Chávez HS teacher credits former coach for education career

Almost a dozen employees marked their twentieth year of service with HISD this week (March 24–30), and at least one credited a former teacher for his decision to launch a career in education.

“I was inspired by (retired) Coach Roy Cox at Black Middle School,” said Joseph Cordova, who serves as the Health and Physical Education Department chair, athletic coordinator, and head soccer coach at Chávez High School. “The way he took kids under his wing and acted as a mentor…I just saw the way he helped other kids and I wanted to do that, too.”

Although Cordova has been at Chávez since the campus opened in 2000, he has also taught at Reagan and Austin high schools and McReynolds Middle School. One career highlight was taking the boys’ soccer team to the regional quarter finals in soccer in 2007, but getting the opportunity to work with kids is what keeps him coming back to the gymnasium. “Just seeing a kid come back and say thanks, that’s what it’s all about to me,” he said.

Many other HISD employees are also marking milestones this month—see if you know anyone on this list:

25 years

• Edelmiro Salazar, bus driver, Transportation Services

20 years

• Minerva Aguilar, teaching assistant, Rodriguez ES
• Donald Craft, teacher, Madison HS
• Sofia D’Arcy, librarian, Clifton MS
• Roy Davis, teacher, Attucks MS
• Jackie Jackson, teacher, Bastian ES
• Ruth Mark, senior plant operator, Construction and Facilities Services
• Veronica Osunde, associate teacher
• Patricia Steward, plant operator, Isaacs ES
• Maria Tapia, teaching assistant, Waltrip HS
• Rosa Treviño, attendant, Food Services

15 years

• Jummai Adeniji-Fashola, teacher, Lewis ES
• Erica Andrews-Trotman, teacher, Coop ES
• Isabel Contreras, attendant, Food Services
• Blanca Flores, attendant, Food Services
• Reyna Garay, teaching assistant, Furr HS

10 years

• Shahana Afroj, teaching assistant, Ashford ES
• Tina Atkins, teacher, Barrick ES
• Virginia Bosquez, attendant, Food Services
• Ana Delgadillo, clerk, Looscan ES
• Conception Mejorado, attendant, Food Services

5 years

• Maria Andrado, attendant, Food Services
• Joan Ashley, speech therapist, Child Study
• Latasha Bell, clerk, Dowling MS
• Terrell Breaux, mailroom attendant, McCarty Printing Facility
• Tomnesha Garrett, attendant, Food Services
• Bettye Jean Gaston, crossing guard
• Julio Hernandez Garcia, database administrator, IT Business Solutions
• Amanda Jackson, customer service representative, Construction and Facilities Services
• Elsa Mendoza, assistant principal, Lamar HS
• Vanessa Moore, clerk, T. H. Rogers MS
• Graciela Nilo, substitute aide/clerk
• Lidia Paz, custodian, Black MS
• Julieta Quiroz, attendant, Food Services
• Relies Rideaux III, officer, Police Department
• Phyllis Ross, associate teacher
• Julieta Sanchez, attendant, Food Services
• Patricia Soria, teacher, Crockett ES
• Michael Stallworth, associate teacher
• Annabelle Steward, custodian, Kashmere HS
• William Villareal, technician, Vehicle Parts Warehouse
• James Washington, senior HVAC repairer, Food Services
• Bridgett West, crossing guard

Check back next Friday for more Milestones – and if you know someone who should be featured in this space, let us know at info@houstonisd.org. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees.