Leadership ISD Heroes: Carlos E. Coronado, Jr. ('20)
Across Texas, our Leadership ISD COVID Heroes continue their commitment to equity and excellence for our students. Their commitment inspires us to continue to lean into this work, knowing that while the road ahead is long, the destination is worth our time and energy. Check out this week's LISD Heroes below!
Carlos E. Coronado, Jr.
Dallas County, Class of 2020
Educator, Dallas ISD
LISD: WHAT ARE YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY DOING TO RESPOND TO COVID-19?
Carlos E. Coronado, Jr. (CC): During these challenging times, education and knowledge is needed more than ever! Working in Special Education, the challenge of going from in-classroom to remotely online becomes even larger. Educators had to develop creative ways to support students. During this time, in response to COVID-19, I am working to reach students and parents weekly. Every week my class has online Zoom Meetings to connect with one another and share our experiences. H. Grady Spruce High School has offered free meals to DISD scholars, created an opportunity to honor the Class of 2020 through virtual graduation and a social-distant farewell event on campus as students drove down 9733 Old Seagoville - one last time to say farewell to teachers and staff from H. Grady Spruce.
LISD: HOW HAS LEADERSHIP ISD PREPARED YOU FOR THIS MOMENT?
CC: Leadership ISD helped me prepare to act by becoming a voice for not only my class but for an entire community. I was able to observe, first hand, during this pandemic the many gaps that still exist in public education. Leadership ISD helped me spot the problem(s) that exist for our scholars and showed me how to call out the injustices that are students are experiencing.
LISD: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO WANT TO TAKE ACTION IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS?
CC: The advice I would give to others during this time is, re-examine yourself and ask questions about who you want to be coming out of this pandemic? Personally, I want to be a teacher that even when times looked uncertain, there was still hope. So much has happened and words cannot express the hurt, anger and sadness I feel for these devastating times but, do NOT give up! I want you to know that there is joy, you are hope and the fact that you are pushing on is evidence that you are resilient!
