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From custodian to high school teacher South Texas College employee reaches a lifelong dream.

Alonso Villalpando, South Texas College custodian joined the college in 1990 as work-study with a serious commitment to complete a technical degree, not knowing that his former teaching profession would pull him back once again. Now, after having completed a master's degree in Spanish from the University of Texas- Pan American he has been hired by Roma High School to start teaching Spanish in August 2006.
     

"I really wanted to try another career for a while to see where that would take me," said the Montemorelos, Nuevo León, México native who completed a certificate and associate degree in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at STC. "After taking several Spanish classes at STC I realized that it would be nice to be a Spanish instructor at STC or at another college or high school in the area. I thought about the endless opportunities in teaching and I decided to give it another shot, now in the United States."

  
 

Back in Montemorelos, Villalpando attended the local college, La Normal Basica, Profr. Serafín Peña where he completed a degree in teaching that led him to the beginning of his teaching career.

"After the internship I had the opportunity to teach at a multi-grade school for two years in a small ranch in China N.L. I had to teach all six grades along with being the principal, secretary and take care of custodial duties. It was a rewarding experience. I was able to learn about all the components that make a school function not only properly but successfully."

In 1982, he enrolled at the Normal Superior del Estado, Profesor Moises Saenz Garza to pursue a bachelor's degree in Education with a specialty in English and French. During this year he also transferred to Monterrey N. L. where he taught at 375 Aniversario elementary school for three years. It was at this time Villalpando's route led him to Texas, but he continued his studies in Monterrey during summer sessions.

In Texas, he made a living in a variety of jobs- as labor in the fields, truck driver, pine- tree planter for Evergreen Forestry, and bus driver for the Pharr- San Juan Alamo school district.

Although Villalpando had only one semester to complete his bachelor's degree in Monterrey, he postponed it for some years, but finally and because it was a must, in the summer of 1999 he went back to Monterrey to complete his bachelor's degree.

"I was never ashamed of working as a custodian," says Villalpando. "STC supported me to continue my education, both financially and with the flexible hours I needed in order to complete all of my academic goals. It has been a great experience that I will never forget. I would like to thank Roma Independent School District for giving me the opportunity to be part of their personnel. I hope not to discourage them and to do the best I can for the best interest of the students. Also I would like to thank Dr. Ali Esmaili for advising about new job opportunities. Hopefully, one day I will have the opportunity to give back to STC, but now as Spanish teacher. Thanks to God and to everyone that help me achieve this dream."

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Last Updated June 20, 2007