Many teachers, especially ones who have been there from the very beginning, have decided this will be their last year at Miami Lakes Educational Center (MLEC). They’ve spent years dedicating their lives to teaching students and guiding them through high school. Whether they’re leaving because they’ve reached the end of their careers, or they’ve found a new job opportunity, they are ready to start a new chapter in their lives.
Mr. Boulay is one of the original teachers at MLEC, meaning he was hired when the school first opened. Since then, he has pushed students to work outside their comfort zones, making a tremendous impact on their lives in the long-term.
“He teaches a lot and even when it’s his last year he gives it a great effort to go to his job. He lacked knowledge on how to use a computer, but he adapted and he learned new things quite quickly. He put in some time to learn something he wasn’t very familiar with to adapt to the situation the pandemic had put us in,” Joseph Perez, a junior in the Cambridge Academy, said.
As for the physical education teachers, Mr. Williams, usually described as always fun to be around, will also be saying goodbye to the jaguars he has taught for many years. He knows how to brighten anyone’s day with his unforgettable dance moves and dad jokes, all while making sure his students are active and knowledgeable on physical health.
“He always had a good sense of humor and made me laugh through every exercise,” Class of 2018 Alumna Daylin Delgado said.
There are also teachers who’s home wasn’t always MLEC. For Mr. Sanchez, the third time was the charm. He was there to establish MLEC when it was still “New High School 2” and has come a long way since then.
“Mr. Sanchez is great. He’s very accepting and welcoming of new ideas,” Justin Franco, a junior in the Applied Technology academy said.
He has the special ability to peak anyone’s interest when it comes to the world of science, or more specifically, biology. Through his engaging projects and kind demeanor, he formed a close bond with many of his students.
This goodbye isn’t easy on these teachers either; saying goodbye to a school they saw the conception of is a tough reality to accept and move on from. After all, they brought the spirit into these hallways for longer than we ever witnessed.
“What I will miss the most is interacting with the students, especially with laboratory and other activities in class…I am fortunate to have seen students grow, first as ninth graders, then through the years when they leave as seniors,” Mr. Sanchez said.
This is the end of an era for MLEC. These teachers, who students have come to love, will no longer be around every day to teach them not only the academic lessons, but also the life lessons that came from their wise mouths.
