SAN ANTONIO — Whether you call her Coach or Mrs., there's no mistake in what you're getting in Sonia Chapa's English Language Arts class.
The minute you step into her classroom at Loma Alta Middle School, you can feel her energy. Chapa doesn’t waste anytime, circling the classroom nonstop and checking on her students, "Probably because of my coaching background,” Chapa said, “I believe every first year teacher needs to go teach PE or coach a sport. That's where I learn my classroom management."
She now juggles both but no matter what she’s doing, Chapa stays true to herself.
"She's tough on us,” one student said. "She just pushes us.”
It’s the sort of tough her students admire and respect. They can see Chapa comes from a good place and wants to do what’s best for them, "Since I met her, she was pretty nice,” One 8th grader said, “She was, like, really straightforward. Her handshakes are pretty good."
It seems she’s found the right balance to wow her 7th graders, which in itself, is a pretty tough task in middle school.
Chapa says she believes her transparency helps build trust with her students.
As her class read the novel “The Outsiders,” she explained it’s one of her favorites because she can relate. Chapa said she too had a troubled childhood.
“In middle school, I got kicked out of art. I was a pretty troubled little kid, you know. " It’s a story she shares with her students to show them the impact it’s had on her life.
Chapa says mental health is close to her heart and she likes to point out the positive in her kids, “I feel like if God gave me a job title, it would be like a cheerleader. The motivator, the encourager and I feel like that's what I do for my kids. “
Chapa calls their parents and instead of complaints, she highlights the good work they’ve done, “I'm still old school. I still make phone calls. I just called six parents last week. Positive phone calls.”
She even lets her students doodle and draw to freely express themselves, "I like to cross curricular.” She’s even managed to sway the most cynical critics of reading. She said some kids start the school year letting her know they don’t like to read but by the end of the year, they’ve changed their mind.
“You have kids that learn differently. Some are not going to literally hold the novel. Some are auditory learners, so you have to learn each student and how they learn.”
Whatever she’s doing, It’s working.
“I'm not that tall but you just saw this boy sitting here, this tall. He came gave me a hug because I've learned how to treat my students with the respect.”
In her classroom, you can see a variety of art pieces that she says are all gifts from students thanking her.
"These are middle school kids. They have struggles just like we did when we were young and to pull out and just to get personal with them and let them know that I'm for real. "
The way she keeps things real is one of the reasons students and colleagues are attracted to Chapa.
“Positive relationships equals positive results,” Chapa said, “Even though this is my 20 some years of teaching, I have the growth mindset as a teacher that I have to stay with the times of how my kids are going to learn. “
Kids say she is a true inspiration across Medina Valley ISD and that was evident as KENS 5 Anchor Sarah Forgany and Credit Human surprised Chapa with the EXCEL Award.
A gymnasium filled with students, staff, school board members and family cheered her on as she was being honored.
Then came a full circle moment that brought tears to the crowd. Chapa’s childhood coach, Coach Diane, who guided her and helped her as troubled kid, was standing alongside Chapa’s family as Chapa received the EXCEL award.
Chapa told the crowd while pointing at Diane,” Do you know why I coached you the way I do? Because of this lady right here."
Now decades later, in a beautiful tribute, Diane watched her former student inspire a new generation, the way she once inspired a young Sonia.
"I am so proud,” Coach Diane said, “I am just grateful that I was there as part of your journey. Thank you, Sonia, for giving back.”
To watch stories from past EXCEL Award winners, go to kens5.com/EXCEL.