Carla Hernandez: Golden Valley Middle School Teacher, SBCSS Teacher of the Year

Carla Hernandez, a San Bernardino native and math teacher at Golden Valley Middle School, discusses her journey into education, driven by a desire to give back to her community. With 25 years of teaching experience, she emphasizes the importance of conviction over passion, drawing from her own struggles and successes. Carla highlights the transformative power of education, urging students to see it as a path to freedom and opportunity. She also stresses the role of mentors in shaping lives and the need for educators to be present and supportive, especially amidst rising student suicides in her area. Her dedication is rooted in faith, family, and a deep sense of community responsibility.

Transcript

SPEAKERS

Carla Hernandez, Joanna Marrufo

Joanna Marrufo  00:09

Welcome to Beyond the blackboard, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of community schools and explore how they're transforming education for students, families and communities. We are highlighting the voices to inspire and Elevate Community storytelling. I'm Joanna Maruffo, your host, integrated supports, outreach specialist with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. We're thrilled to welcome Carla Hernandez, one of five teachers in San Bernardino County selected as the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Teacher of the Year. Karla Hernandez is a San Bernardino native and an educator with several years of experience working in primary school education. Her passion for education is personal, as she serves the community she grew up in. On today's episode, we will dive into her role as a teacher that goes above and beyond the classroom. She's grounded in her purpose and gives her students hope by sharing her joy for education and the world it can open up for her students, her lessons go beyond the classroom, where she sparks a life long love of learning with each of our students. Thank you so much for joining us at beyond the blackboard. I want the audience to get to know you a little bit more and hear about your experiences in the classroom and also inspiring your students. So just tell us a little bit about yourself and what brought you into education. 

Carla Hernandez  01:42

So I'm so happy to be here. Thank you so much for the invite. I've been teaching for 25 years here in San Bernardino. In fact, this is my home. I was born and raised here. Like you said, a native of San Bernardino graduated from San Bernardino schools, from the San Bernardino City Unified School District, and then I went away to college. I had no intention of ever being a teacher. I actually was going into applied mathematics and thinking about maybe programming. And in the midst of that, I heard a professor, one of my professors, talked about a study that he had heard, the long term study, and basically how somebody's life is decided for them by the time they're leaving Middle School. And it shocked me. It rocked me. And just with that love of my community, the love of the family that I have here in this community, I couldn't think of any other calling, except for going back to reach those kids. And so here I am, 25 years later, still teaching middle school. I've never taught anything but Middle School. I love Middle School. I'm here for the community I want. My goal is to mentor these kids, to build them up and to encourage them, to give them an example, so that they can stand on my shoulders. 

Joanna Marrufo  02:58

Wonderful. I know, as we spoke, your passion really just emanates, you know, it gives it gives me hope. It gives so many people hope. Because you did come back and serve your community, I can only imagine, like, how much more you do, right? Because, you know, like, the lived experiences that they're facing. So can you share a little bit more about, like, what you learn from your children that makes you a better teacher?

Carla Hernandez  03:26

 Absolutely, you know, recently, I was listening to a podcast, and Chuck Swindoll was talking about having conviction, and conviction is so different than passion. And I think growing up in these streets from, you know, year one, growing up in these streets here in San Bernardino, it taught me a lot, you know, experiencing so much, even here on the west side, just with my family and the experiences that I had there and going through the schools. I think that that passion that I had a lot, it turned into conviction, passion will easily dissipate when you begin to struggle, when you begin to face struggles, when you begin to have to walk that uphill battle, but that conviction will stick when those experiences that you've had turn into putting your feet to the ground and actually living that out. And I think that's one of the things that has helped me make that connection with the kids, is because I have something far greater than passion, and that's conviction. I have those experiences that have been that have been born and bred in me, that have caused me to realize, like, where the students are at and where they can go if they if they continue on with that discipline and that dedication, that hard work, and I think it's just that that love that I have for my community, the love that I have for my kids, love for I have for education, and that desire that I have to see these kids succeed, and that's turned into a deep conviction. So. So whether, whether it's a tough class or a tough situation, or whether I see that struggle in the kids to want to learn, or maybe just to having those gaps, those learning gaps at the end of the day, that conviction keeps me focused and it keeps me, it reminds me that my job is so much bigger than myself. You know, it's, it's a calling. It's, it's, it's not a job. It really is. It's a calling. Because I'm called to raise up a next generation of kids. And I can, I can speak life into them just as much as I can speak death into them, just as much as I can kill their dreams, as much as I can kill their desires, I can speak that life into them. And those words are powerful. And I get, I get a, you know, 10 months a year to do this with the same set of kids, and it makes such a difference.

Joanna Marrufo  05:49

I got a chance to visit like your school, and I got to see a little bit of your classroom, and you shared a little bit about what you take the time to really talk to them about what power, the power of going and continuing their education? Do you mind sharing a little bit more about that? 

Carla Hernandez  06:06

Absolutely, I think one of the most important parts of being a teacher is to be able to impart to, especially my kids here in San Bernardino, that understanding and that thought and that idea that education is freedom, that is freedom that is afforded to you when you get that education. It's a freedom to make choices. It's a freedom to move, to stay, to grow, to make those choices that aren't otherwise given to you. And in my classroom, I try to express that in a number of ways. I mean, sometimes I know I teach math, but sometimes, you know, just looking at their faces, kind of seeing their responses to things. There's been times where I've had to stop and remind them like who we are, because it's a we, because we're a community, who we are, where we've come from, and where we can go if we continue to keep focused. And it's that, it's that understanding that these aren't just students, they're human beings. And not only are human beings or human beings that are walking the same walk that I once walked, you know, talking the same talk that I that I once talked in, and I can make that connection with them, because I know where they're at, and I know where they can get to if they're willing to put in that work. And so I think it may resonate with the kids a little bit different, because, you know, coming from me, because I was born and raised here, and I know what it feels like to be, to be in these guys, to be to be with these friends, to be maybe with these families, or in these situations. And because I've lived it and can tell the other side of the story, I think they're more apt to listen. So it really is just building those, those relationships with the kids, the kids know I love them, and because I love them, I'm gonna push like, there, there is no end to there's no cap on higher level thinking. There's no cap on, on what they can do. And so, you know, I'll help you in the process, but I'm not going to let you stop in that process. If you've come into my room, then it's expected that you're going to learn and that you're going to work hard, and those high expectations, I've never seen a kid not rise to them at different levels, yes, but the minute that you put it out there that, you know, I was born and bred a fighter, and that fight is still in me, and I'm going to push, push, push, because I want to pull things out of you that maybe you didn't even know were in there.

Joanna Marrufo  08:29

Wow, that's so inspiring to hear like that. As an educator, you're able to show up every day and really they get to see themselves in you because you look like them, and then also they get to see what their future can hold too. So I'm just curious, like, maybe you can share a little bit of some of the tools that you use when you're talking to them, or, you know, for the listeners on the podcast, like, as an educator, what are what are things that you do differently?

Carla Hernandez  09:01

Okay, yeah. Again, like I mentioned earlier, I think the power is in our words. The power is in our the way we carry ourselves, people, people will rise to the occasion and begin to believe what you're saying when they when they realize you believe what you're saying. And I think that's a big part of it is coming in with that conviction, again, not just that passion, but that conviction, knowing, knowing that there's going to be obstacles, knowing that life isn't easy, knowing that not everything's going to be handed to you on a golden plate, but knowing how to persevere, knowing how to put in that hard work, knowing how to be diligent and dedicated and not to give up. And I, I think it's, it's almost like an unspoken understanding in my classroom. I don't think it's anything, you know, special, as far as, like, I don't have any special tools that I pull out and voila, everybody's, everybody's successful. But I think it's that day in, day out grind, that day in, day. Out, belief that day in, day out, love like I'm, when I'm there, I'm all in, all in, like you're, you're gonna get 100% of me. And I think it's it, it's that, that, that conviction in the aura that just like it, like exudes from me. And so then they catch it too. And so they're willing to give that 100% you know, and, and that takes a lot of discipline in my life to no matter what's going on, you know, I could have just, you know, whatever it is something, it could be something outside of the classroom, or whatever is going on, that when I'm there, I'm there for you, like, 100% there for you. Because my goal is, my goal is to be a mentor like I don't, I don't know, you know, I was thinking of this the other day. You know, there's so many successful and well known people in this world, but how many of them had somebody that that they had a mentor that will never know their name, but that brought them up, that helped them get there? It is that idea like, you know, my mom, she was, she was born and raised here in San Bernardino, and she went to school speaking only Spanish. They'd get their ears pulled, you know, this, this was a long time ago, you know, the 40s, but just get in trouble. They would get, you know, swatted for speaking Spanish, what have you and just the lessons that she learned, you know, she graduated high school, she was a picker. She did a lot of different jobs and one would look at her and think, you know, unsuccessful, but I stood on her, her shoulders, like I'm here because she encouraged me. She was the one that pushed me. She was the one that that gave me that, that passion and desire to build, and not only build for myself, but build for our community, build for our family, you know? And so I stand on her shoulder. So my whole goal in my classroom is not to be well known. My whole goal is to build students that are going to be well known, that are going to stand on my shoulders, make more money than I do, do better than I do, because at the end of the day, that's our that should be our goal is to build people up, you know, I should be able to equip my students so that they can go far above and beyond where I was able to go. And so I think it's not so much about, you know, I couldn't name a list of tools, but I think it's that energy, that belief system, that conviction, that that when you have it, it gets very catchy, very easily, and especially when you're maybe in the middle, you know, we're winding down into December, and people are starting to get tired, and that's when you amp it up and continue to remind them, like you can, you can, like it's not not that you can't. You can and you will. Because there is, we have no other choice. We're it, if not us, then who you know, and if not now, then when?

Joanna Marrufo  12:41

I love that. I love that. And I can only imagine, like, how you've also created a culture in your school to really, for all the teachers to show up the way you do, right, no matter what's going on. It's like thinking about the purpose of that's it serving the community. So do you mind sharing a little bit of like, how you've been able to see the culture shift at your school? 

Carla Hernandez  13:03

Yeah yeah, You know, again, I've been blessed with the ability to be, you know, to lead, you know, say, the math department, to lead other teachers. I I'm not only a teacher, but I have periods where I have off so that I can coach other teachers, so new teachers, math teachers, different, different teachers. So I'm able to coach them and their teaching, and help perfect their tools. And then, not only that, I also am a Program Specialist for the district. It's a demonstration teacher for San Bernardino City Unified School District. So I'm able to mentor teachers outside of my school. Teachers come to see me, and I've been, you know, able to make videos, you know, they'll highlight specific tools, maybe that I use your strategies. And I think all of those opportunities that have been given have been that chance to be able to encourage people and to be able to equip people, and I think that's where the power comes from. When you don't, you don't just do something for somebody, but you teach them how to do it, and then you encourage them in that. And to be able to see that growth there. It's very exciting to know I've been around so long, you know, I'm an old lady now, been around so long that there's so many people that work at the district office now that were once my mentees that I mentored, and to be able to see these, these young people, grow up and to and to not only teach, but then go beyond the classroom and to begin to help other people, that's a powerful statement of of success. May people may never know my name outside of San Bernardino, and that's okay, but I have people that I've been able to mentor that are going to be make an even bigger difference, and I think that's how you shift that culture. It's by rolling up your sleeves getting in there. It's that servant leadership idea where you don't just talk about it, you be about it like you you go out and you do the things as an example for. Others, and then you bring them along so that they can use their tools, and I use my tools, and as a community of educators, we can not only encourage but grow the next generation. 

Joanna Marrufo  13:16

I love hearing you speak, because you always speak with so much like just urgency of like, Hey, we are the ones that can help ourselves. We are the community that can support one another. I'm just curious about, like, just your passion with speaking on, on continuing that generation, like planting that seed. What are some of the the things that help ground you in your work as you're doing this? 

Carla Hernandez  15:37

First and foremost would be my faith. All this energy comes from. I get up early in the morning and I spend time in prayer and meditating on the Word like that. That helps just ground me. I think having a family that was rich in in culture and rich in love like that, that really When, when, when you have that culture of love, you guys know this, when you have a culture of love, you can do anything. It's like it takes the fear out of you when you know that there are people that love you, that support you, and will go to any lengths to to help you. And I think that culture of love is is something that I grew up in. I have a not only just a strong immediate family, but just blessed with a myriad of relatives, and we're very connected, very close. Just you that community is strong, and I think all of those things, just, you know, encourage me to continue on and to like you said, there's an urgency, you know, I'm not getting any younger, and I want to, I want to do as much as I can and with the time that I have, because we only get one shot at this. And I think that, I think that pushes me every day to just be the best that I can be, do the best that I can be completely present. Because one of these days, there's going to be two, you know, there's gonna be a tombstone with two dates on it. And I want that little hyphen to matter. I want that hyphen to have turned this world upside down for other people, because we're a community of people, and if we don't help one another, if we don't build one another up and speak life into each other, then the opposite is going to happen. And we've seen that happen, and we continue to see it now, just you know, maybe others tearing down one another. But again, I think this, this drive, this passion, comes to the fact that this is my calling, like it's not a job, like I have a very specific calling in my life, and that is to be a mentor, and I want to fulfill it, and I want to be the best that I can, so that because I've, I mean, like, I told you, my mom, she was one of the driving forces, and why I'm sitting here today. But I've had people in my life that have built me up and have taught me and not only just built me up, but, you know, spanked me sometimes, you know, as far as, like, you know, they had to, they got it. They had to put me in my place and and teach me a little bit about leadership, or teach me about humility, or teach me about those things. And, you know, I, I think I told you before, I'm a chaplain for the Los Angeles County women's jail in Los Angeles, and I go in there and I talk to these women, and I counsel with them, and you don't have Bible studies, I'll do different things with them. And I see so much, so much lost talent like it. There's so much in there that I think man should have, could have, would have, and I think what if they, what if they just had one person in their life that would have spoken life into them, that would have taken the time to come alongside of of these young women and older women and to and to show them and to teach them and to and to encourage them. Can you imagine? Can you imagine how their life could have been completely different? And I'm not saying that that they haven't, because I'm sure there's some of them you know that have had that, but I just see the power of community and the power of speaking life into people, the power of blessing people with the tools and the gifts that you have that can make such a difference, you know? So that's that energy that it comes from all of those things.

Joanna Marrufo  19:08

Ah, wonderful. And it only takes one person right to believe in you, to be like, hey, if she said, I could do it, I believe it too. So the fact that you're the you're that person, not just for your school, but now for the district and even regionally, yeah, because the impact that you know that you make, it's like a ripple, right? That's it. And then the next generation, like you're the teachers, are having students, and they're inspired Absolutely. So it's so beautiful to see how it's just, like, just sends like a shock wave across the, yeah, across every everywhere the globe. Wonderful. I'm just so inspired by just how you continue. You know, after 25 years in education, like, just to hear like, it's like you, it's like day one for you, and it just, it gives me hope for the future. It gives me hope for the children you know that are going to. Keep, keep continuing and transforming their lives. So with that, I just want to say thank you so much. All you know the impact that you make, the depth of knowledge that you share, and also just your heart too, because going to work every day, you bring your whole, your whole self, and you inspire people. Everyone who has the grace to be in your presence, I can only imagine how happy they are to work with you. So I just wanted to say, thank you. 

Carla Hernandez  20:31

Thank you. I appreciate it. 

Joanna Marrufo  20:33

Yeah, of course, my pleasure. And is there any other thoughts that you'd like to share anything to the listeners, maybe a piece of advice for maybe teachers that are needing inspiration. 

Carla Hernandez  20:46

Yeah, yeah. As of recent, the area that I live in, I had mentioned this before, and when I had received my award is for Teacher of the Year, but as of recent, we've seen an uptick in my area, like the school that my son goes to, students committing suicide. And I you know, what a heavy price to pay for families, for the students, for the staff. I mean, I can't even imagine. It's just been so much sadness and heartache, and I want to just encourage the educators out there that your voice matters like your presence matters your encouragement. It matters your energy. It matters the hard work that you put in every day. It matters because so many of our kids are walking around, you know, maybe feeling lost, feeling having that anxiety or just feeling hopeless and I know we're just maybe, you know, especially for our secondary teachers, we see them one period a day for five days a week. But I'm going to remind you, like, see, see the kids in your class. You know they're there, and I don't, I don't think, as educators, we can't not see them, but just be reminded, they're these little human beings walking around, and you have so much power in your tongue to speak life into these kids and to encourage them and to just see them and to and to and to love on them and to make them understand that they're important and and for some of our kids, they see us more than their parents because Their parents are working and supporting their families. We might be that one voice, you know, hopefully there's more in their life, but we may be that one voice that could completely transform a life. So just want to encourage educators today, like, continue to do what you do. Like, we're a small community of people, but we have a very powerful voice in this community. And so just encourage educators to use it well while we can

Joanna Marrufo  22:44

Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing that. Thank you for joining us at beyond the blackboard, where we dive deep into the stories from people who are making a difference in schools. They are the change makers who bring community schools to life by making an impact for families and children by meeting their needs. Don't forget to connect with us on our social media accounts. You can find us on X @SI_RTAC on our Instagram, @SBCSS_IEBranch or at our website, ccsppsirtac.org tune in for more episodes.