Ralph Eickenroht Elementary teacher named TABE Teacher of the Year

Bilingual teacher Javier Dominguez of Ralph Eickenroht Elementary School has been named the 2012 Texas Association of Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year.

Dominguez received the honor at the association's Teacher of the Year banquet Friday, Oct. 26 in San Antonio. According to a press release, he was selected for his outstanding leadership and dedication to the needs of second-language learners.

"Javier is a stellar teacher," Eickenroht Principal Robbie Green said in the release. "He is excellent at what he does, and his passion for every bilingual student on our campus to become a strong bi-literate individual has made him a leader among his peers. He has a never-say-die attitude and will do whatever it takes for each child to succeed."

Dominguez grew up in poverty in Mexico, where he was inspired by his teachers to dream about and pursue a better life. According to the release, he stated in his biography that the only place he felt loved and protected was at school.

At the age of 15, he was recruited by a teacher to work in a literacy program teaching adults to read and write. This experience marked his life by showing him he could make a difference in the lives of people by teaching, the release said.

In 2000, Dominguez moved to the United States when his son needed medical treatment to survive cancer. Afterward, he earned a college degree and achieved bilingual teaching certification. In 2004, he began working for Spring ISD, joining the staff at Beneke Elementary School. In 2010, he moved to Eickenroht to teach first grade and serve as the bilingual coordinator and bilingual literacy coordinator.

"The secret formula for teaching is very simple: love, dedication and knowledge," Dominguez said in the release. "Also, the most important concept a teacher can teach his students is determination, because success is not a gift; it is an achievement. (Students) will accomplish their goals through hard work, but it is vital for them to understand the concept or they will grow tired along the way."