SAN ANTONIO — KENS 5 Anchor Sarah Forgany, along with our partner Credit Human, surprised Juan Navedo at his Lackland ISD school with the EXCEL Award and a $1,000 dollar check. Turns out, Navedo has a few tricks up his sleeve to get his students to tune in to his lessons.
Students can't wait for Mr. Juan Navedo's class at Virginia Allred Stacey Junior/Senior High School.
"Like, Yeah, I'm that dude, I guess," Navedo said, "that dude at the end of the hallway that they couldn't wait to have."
Navedo isn't shy about his talents. He even showcased some of it by picking up a guitar and serenading the classroom, while they sang along and laughed. "It's always a fun time inside the class," one student said.
Students describe him as cool and quirky. Navedo approves adding he's even into eSports, superheroes and anime.
"When they walk by and the doors open and they see my anime posters and my posters of spiderman and they'll just come in like, sir, what do you teach? Like, I can't wait to have your class."
What his class focuses on, may actually surprise you. Navedo teaches Economics, Government, and History to juniors and seniors.
In his classroom, next to his Anime posters and figurines, It's not unusual to find more posters highlighting major historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. "Highlight all those cool things about history, just so you know, hopefully like get that spark," Navedo said.
A spark that gets them to think, engaged and asking questions.
"I like to show them how it relates to their life. It's something that affects them every day and it's something that they affect."
Something Navedo understands all too well. "I count teaching as a privilege."
Becoming an educator might've sounded impossible when he was a young boy, Navedo recalling "childhood was very different."
Born in Puerto Rico, Navedo says he grew up in a single parent household and despite money being tight, he had ambition to continue school.
"I talked to the people for financial aid and I was like, "Oh, this is something I could pay for because I have a job and so I started doing that just to take classes."
And the rest is history. Navedo went on to become the first in his family to receive a college degree, graduating from UTSA. Fast forward 12 years later, Navedo is now inspiring many young people, even skeptics.
"I don't really like history, but I do like this class. I look forward to this class, actually."
Navedo's history class is in a league of its own, "one of a kind basically," added another student while a third student summed it up "He's just so unique compared to all the other teachers."
Navedo certainly has a different approach and one that's proving to be influential. Students say their grades have improved because they enjoy Navedo's class.
As for their teacher, Navedo says his success in the classroom comes down to finding common ground with his students.
"What I love about history is that it's not like there's one right answer necessarily. It's their perspective, their argument," Navedo said. "It sounds corny, but children are the future, you know, and these are the future leaders. Just to be a small part of their lives is rewarding."
Navedo also heads an after-school eSports club with 20 to 30 kids. He said it has helped him form strong relationships with students and at the same time, he knows eSports is popular across the country with colleges offering scholarships. He hopes that too can help some of his students.
This is the KENS 5 EXCEL Awards 25th years partnering with Credit Human to honor local teachers. If you’d like to watch past winners, click on kens5.com/EXCEL.