Colombian Teacher Is Making a Difference in Texas – and Teared Up After Student Said He 'Wanted to Be Like Me'

• Colombian Kevin Mora teaches Spanish and social studies in Texas as part of the InternationalTeach Alliance exchange program
• He received the 2023 Linguistic Teacher-in-Charge award for all SAISD high schools.
• “I still have a lot to give to the kids here,” Mora tells PEOPLE

In 2020, Kevin Mora, a teacher from Colombia, visited a relative in Virginia, marking his first trip to America. During his time abroad, he met a fellow educator who suggested that he consider applying to teach in the United States.

“And I said, ‘Well, that sounds interesting,’” Mora, 24, tells PEOPLE.

Mora then began to consider his options, which led him to InternationalTeach Alliance, a teacher exchange program based in the U.S. Already in his second year, Mora now teaches Spanish and social studies to 6th and 7th graders at Eloise Japhet Academy in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to earning praise from his students, Mora was recognized by the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) for his work, a major accomplishment for someone who had to adjust to life in a new country on his own.

“I don’t have any family here in Texas or anything,” he says. “Lifestyles are different, so it was kind of scary at first. I wasn’t really sure I was going to make it.”

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Before coming to the United States, Mora spent two years teaching in Colombia, a requirement for participation in the International TeachAlliance program.

“I studied in a village school [in Santana] where there were no computers, there was no internet,” he says. “I bought notebooks for my students and so on. It wasn’t hard, but compared to how it is here [in the U.S., it’s] quite a big difference. Since it was rural, some of the [the students] went to school in work boots.”

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It was a culture shock for Mora when he first arrived in San Antonio in 2022. One adjustment he had to make was driving a car to get around. The second was city food.

“San Antonio is heavily influenced by Mexican culture. I’m from Colombia and the food there is very different,” he says. “I can’t find Colombian food here in San Antonio.”

Kevin Mora (L) with a student at Japhet Academy in San Antonio.

Images courtesy of San Antonio ISD

At his new school, Mora says students have more tools and access to resources than his Colombian students — but the biggest difference he’s noticed has to do with the way kids think about education.

“In Colombia, children go to school and see it as an opportunity,” he says. “But here, [American kids] seeing it as something some of them don’t like or want. That was a big contrast.”

Kevin Mora (L) with students.

Images courtesy of San Antonio ISD

Mora says she is constantly looking for new ways to engage her students.

For example, when his students learn about history, he says he tells them what happened “as if I was there.”

“It’s like I’m Abraham Lincoln, I tell them what happened in my life and stuff like that. And they like it because it’s new for them, it’s not just reading or watching a video or doing something, it’s hearing something firsthand “, he explains.

“As for Spanish, I always include cultural things in my Spanish lessons,” he continues. “That’s what it’s about. It’s not just for them to learn the language, but also for them to learn the social part of the language.”

Kevin Mora and students at classes at Japhet Academy.

Images courtesy of San Antonio ISD

In 2023, Mora was awarded the Linguistically Sensitive Teacher Award for all SAISD high schools. He says the award makes it clear that he “gives his all to the children” and gives the impact he has always dreamed of as a teacher.

And he’s not the only one who thinks so.

“Although everything was new to him (the United States school system, teaching strategies, classroom management, and curriculum), Kevin rose to the challenge and created a safe and engaging classroom environment where his students thrive,” Esmeralda Alday, SAISD Bilingual and Bilingual CEO, tells PEOPLE. “His accomplishments during his first year and his continued work on professional development demonstrate that he is committed to providing a quality education to our students.”

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Mora also received praise from his Japhet Academy students, including Alexandre Torres, a 7th grader from Venezuela.

“He explains step by step what we need to do in class and helps us a lot with that topic, so we don’t have to make mistakes on the exam,” says Alexandre. “There is more trust because as Latin Americans we understand each other how we speak and how to express ourselves.”

“I think he’s one of those cool teachers,” adds Melanie Cano, a 6th grader from San Antonio. “MR. Mora is so relaxed. He’s not all tense. He likes to have fun and joke with us.”

Melanie notes that they “love” when she teaches them about where she’s from. “I learned so much about Colombia when I was with him,” says the 6th grader.

Kevin Mora in class.

Images courtesy of San Antonio ISD

Mora has one more year to teach as part of the International TeachAlliance program, though he says the district may extend his tenure for two more years.

“I think I still have a lot to give to the children here,” he says.

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Seeing a part of himself in his American students is what motivates him to teach, Mora says: “All my students are multilingual, but some of them are newcomers to this country.”

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“A few months ago,” he continues, “one of my students wrote me a letter saying he wanted to be like me. He is a 7th grader and he said, ‘I want to be like you because you speak English.’ His parents came from Venezuela. He is learning English and wants to have a bright future in this country. I just cried — I said, ‘This is the real reason I’m doing this.’ ”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education