The entire Hempstead ISD boardroom was moved to tears as Hempstead Elementary School student, Cristian Reyna, read how his teacher Ilse Esqueda changed his life. The third-grade student stood at the boardroom podium reading a speech he had written to thank Esqueda.
During the October 17 school board meeting, Superintendent Herbert O’Neil announced that Esqueda has been selected as the October Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award recipient for her dedication to the Hempstead ISD community.
Esqueda is a third-grade bilingual teacher at Hempstead Elementary School. She was nominated by Reyna’s mother Elizabeth Bustos.
“My son could not read and even hated to see letters or anything that had to do with reading,” Bustos explained. “This all changed when Ms. Esqueda came into his life.”
Esqueda would take the time to work with Reyna individually so that he would understand the basics of reading. She understood the importance of reading and how the inability to read could impact her students past elementary school and did not give up. Reyna now enjoys reading and loves to receive books as gifts.
“I was afraid that he would never learn how to read and my family was blessed to have this teacher in my son’s life.”
This is Esqueda’s fourth year at Hempstead Elementary and has worked in Hempstead ISD for six years. It was in college while attending Texas A&M University that she realized she enjoyed helping students during her time working as a tutor for elementary students in Bryan ISD.
“I’d like to think that students are very intuitive and they can easily tell when a teacher cares about them or not,” she said. “ I may show them tough love, but they understand that I care for them and I think this is proof that the parents can see it also.”
Building relationships with both students and their parents is important to Esqueda. “My favorite part about being a teacher is anytime students have an ‘Ah-Ha’ moment when they finally understand something. They always have an amusing expression on their face and it sparks joy for me every single time.”
Esqueda credits former teachers, colleagues, and her mother for helping guide her to the field of education. Her mother, Maribel Gonzalez, serves as the Central Office Administration Building receptionist.
“I’ve learned so much from my mom over the years. She has worked for the district since I was a student and I finally understand and appreciate all the work she has done here to keep things going.”
Esqueda is thankful to have had wonderful teachers in her life who have provided her with many positive memories and lessons. She hopes to do the same for her third-grade students.