The edition of staff spotlight for the month of December is on Mr. Alejandro Rivera, a special education teacher at University High School. He has stayed motivated in this field by working with students over the years and learning how he can help students with learning disabilities. He loves seeing the “aha moment” where students finally realize that they are capable of working hard and doing amazing things.  

When asked about a memorable moment he has experienced at UHSSE, Mr. Rivera said, “Since I’ve only been here for a short time over the last year, seeing the success that my group of students who graduated last year are having is great; some of them are attending interviews, and others are attending college.” 

In terms of advice that he would give to people that are interested in becoming a special education teacher, he said that you should make sure you pop into your students’ classes and learn what the students are doing, and also make sure that the students are taking good notes because that helps you learn too. 

When Mr. Rivera is not working, you can find him doing a variety of things, which include watching TV, sports, watching and playing basketball, working out, and hanging out with friends.