Twenty-one years ago, Rebecca Lopez walked into Hempstead Elementary School as a substitute teacher. Not entirely sure if teaching was for her, but by the end of that first day, surrounded by tiny handprints, curiosity, and big smiles, she knew she had found something special. What surprised her most were the relationships she was building with students and their families.
“I love watching the kids grow in their skills and how excited they get when they learn something new,” Lopez expressed.
Two decades later, her classroom is a place filled with laughter, movement, and endless opportunities to learn through play. If she had to describe her teaching style in just a few words, she’d say it’s all about learning through fun and lots of movement, because in Pre-K, curiosity has no speed limit.
Each morning, she’s greeted by excited little faces who are genuinely happy to see her. That daily joy is one of her favorite parts of the job.
“Building relationships with them, that’s the best part.”
One of her proudest moments this year came during a rhyming lesson. After weeks of practice, her students were struggling to make the connections. Then one day, it clicked. “All of a sudden, they started telling me the right answers,” she said. “I was very excited for them, and they were excited too!” It was one of those small but mighty victories that make teaching Pre-K so magical.
Being named the 2025 Hempstead ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year is an honor she doesn’t take lightly. Personally, she’s grateful to be chosen. Professionally, she appreciates the recognition for the hard work teachers put in every day.
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges. In her first year teaching Pre-K 3, the energetic little learners tested her patience and confidence. “I thought, ‘What am I doing wrong? Why are they not listening?” she remembers. With guidance from a supportive coworker, she found strategies that helped her classroom flow more smoothly, a reminder that even great teachers grow with help from each other.
Growing is something she’s continued to do. Whether she’s observing colleagues, picking up new ideas, attending conferences, or researching ways to improve her classroom, she stays committed to being the best she can be for her students.
At the heart of her teaching is a simple hope that her Pre-K students leave her class knowing how to be a friend, how to follow school routines, and, most importantly, that there is always a place where they can be loved.
Her classroom may be small, but her impact is anything but. With joy, patience, and a whole lot of heart, she gives the youngest Bobcat learners the strongest possible start.