Taylor Breig
Staff Writer
A wave of new teachers are Panthers for the 2018-2019 school year. With a team of new band directors, new science teachers, as well as new coaches and a new theatre teacher, this year is bound to have new experiences as well as new methods in learning.
Over the summer, after former head band director Roland Sandoval retired from directing, the three other band directors decided to pursue other opportunities. Some might have thought that all hope was lost for this year’s show IFly, but new band directors came into the lives of the Panther Band and from what has been seen, our band is in good hands for this upcoming competition season. One of the new directors is Michael Bradford, coming from Cornerstone High School, Bradford expresses excitement to be a band director and to continue the excellence of our legendary band. So what inspired this director to become one in the first place?
“My parents, who were both teachers, and the great band directors and music teachers that I had growing up,” Bradford stated.
Another incredible addition to the family is Gabe Valdez. Valdez is from here in San Antonio, graduating from Brackenridge High School and from the University of Houston. Valdez states that he wants to help students accomplish feats they never perceived as possible. Valdez said his inspiration to direct had come from his experiences in band throughout his own marching career. His goals for this year’s band still reigns what the former band directors hoped for,“To continue the long tradition of excellence that the band has experienced over the past decades,” Valdez said on his goals for this coming year and marching season.
Of new elective teachers, there has been a new addition to the theatre family, Ashley Luebke. Coming from here in San Antonio, Luebke graduated from South San Antonio High School and the University of the Incarnate word with a BA in Theatre Arts. She enjoys to teach because, “I love seeing them grow and blossom as individuals and create something that they can show off to their families and friends.” Her enthusiasm for the theatre program brings in high hopes for this year’s theatre program.
One of two recent additions to the science department, Valerie Trevino. Graduating from Wagner High School and the University of the Incarnate Word, Trevino works here as a Physics teacher out in the portables. Her inspiration to teach had been how she grew up and how she read to her sister every night, and her goal for this coming year is,
“To have an amazing first year at O’Connor,”
Joining the team of coaches, is new hire Coach Heiligman. Graduating from St. Mary’s University, Heiligman hopes to make an impact on young people’s lives. Heiligman endeavors to make a positive impact in his classroom and on the athletic field as a coach. His inspiration had been,
“All the teachers and coaches that I had were both good and bad. Good ones made me want to be like them, and the bad ones made me want to do it better than them,” brings excitement to Heiligman’s efforts for this coming year.
On behalf of the student body, we welcome the 19 new hires to the campus and wish them a successful year.