Brownwood ISD’s Rising Star Teacher for Woodland Heights Elementary during the 2024-25 school year, Katie Cervantes will step into the classroom for her fifth year as an educator in August.

“My first year was in Copperas Cove as a kindergarten teacher and since then I have taught second and third at Northwest and second grade at Woodland,” Cervantes said. “I’ll be teaching second grade at Woodland Heights again this upcoming school year.”

The reason Cervantes chose teaching as a career was, “to create one more safe space for students,” she said. “A place where they can love learning and have fun. A place where they discover their abilities, their friends, and have another adult they know rooting for them.”

Cervantes is most passionate about teaching children to read.

“I chose reading because I want the students to have the love of reading that was gifted to me,” she said. “I remember reading chapter books as a class and how I discovered passions I didn’t know existed. As I got older, I realized the importance of self-educating through reading and research. So, with teaching students to read and comprehend their reading I know that I am helping them discover their passions and teaching them to continue to self-educate.”

Reflecting on her days as a student, several educators left a lasting impression on Cervantes.

“There were so many, but two of my biggest influences were Larry Henderson and Garry Eoff,” Cervantes said. “I was so shy when I was younger and these two took the time to see students for who they were, not just where they needed us to be academically. Half the time, I didn’t realize I was learning because they mastered the art of making learning fun. They were like the adult friend in our little lives. They were the types of teachers that when you grow up, you still want them to be proud of you. Almost like second parents.”

Cervantes attended school in Brownwood until the eighth grade when her family moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is where she graduated high school. She later attended Texas A&M and earned her Bachelor’s degree.

Regarding the most rewarding aspects of teaching, Cervantes said, “The relationships that students and I build, not only with each other, but with other peers. My classes truly become families for that short year and then continue to be close for years to come. My co-workers become my family. The parents of students become my family. The school environment bonds you with one another and having a special place in someone’s heart is rewarding enough.”

Looking down the road at her career in education, Cervantes said, “The future of teaching for me is exciting because I get to continue to have these littles walk in my class and have another great year of learning to love reading and each other.”

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BrownwoodNews.com will highlight one Brown County educator per day in the month of July, based on nominations received on our Facebook page, for our Teacher Feature series.