Why Wednesday 
Tune in each week to see some of our amazing teachers here at Claremore Public Schools and WHY they are passionate about teaching!
Robert Castillo is one of our Spanish teachers, bus drivers, and English Language Learner (ELL) teacher at CHS. He has taught for 2 years, both with CPS. After working 20 years in the medical field as a paramedic, Mr. Castillo decided he wanted to pursue a career that allowed him to be in a ministry position, and a teaching opportunity at CHS opened up. He feels as though it was truly meant to be, and God led him to teach!
"The students. I have the privilege to speak into the lives of our students. Day in and day out, I get to interact with them and share my life experiences with them, in the hopes that they will one day become the leaders that our community need."
"I have the pleasure of interacting with the ELL students in our district, and throughout our interaction, I get to help them along their journey navigating life as they get closer to graduation.
I have one student who, as we were putting their schedule together, we figured we would add Art 1 (a graduation requirement) to their schedule. This student, who had never had art before, flourished, and their talent is amazing! Throughout their class, their art teacher kept giving them challenging projects, and this student just wanted to take the easier projects. I encouraged them every day, as did their art teacher, and the artwork that they created won a state award for their wonderful work. "
It was after this that the student shared with me that I had said something that really impacted them. One of those days that I was encouraging them, I said: “You will always find something that you could have done better with your artwork. But it is not you that ultimately needs to love your artwork, but the observer. It is how your artwork makes them feel that matters.”
"It is the most rewarding job pouring into students' lives and watching them succeed in whatever they choose to pursue! I always say you have to get out and do hard things. That is what will help you grow!"