Eric Hale received recognition as Texas’s first-ever Black man to win the Teacher of the Year Award.
However, he reveals that it wasn’t an easy journey for him. The 40-year-old says he’s not a stranger to things like abuse as well as poverty. Moreover, he claims that he saw it all. During his childhood, he grew up with a mom who struggled with drug abuse, while his stepfather suffered from schizophrenia.
And for him, it took years of struggle to reach this spot. ‘I know how hard it was for a child to go to school hungry,’ he claims. Meanwhile, other kids used to say how bad he smelled and that really hurt. He couldn’t shower for days because he didn’t have water.
But with no pain, there’s no gain. And that’s why he’s thankful for all of his experiences. Concurrently, this is exactly what gave him the grand title for 2020’s best teacher of the year award. While this isn’t the first of many of his accolades, he is so grateful to be the first black man to receive it.
Hale went on expressing his gratitude for the occasion by saying, ‘I’m the first to win it, but I’m not the first to deserve it.’ He sent these comments to Washington Post.
As a teacher who enlightens students of first and second grade with valuable wisdom, he adores his job.
It’s more or less like living the dream with a passion that’s incomparable to all others. ‘Yes I’m the first winner but this award was a long time coming. I’m surely not the first African American teacher who deserves it,’ he exclaims.
On that note, he shared the wonderful recognition with all other African American people who choose to venture into the field of teaching.
Realizing that most of the students from his school are at the poverty level, he feels it’s his responsibility to assist them. And for that reason, he always goes above and beyond to help them.