Spanish teacher Israel Reyes, who’s been teaching for four years in Melissa and eight years overall, has found his place in life.

Mr. Reyes wasn’t always a teacher, however. Before entering the profession, Mr. Reyes worked a standard office job. That job certainly paid the bills, but he wasn’t exactly satisfied.

“I worked in the corporate world for 10 years,” Reyes said. “You know, just office jobs, business- related jobs. It wasn’t a bad job. It was just…if I knew I was gonna enjoy teaching so much, I would have started sooner.”

Mr. Reyes decided he’d become a teacher eight years ago because people close to him were also educators.

“I loved school growing up, and many people I knew, like my mom and sister, were good teachers,” Reyes said.

Out of all of the years he’s been teaching, Mr. Reyes claims that this year is his best year yet.

“I would say this current year is my best year of teaching,” Reyes said. “I feel like I have good classes all around. I haven’t had a bad year of teaching, though…every year has been a good year, but I would say this has been my best year so far.”