Top teaching honors for UTA College of Education alums
At the end of every school year, the Arlington Independent School District (AISD) recognizes a Teacher of the Year at each of its approximately 75 campuses. Among the honorees for 2024 are 28 Maverick alumni.
To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we spoke with two of them, Silvia Ramirez Dant and Karen Granger, about what the honor means to them, what drew them to teaching in the first place and how they are making a difference right here in Arlington, Texas.
Silvia Ramirez Dant, Corey Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language
Q: What do you teach? Why did you choose that discipline?
I teach fourth grade math and science; most of my kids are between 9 and 10 years old. When I was student teaching, I was placed with a fourth-grade teacher for half of my observation time, and I really enjoyed the content. When I was in school, I remember math was my favorite subject, so I knew it was something I wanted to do. I didn’t begin teaching fourth grade, but somehow I ended up here, and I really love it. This year, I’ll be wrapping up my ninth year teaching.
Q: When you were choosing your career at UTA, why did you want to become a teacher?
I've known I wanted to be a teacher since I was 6. I come from a long line of teachers; my mom was a teacher in El Salvador and all of my aunts and uncles are still teachers there. I was always drawn to teaching, as I was the person in my friend group who was always trying to be a motherly figure and trying to teach them and help them. I always felt like it was my calling.
Q: How did your time at UTA prepare you to be the leader you are now in the classroom?
The professors I had were very intentional about everything they told us in class. They set a foundation of what to expect and guided us throughout our coursework and our observations. They were so welcoming of questions, and even after graduation they were available to continue guiding us. I feel like my classes and my classmates really gave me reassurance and peace that I had learned everything I could while we prepared.
Q: What else besides math and science do you hope to teach the students who go through your classroom?
I always tell my students I don’t want to hear them say “I can’t.” I firmly believe every student can, and at the end of the day, I just want to see them grow. If they are giving me their best and giving themselves their best, that’s the most important thing. I also want them to know that wherever they are, academically or socially, if they say true to themselves and put their best effort in everything, they should still feel successful.
***Karen Granger, Gunn Junior High Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language
Q: What do you teach? Why did you choose that discipline?
This is my 24th year at the same school, Gunn Junior High School Fine Arts and Dual Language Academy. I’ve taught seventh- and eighth-grade English, and I’ve also been a coach here for 16 years. A couple years ago, our junior high became the feeder school for two other fine arts and dual language academies; our principal asked me to teach sixth grade because he needed somebody with experience who could handle the new program and help transition the kids who were coming in.
Q: Given that you’ve been with the district for 24 years and you went to UT Arlington, how important is the Arlington community to you?
I’m originally from here. I went off to Texas A&M to play college volleyball on a full athletic scholarship. I thought I would never come back to Arlington, I would never coach, and I would never teach junior high—I did all three. When I started my family, I decided that I wanted my whole family to be together, so we moved back home to Arlington. My two kids, now 29 and 24, have gone through AISD and my daughter also decided to play volleyball at UT Arlington. I just wanted my roots to be here, where my family is.
Q: Why did you want to go back to school to receive your master’s? Why did you choose UTA?
I’ve always felt like no matter how old you are, you can always grow and you can always learn more. When I went back to school, I had the desire to keep growing, and I learned so much at UTA. I actually liked being a student more during my master’s then during undergrad. I want to continue being that lifelong learner to not only benefit me, but my students, too.
Q: What’s something you want each student who goes through your classroom to take with them?
I want them to develop a sense of empathy, be good people and know how to treat people right. They need to know how to treat people with respect and kindness, to take people’s differences and not have it be something they make fun of. Understanding why and how people are the way they are is something they need to embrace. I feel that’s always been my first and foremost job in the classroom.