The classroom bustles with activity as on-level Biology and Integrated Physics & Chemistry (IPC) teacher Lisa Flores moves around the room, engaging students with her enthusiasm. Whether she’s walking them through a lab experiment or teaching them a tough concept, her goal is to prove that science can be fun, even for those who may not see themselves as a “science person”.

For Ms. Flores, teaching wasn’t initially her idea. Growing up in a tiny town and attending a small school, she never imagined herself standing at the front of a classroom. Her spirit for education was always present, however: during high school, Ms. Flores taught other students their science class material. Finding her teaching experience arduous, she believed education wasn’t the right fit for her — an unexpected path for a current educator.

“I’ve always had a love for science, and I will be honest, I did not originally want to be a teacher,” Ms. Flores said. “But in high school, I got cursed by my biology teacher. She was my science teacher all four years [of] science. If we did a lab or a dissection, she had me show the other students.”

After her high school years passed, Ms. Flores attended Texas A&M university, graduating with a degree in finance. While working in finance, the 2001 recession struck her company, and amidst the turmoil, Ms. Flores found herself in a difficult spot.

“During the 2001 recession, I lost my job because they closed the offices,” Ms. Flores said. “My aunts were teachers, and they were like, ‘Why don’t you come and shadow us?’ so I went and saw what they did, and it was interesting enough for me. I literally walked into Concordia University to ask questions about teaching, and they gave me a scholarship to go back to school and become a teacher.”

After getting her bachelor’s degree in education, Ms. Flores began her career at McNeil High School, where she taught Human Body Systems and IPC for seven years. Following her time at McNeil, she furthered her experience through teaching at summer school, working closely with Westwood teachers. As a result of her dedication over the summer, she received a formal invitation to join the Westwood faculty. As a new staff member, Ms. Flores is committed to creating a welcoming and engaging learning environment. With her unique career background, Ms. Flores aims to make biology and IPC more engaging for students that are not interested in science — a position she was all too familiar with in high school.

“I like to prove them wrong,” Ms. Flores said. “Science doesn’t have to be boring. I want students to see how it connects to their lives.”

Outside of teaching, Ms. Flores enjoys cooking, watching movies, reading, and listening to music. She is also an animal-lover, owning six cats and two dogs.

For Ms. Flores, the joy of teaching comes from engaging her students in lessons and sharing meaningful and applicable knowledge. She finds the most rewarding moments in seeing their excitement, whether it’s the spark of curiosity during class discussions, pride in understanding a hard concept, or return of a grateful former student. Every interaction, whether big or small, makes her happier to teach and strengthens the lasting impact she hopes to have on her students’ lives.

“The most rewarding part of teaching is when I’m able to create a lesson or an activity, and I can see it in their eyes that they’re enjoying it,” Ms. Flores said. “Another rewarding part is when students come back and say, ‘I still remember that one thing we did in class. I felt really, really good and confident in your class.’ That fills my bucket.”

“One word I’d use to describe myself is ‘enthusiastic’,” Ms. Flores said. “The enthusiasm that I have for this profession, for helping new teachers get better, and for helping old teachers share their ideas.”