The Wrangler: Why did you become a teacher?

Speers: To prepare young people for the real world. I feel like most classes you take, you don’t really need them in real life. The classes that I teach, I am really passionate about because you will use them every day in a real job, in a real career, in real life.

The Wrangler: I understand you are a born and raised Californian, what made you move to Texas?

Speers: The cost of living in California is so high. So Texas was a state that was a lot cheaper to live in. The jobs are better, the pay is much higher. It’s just a better way of life.

The Wrangler: Out of all the schools you worked in, how do you classify George Ranch?

Speers: George Ranch is different from any school that I have taught at because the vibe here, the people here are a lot more friendly. Everyone’s helpful. It’s more like a family, it’s a culture.

The Wrangler: How do you balance being a tennis coach and a teacher of multiple classes?

Speers: I don’t feel like I do a good job of balancing it in the first place. Last year was a learning experience because it was my first year coaching. This year I learned a little bit more about how I can manage my time so, I don’t know, maybe it will get better.

The Wrangler: What are your future plans for George Ranch Tennis?

Speers: More district titles and definitely state. That’s what’s in our future.

The Wrangler: What do you plan to do with your masters degree?

Speers: My ultimate goal is to be a college professor, teach something to do with business or marketing. Something along those lines. If  I decided to go back into the corporate world again, that would most likely translate into designing training materials for the company.

The Wrangler: What was your previous occupation in the corporate world?

Speers: I used to work for the big company Landry’s. And I worked in the resort for about seven years in their spa. I not only had clients in that industry, but I also did the product ordering and testing, and everything to do with products for the organization.

The Wrangler: Tell me about the employment banquet. 

Speers: At the end of the year, all of my co-op students get to invite their employer to the employer appreciation banquet and it’s all four high schools in LCISD. Administrations are invited to go and it is basically a “thank you” to the employers for working with us in this program.