The day before Juan Alvarado’s graduation last spring, the South Carolina Honors College elementary education major thought that he had his post-graduation plans all figured out. He’d been offered a job at a Columbia-area school district and was finalizing the details of his future employment. Prepared by his clinical experiences at schools across the Midlands, Alvarado was excited to step into his own classroom and begin his career as an elementary school teacher.
Then, he received a message from Lauren Sanborn, the director of undergraduate advising and certification at the College of Education. The Fairfield County School District was opening a Teacher Village in Winnsboro, South Carolina, that provided fully furnished housing in a new neighborhood for educators. And they had an opening for a third-grade teacher.
“At first I was a little skeptical,” Alvarado admits. “I was like, ‘How would it be in the rural area?’ I [didn’t] know anything about Fairfield, but I did my research, and I found out this is a wonderful school district, not just that it’s a close-knit community but the support and resources they provide the teachers.”
In his teaching, Alvarado lives for what he calls “lightbulb moments” — instances when his students grasp the lesson’s content and experience a profound moment of learning. For Alvarado, changing his plans and accepting a position at Fairfield County School District’s Geiger Elementary was a lightbulb moment of his own.
Taking advantage of opportunities
Though Alvarado didn’t decide to pursue a degree in education until the end of his senior year of high school, he always understood the value of learning.
“I’m a first-generation college student,” says Alvarado. “My parents are from southern Mexico, so they didn’t grow up with as many opportunities as I did. So that’s something they always instilled in me: Take advantage of the opportunities you have, especially through education.”
He realized that he wanted to be someone who could provide educational opportunities for others, who could inspire young people to pursue their passions and love learning. When he began his studies at the University of South Carolina, he knew he’d found the right major.
“Once I got into the classes my sophomore year, that was what just sealed the deal for me: being in the classrooms, working with the students.”
Now, he works with third graders every day at Geiger Elementary School, and he’s grateful that he took advantage of his own opportunity to live and work in the district.
Building a respectful community
Alvarado credits USC faculty and coursework with preparing him to manage a classroom. “The list goes on and on,” he says, referencing the lessons and educators who impacted him.
He particularly appreciated learning from Paul Chaplin. “Once he retired from the [K-12] classroom,” says Alvarado, “he joined the College of Education to prepare teachers, so he’s definitely someone who’s dedicated to the field of education."
Chaplin instilled a particular philosophy in his students, and it’s something that Alvarado reminds himself of every time he steps into the classroom: His students won’t care about how much he knows until they realize how much he cares about them.
Alvarado has candid conversations with his third graders, establishing a culture of transparent communication and mutual respect. “I tell my students the first day, ‘Raise your hand if you like when people scream at you.’ And none of them raise their hand. I said, ‘I don’t like when people scream at me.’” From that point forward, the students knew that when “Mr. A” raised his hand like a tiger paw — a nod to the school’s mascot — it was their signal to quiet down and listen.
“We call them cues — some people use little chimes, other ones like doorbells,” Alvarado explains. He learned about this pedagogical technique in his education courses, and so far, the real-world application has been a success.
Uplifting all of them
Though Alvarado is feeling inspired by his first month of teaching, he’s also eager to continue learning. That’s where the Teacher Village comes into play. It’s not just a cost-effective living arrangement — it’s an opportunity to connect with other educators. This is the first year of the Fairfield County Education Foundation’s Teacher Village initiative, which was spearheaded by Sue Rex, chair of the foundation. So far, 17 homes have been built and occupied, and there are plans for at least 50 more homes.
As one of the first residents, Alvarado has enjoyed interacting with his neighbor-coworkers — he already has dinner plans — and looks forward to learning from veteran teachers.
“There’s still a lot I can learn: lesson plans, communicating with parents...I always say I could still do better, so definitely my goal is just be the best that I can be for my students.”
And that is exactly what he expects from his students in return. When asked about what he hopes for his students this year, the answer is as simple as it is important: progress.
“I’m always telling my students, ‘You got this thing. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different. Every day, you come here to try your best.’” And Alvarado is determined to help them succeed, no matter their level, and “always uplift all of them.”
Alvarado aspires to be a principal one day, but for now, he’s excited to contribute to the Teacher Village community, encourage his third graders and pursue his passion for education.
“For anyone coming into the profession, I would just say consider your passion. Don’t just become a teacher because, ‘Well, I get a house,’ or ‘I have this signing bonus.’ Become a teacher because of the impact you’ll have on the students.”