In spring 2019, CSU San Bernardino conducted a Celebration of Teaching Event for undergraduates interested in becoming a teachers. Faculty member, Wil Greer, shared this moving story about a child and the teachers who changed his life. 

As a child, Karina Figueroa-Ramirez had never encountered a teacher who shared her cultural background until 7th grade. Her Latinx English teacher encouraged her love of books, listened to her, and inspired her to envision a brighter future—an impact Karina is now paying forward nearly 20 years later.

Nikki Ahrenstorff believed her high school was "reserved for a special group of people" and that she wasn't part of it. That changed when she took an English class with Mr. Childs.

Efrain Solis, a professional opera singer, honors his high school music and drama teacher who helped him discover his voice.

John Lescroart is a New York Times best-selling novelist who says that he might still be a typist in a law office--or, possibly, homeless were it not for his English teacher, Father Stadler at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California.

Gwen Reid develops a passion for "cowboy poetry"...in her sixties.  Her junior high summer school teacher and great grandmother had a lot to do with this.