Mesquite ISD teacher Traci Gandara receives Crystal Apple Award
MESQUITE (CBSNewsTexas.com) – Life has not been a walk in the part for Mesquite ISD fourth grader Gizelle Hernandez and her mom Blanca.
"It's not about the money," Blanca Hernandez said. "It's about the act of kindness and in our situation, a little bit goes a long way."
The Hernandez family has gotten a helping hand time and time again from one caring soul in particular.
"When our fridge broke down, I had a hard getting apartment management to fix it," Blanca Hernandez said. "In the meantime, all the food went bad and we had to throw it all out. This is all after purchasing groceries."
When Gizelle Hernandez's teacher at the time, Traci Gandara, found out what happened, she made sure Gizelle and her mom had some food to replace what they lost.
"I would never think twice about helping someone out it if I could," Gandara said. "Maybe I will when I'm retired and broke and eating peanut butter and jelly, I will."
Gandara also paid for Gizelle Hernandez to attend educational camp for gifted and talented students. She will always be the reason Gizelle Hernandez has developed an extreme passion for art
"She is like the whole world to me," Gizelle Hernandez said. "She has been so kind to me all my life, she's a nice teacher. I will remember her for all the rest of my life."
Gandara has allowed Gizelle Hernandez and so many students to shine. With a daughter of her own and sister currently teaching in Mesquite ISD in addition to a mother who was a longtime teacher, acknowledgement has never been Gandara's mission but it is long overdue.
"I want to make a difference," Gandara said. "I want to grow these children. I want them to be leaders and I hope I'm teaching them that."
