Teacher Appreciation Letters

Some of The Growler staff wanted to say a quick thank you to some teachers that mean a lot to them. They chose them at the beginning of the week and wrote each of these teachers a special letter to commemorate Teacher Appreciation Week. Here are who they individually chose and wrote. 

I would like to show my appreciation to Mrs. Patino. Mrs. Patino has always been an amazing and outstanding teacher in my life, in fact she has been an amazing and wonderful impact to most of my family members. She is indeed a role model I look up to and truly admire. I remember this one time were Mrs. Patino had enlisted me in many programs that would benefit me and she did it out of her heart. The funniest part is that she did not even ask me! She had enlisted me as a SHAC representative and as athlete of the year. She also got me my first interview as a city employee. Mrs. Patino is a wonderful and amazing teacher but to me. she has become my second mother. She has really impacted my life in the best way possible.

– Daniel Enriquez


Ms. Castañeda,

This is to thank you for everything you have done for me and for supporting me with everything. You have always been my favorite teacher, you are an excellent person, you know how to understand and you are always there when someone needs you. I admire you for everything that has happened and always bringing a big smile and happiness. I am very pleased that everything is going better for you, with your new house and everything. I also admire you as a dancer. You have been the one who has helped me the most and understood me. During my last year, I will try to enjoy as much as possible in your class and I will dance your Zumba well because you will really be the teacher that I will miss the most. You became a super important person and in this quarantine when we have a meeting, you don’t know how much I feel like crying. I miss the talks in class, the dances, when we played and among other things, I hope you continue to be happy as you are now. I didn’t like to see you sad. I love you very much and thank you for everything.

– Vanya Cardenas


Ms. Gonzalez,

I am grateful to have you as my English teacher this year. If I had not had you as my teacher, my life would be so different. I’m not saying it would be bad, but you opened a lot of doors for me. You’ve taught me a lot of tricks that helped me every time when I write an essay and when I take a test. Every time I use the trick that you taught me, I always remember you teaching me them. Mrs. Gonzales, I thank you for making assignments that made me think about things that you taught me. I hope your students next year don’t give you a hard time and I wish you the best. Thank you for everything.

– Pablo Torres


Thank you Mr. Nail for your hard work and dedication. I appreciate all the writing tips you have taught me, which helped me improve my writing significantly. You work extremely hard to make sure we can be the best writers and we can and we truly cannot thank you enough. I also wanted to thank you for helping me with my scholarship essay and for writing my recommendation letter. My favorite part about your class was whenever I was there earlier than anyone else, we would talk about programming and you would tell me about your uncle who works as a programmer, or sometimes we would talk about Marvel movies or video games. I really enjoyed those conversations.

– Hector Montes


Dear Mrs. Urquidi,

I hope this letter finds you well. First of all, I want to thank you for all you have done for me. You know, I wasn’t in a great mental state the whole school year and you helped me a lot. I remember I told you about my problems and you were very nice. I remember having a breakdown in front of you I told you how much school mattered to me and that my “problem” was going to ruin it. I remember that you wiped my tears as I cried and told me that I cried beautifully. You said it was going to be fine that something similar had happened to you. I don’t think I know how that helped me because I knew I had someone who cared and was there to help me. I had your support and that was very very nice because not a lot of teachers showed what you showed, which was a dedication for your job and way more than that. You care about your students. You continued to help me and check on me when I visited. Well, I just wanted to tell you that. I want you to know I appreciate you so much. 

– Nataly Gonzalez


Despite the fact that I do not always deliver the work on time, that sometimes I am somewhat irresponsible, Mr. Vega is always encouraging me to deliver the work. Even though there are times when I feel I do the work poorly, he encourages me to do my best. I think that is being a teacher, having patience, encouraging students and, above all, loving their work and Mr. Vega is a great teacher. He always takes the time to teach us.

–  Prisila Gurrola


Mr. Rodriguez,

Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. Thank you for always having my back and always having a shoulder to cry on. You and your whole family are the sweetest people I’ve ever met in my whole life and I’m just glad I got to be part of your family, as well. Thank you for not only being an amazing teacher but an amazing counselor for me since freshman year. For me, that really means a lot since I’ve never shared my emotions as much but ever since that talk we had, sharing my feelings isn’t as scary anymore. Thank you for all the memories we’ve shared either in the class or even in the volunteer club. I will forever keep all those four years of memories in my heart.

– Jackie Urrutia


Dear Mr.Padilla 

I like to thank you for the wonderful support that you have been giving me in my favorite game: Marvel Contest of Champions, which consists of all favorite Marvel characters fighting an arcade-like fighting game. When you told me that you needed help in order how to play the game, I was surprised because no one I knew played the game because they didn’t get it. I was losing the touch that brought me to the game in the first place. Helping you to learn the game gave me excitement and courage to progress forward in the game much faster than expected. As ex-alliance buddies, I like to thank you for the wonderful courage you have been giving me since the day you told me you needed help.

– Ian Carrillo


The teacher I appreciate most is Mr. Flores because he has been a very good teacher and friend, where I have been able to tell him about my problems and he gives me some advice that can help me with them. I would like to thank him for all those moments when he made me laugh and smile when I was sad in his class. I would like to thank him for all those things he told me and how he encouraged me to keep going with my life no matter how many problems I had that moment. I would also like to say thank you for everything you have done for me and hope that you and your family are safe.

– Wendy Hernandez


I would like to thank you Ms. Dominguez for pushing me, and all of your support. I still remember that English class my freshman year, and all those conversations that we had. I will always be thankful for your advice, and support. I am really grateful that somehow you came into my life to teach me English and life lessons. I am also thankful that you have been there for me the past three years of high school, every time I have the opportunity to give you a hug, I do. Thank you, Ms. Dominguez.

– Dillon Uribe


Mr. Barragan, thank you for teaching me not only the subject of math but also the difficulty and the struggles that you will face in life. I remember the times that you would tell us about your personal life and would give us advice on how to better ourselves. There is one story that stood out to me and really made me learn something for myself, it was when you were telling us about I believe your brother, who was very religious. He wanted to make you religious, as well, but you had your beliefs and you told him the truth that to not bother you with his stuff because you believe in your own beliefs and no one should take that from you. For me that story provides me with a sense of motivation that if I want to do something that makes me happy I should not let other people prove me wrong or stop me. I learned this life lesson and many more in your classroom, Mr. Barragan, and you will always be one of the best teachers I have ever had. Your classroom wasn’t normal, you understood our situation of being Mexicans, you understood our struggle, you had a connection to us, which made learning the material of math 10 times easier. Not only that, but you have a passion for math, which eliminates the struggles when it comes to teaching. Thank you once again Mr. Barragan. You not only taught me math but also a very unique life lesson that I would never have learned if I had never taken your class. 

– Joel Cano


Dear Mr.Padilla

I am very thankful to you for guidance and support because I am in a good position today. In the future, when I achieve my goals and success, I can only think of you, who really understood me and every student. You would listen to the problems of another student and motivated them in life. I’m very sure that because of your teachings, there have been very responsible and successful students and I’m sure I’m going to be that way also. I will always be grateful for your support and motivation and I’m sure every student feels the same way. Out of all teachers I’ve had, I feel like I know you pretty well because I’ve had you to for the past two years and trust me, I can say those two years have been awesome.

– Marco Torres


First of all, Coach Quintero, I want to thank you for all the support and effort you put on me. I also want to thank you because of all the opportunities you gave me to stay on the team. For example, during my freshman year when I told you that I did not want to be on the team anymore, you did not let me because you told me that I still have some effort to put forward. Even though I had too many errors for the year, I wanted to be there, and I tried to give my best. Even if I did not play half of the season, you counted on me and I know I also counted on you, because even if I did not play, you took care of me and had my back. During my sophomore year, I did not give all of me, I missed a lot of practices, and it was not my year. I could not put effort in any class, and I failed too many times in my classes, but I am so thankful because you kept trusting in me. I also want to excuse myself for all my errors and things that disappointed you. I remember the day of our final when we ran a mile in the field, and I did run, and you told all the girls that you were so proud of me because of the big change I had made. First was my attitude, second, was the way I learned how to play. You made me so happy with that comment. To end this, I want to tell you thank you so much for all you did for me and for the girls, you are an awesome coach, and I love you Coach Quintero.

– Karla Quintana


A teacher that I appreciate is Mr.Rodriguez. I appreciate him because he is a very good teacher and also a good friend. Mr. Rodriguez is someone that I can trust. He is someone that I can go to and have long conversations with. I can tell him my problem and he will tell me what’s the wrong and correct thing to do. Mr. Rodriguez and I have a strong bond. I have never met someone like him. He encouraged me to always follow my dream and to not care what others say. I would like to thank him for the amazing three years I’ve known him because he has shown me to have confidence in myself.

– Danielle Gonzalez


A teacher that I appreciate is Coach Martin, I think she’s someone who likes what she does, who cares about her students and her athletes, and someone trustworthy you can talk to if something happens to you. I would like to thank her for the times she was there to give me a hug when I wasn’t feeling very well, for encouraging me when I needed it, for the good times I enjoyed my freshman year during her P.E class, for advising us what is best for us, and for the simple fact of being an example of someone strong who doesn’t give up easily. 

If there is one thing I regret, it’s not having joined the basketball team my freshman year when she offered me the opportunity to do it many times. 

Thank you for being a good basketball and P.E coach, I hope you and your family are safe.

– Vianney Guardado


Ms. Diaz,

I want to thank you for all the lessons I received last year. Because of you, I was able to pass both English STAAR tests and because last year was my first in a school from another country, I came without knowing English. Even though I still don’t know it like you, I can say that the things I know are because I had a really good teacher last year who helped me try to better understand the language and to write it at the level to defend myself. I miss you scolding me for falling asleep, but I can swear I never did. I hope I will see you soon and that everything is alright with you and your family.

– Gerardo Girard


Dear Ms. Castaneda,

If I had not had you as my teacher, my dancing experience would be way different. I’m not saying it would be bad – but you opened my eyes to what I could be, what I could do, in a way that I’ve never thought possible. You took a kid from scratch and made her want to try her best and beyond.

I still remember the time that I was so stiff but changed with all your aggressive love. I still remember the time you told the dance team if we didn’t win, it wouldn’t matter, because for you, we did win.

You have changed my whole aspect of dancing , I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Your encouragement and persistence my freshman year has taught me that I am who I am, and to get to the top, it’s all down to me. I am capable, but it will take hard work and lots of dedication.

– Vanessa Valdez


Mr. Olague 

I am writing this letter to let you know that you are one of the greatest teachers I’ve had throughout my life. I admire the way that you are as a person, teacher and also that you eat super healthy because i could never lol. Since I met you I knew that you were a great and kind teacher and obviously a cool teacher hehe. I will forever remember when I would have lunch with you in your classroom and we would talk all lunch long, you would guide me with whatever I asked for advice. Thank you for being such a great teacher and showing me the beauty of art. I will forever keep you in my heart and I hope we can see each other soon to update you on what has happened these past months.

– Maleny Barba