: Eli enjoys hanging out and playing with Legos. Aaliyah enjoys playing basketball and softball.

“Our sixth-grade teachers were adamant that both Eli and Aaliyah be recognized! Both are outstanding students who are kind and respectful to everyone they meet. We are blessed to have them both here at BMS, so it is only fitting that we recognize them together.” – Principal Travis Whisenant

BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL

Hanna Huya

GRADE: 12

PARENT: Tim Huya

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Anatomy

ACTIVITIES: Band, National Honor Society, FFA, ballet at Wise Ballet and Music Academy

“Hanna is a student that exhibits kindness and compassion in all she does. She is a good friend and role model to other students. She works hard in her classes at school and will graduate as a top student in her senior class. After high school, Hanna plans on attending the University of Texas at Tyler. She plans on becoming a nurse. I have no doubt that Hanna will make an incredible nurse and will show kindness and compassion to all that come in contact with her. She is an exceptional student, and I expect great things will happen for Hanna in college.” – Principal Jaime Sturdivant

EDUCATOR SPOTLIGHT

Cindy Berry

Bridgeport High School

POSITION: Journalism, Yearbook, PALS, UIL Coordinator

FAMILY: Husband Joe Berry, daughter Bailey, son Marshall and family (wife Monica and sons Ezra and Leo)

EXPERIENCE: “This is my 27th year teaching.”

HOBBIES/ACTIVITIES: “When I’m not working late with students on a yearbook deadline, or at a Saturday UIL academic meet somewhere in North Texas, I’m probably baking a birthday or wedding cake.”

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE EDUCATION AS A PROFESSION?

“Oddly enough, it was not my first choice. My grandfather was my teacher and principal, and even after all those years in his math and social studies classrooms, I never even thought about teaching. Fast forward to college graduation where I couldn’t find a job in PR, so I took a left turn and went to air traffic controller school in Oklahoma City. Then I made a U-turn, so after moving home from Oklahoma City on a Saturday, I re-enrolled Monday in Tarleton’s TMATE program to become a teacher, and here I am. After 27 years, I couldn’t imagine doing it any differently.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

“This is difficult to answer because there’s just not enough time to adequately explain what I like about teaching. To sum it up, I can’t think of a more rewarding profession. What I teach every day are the things that I loved taking in high school and college: yearbook, UIL, journalism. To see my students develop a passion for my passion is what it’s all about. But to see them go beyond high school and become successful at whatever they choose, and to come back and share those experiences is most rewarding.”