Teacher Highlight: Carla Zecca

What schools did you attend when growing up in Gallup?

I attended Red Rock Elementary, Gallup Middle School, and of course good ol’ Gallup High.

Did you ever think that you would return to teach here in Gallup?

I attended college with the intention of getting my degree in Animal Science and then proceed to Veterinarian school at Colorado State. So no, I never thought I would end up teaching back in my hometown. After a year of animal science classes, I changed my major to education and I have loved it since. It’s been a blessing to be able to give back to my hometown. Carla Zecca here in Gallup is very diverse with many different needs.

Do you talk to your students about coming back to the community once they have finished school?

I mention it from time to time and students are surprised when they find out that I was born and raised here in Gallup. Somehow, Gallup, has a way of pulling people back to it. Gallup is a beautiful and wonderful place to live and it is special when you are able to give back to your community.

What has been most rewarding about returning home to teach?

What grade/subject do you teach?

This year I am teaching Transition to College Math, which is a Senior class, that helps them prepare to take the ACT and college entrance exams.

Do you feel like having gone to school here has prepared you better to be a teacher here?

Growing up in this area definitely helps me to understand the needs of our community and our students better. Our population

The most rewarding thing about returning home to teach is showing the youth in our community that they can. They can learn and graduate from high school; they can go to college; they can enlist in the military; they can learn a trade; they can do anything they want and be successful, as long as they put the time and effort into it. Some of our youth here struggle to believe that they can. Maybe because of previous generations, maybe because of their current situation, whatever the reason, they need to know that they can. So, when I have former students come back to see me and tell me how they are and what they are doing, that is the most rewarding thing, to see them achieving and knowing that they can.

Fran Garcia having a night out in Shibuya, Japan - Japan’s Time Square D. Delrow on vacation in Rome, Italy, reading the Journey. Mr. Delrow is originally from Crystal, NM

Lily and Lola Williams getting comfy on the lawn at the US Capitol enjoying the Gallup Journey A group of Gallupians with glasses on in Alliance, Nebraska getting ready for the solar eclipse 8/22/17

Isabell Krans with her sister, Cynthia Sandoval, toured Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France as a self retirement gift to Isabell after her 38 years of teaching.

The Indian (India) community of Gallup celebrating navratri festival with garba dance while enjoying reading the Gallup Journey The Pattons, Garcias, and Alemon read the Journey at Port Aransas, Texas right before Hurricane Harvey.