Fernando Flores Continues Excellence at Zamora Middle School in South San Antonio ISD

Fernando Flores teaches his students that power comes from mastering words. He has made his life's work helping them see how to create that mastery in their own lives. As a writer he has always been on a literary quest, and in teaching he has found a vehicle to transport that quest.

Because of his love for words and ideas, he translates that passion to his students every day. Flores helps them put their own ideas into words and shows them they can use words to make a difference in their generation, just as many other people have done through history.

He believes that teachers have an awesome role in the community. The future lies in the lives of these students. "We (teachers) must inspire them, motivate them, exhort them, challenge them and guide them. It will be our words that set the tone, that will ground them firmly and that will give them hope."

Flores has set a standard for his students through his own writing. Soon he will have three published books to his credit. As a second-time winner of the ExCEL award, he sets the bar of excellence high in his classroom and in his school district. His students include gifted and talented through special needs. For each of them he tries to make English and "real" and living language in their lives.