Tara Bordeaux, 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year, pays tribute to her own teacher during recognition ceremony.

Need proof that teachers make a difference in the lives of their students? View this video below where Tara Bordeaux, the 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year, pays tribute to her 11th grade chemistry teacher, Mary Kay Canon.

Tara says her teacher “did the unthinkable. She saw students even when we couldn’t see themselves.” She tells the story about a day after the sixteen-year old, feeling bullied and trying to survive a difficult home life, had dropped out of high school and was even contemplating suicide. Ms. Canon camped out at Tara’s workplace until the teenager reported to work, and encouraged her to return to school. Tara says her teacher made her feel seen, understood, and cared for.

Not only did Tara return to school, she became a remarkable educator in her own right. She was named the 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year. When Tara was given flowers at the recognition ceremony held at Bullock Texas State History Museum, she turned around and gave the flowers to her former teacher.

At the ceremony, Tara charged the other educators in the room with one thing: “Please keep teaching for them, because I guarantee you, you are doing way more than you will ever realize with these kids,” Tara asserted. “Because one day that kid might be up here or be the doctor who is being recognized for the neurosurgical procedure of the year, or whatever it is. But that kid is going to be up here because of you.”

Tara is the director of Cinema and Media Arts at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas. She has ten years of teaching under her belt. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Photography, and Film Making, and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Texas at Arlington.

View the YouTube video below to hear Tara tell the inspirational story of her teacher: