Congratulations to our Earth & Space Science teacher Ms. Cecilia Herrera for being the PHS Staff of the Month for January. 

“Receiving this award was totally unexpected, and for that reason, it was even sweeter,” Herrera said. “It not only brought a smile to my face but a joy to my heart just knowing that my coworkers and my students think so highly of me. So I am both grateful and blessed.”  

Ms. Herrera was nominated for this award by Biology teacher Kristen Maddux. 

“Cecilia is the most organized and well-prepared teacher I know,” Maddux said. “She goes out of her way every day to make sure that students are getting everything they need to understand the content and be successful. She is also very willing to help other teachers in any way and offer support.”      

Some of her students say Ms. Herrera’s passion for her job and her commitment to her students are reasons why Ms. Herrera is deserving of this award. 

“Ms. Herrera is a passionate teacher who cares for her students and her profession,” senior Julie Serrano said. “Her material is engaging and makes the subject interesting, which in turn allows students to excel in her classroom. She truly deserves recognition for all her hard work.”

Once again, congratulations Ms. Herrera for being the January Staff of the Month.   

Interview

1. Where did you grow up? 

Celaya, Guanajuato.

2. What did you want to be when you were a kid? 

A Dentist.

3. What extracurricular activities were you involved in during high school and college? 

Track, Cross Country & JROTC.

4. If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? 

Save up more money.

5. What did you major in? 

General Education with a Science Composite.

6. What inspired you to become a teacher? 

The first person who inspired me to possibly become a teacher was my high school JROTC Instructor,  Lt. Colonel Culbert. His dedication and passion for his teaching profession and for his students inspired me to one day become as passionate as him. He was truly invested in helping students become true future leaders.  Working with and observing many different passionate teachers here at PHS like Ms. Ward, Mrs. Chaffin, Mrs. Pike, Mrs. Thomas, and many others also inspired me to finally become certified to teach.

7. How long have you been teaching? How long at Porter?

 I actually started as our campus receptionist back in early 2014, when I was pursuing Dental school then. Later that same year, Dr. Slaydon provided me with an opportunity to try different campus roles in the classroom and I ended up falling in love with the learning environment. Thus, I decided to pursue teaching Science instead. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made because here at PHS I have found my true niche.

8. What’s your favorite memory from Porter? 

There are many favorite memories to name, but probably co-teaching with Ms. Ward, Mrs. Pike, Mr. Beach, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Dowdy, and other teachers that are sadly no longer here because I learned many wonderful teaching methods from each of them. We also have a very friendly/welcoming culture here at PHS, and from day one I always felt welcomed.

9. Who inspires you in life?

 My daughter, my students, and my fellow teachers.

10. Do you have any pets? 

Sadly no, but I’m working on it.

11. Do you have any advice for students at Porter? 

Find your passion and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from those mistakes and keep moving forward.

Just for Fun Questions

1. If you could have any superpower which one would it be? 

Underwater breathing.

2. If you were a potato, what way would you like to be cooked? 

Oven-roasted.

3. Which of Snow White’s seven dwarfs describes you best? 

Dopey.

4. If you could audition for a talent TV show, what song would you pick and why? 

Zombie by The Cranberries because I love that song. It’s so fiery!