Rudy Galvez inspires his Alamo Heights students to master their own destinies through education

Rudy Galvez has always taken his job of being master of his own destiny seriously, and his goal for each student is to hear this message and take it to heart. The youngest child of six with a single mother who worked three jobs to put food on the table, he learned early how to be responsible for his own well-being.

He credits his older siblings for his interest and motivation in education. Realizing the military would open a path to college and wanting to serve his country, he enlisted following his high school graduation. After finishing his service, he completed a degree in education and is one semester away from receiving his Master of Education in Administration. He also is known to backpack through Mexico and brings back his experiences to teach his students.

"Mr. Galvez inspires us to work hard. He went from serving his country to serving in the classroom," one student said. As the 7^th and 8^th grade Spanish immersion Social Studies teacher, he has written much of his own curriculum and translated it into Spanish. Prior to coming to AHISD, he was one of the founding teachers of what has become the KIPP Academy in San Antonio. He designs classroom management strategies that promote and recognize excellence in student character. He also relates his teaching to students' lives and includes fun aspects such as "College Jersey Tuesdays" to promote the belief that every student can go to college.

Mr. Galvez states, "All men are created equal, but it is the level of educational attainment that gradually sets them apart."