In a full circle moment, former students are finding their way back as educators. A unique journey, allowing them to inspire the next generation of students in the very building they were taught.
For Ms. Christopher, a current dance teacher at Seven Lakes, the opportunity to return to her alma mater was a high school dream that she’d been waiting for.
“I’d always wanted to come back here when I started directing, but there was never a position open,” Ms. Christopher said.
Fortunately, a few years ago, fate intervened when the director at Seven Lakes called her about an open assistant position, and since then Ms. Christopher has been a member of the Seven Lakes family. Reflecting on her high school days, Ms. Christopher highlighted the school’s competitive environment and the creative spirit of the Sapphire dance team as factors that drew her back to the school.
“With the Sapphires [the SLHS dance team] the creative aspect of it, they do a lot of themes and go all out which not a lot of schools do.” Christopher said.
Mr. Kozak, currently in his first year teaching Algebra 2, echoed similar sentiments about the environment at Seven Lakes. Graduating from the school, he expressed admiration for the academic competitiveness and the strong moral values of the student body. While only ever attending the school for two years, his experiences eventually led him back here. After leaving Seven Lakes, Mr. Kozak pursued a degree in theoretical mathematics at the University of Houston and joined the TeachHOUSTON program. During his job search, connections from the program and mentions of his former teacher, Mr. Lefevre, played a pivotal role in securing his position.
Being his former teacher and current colleague, AP Lang teacher Matt LeFevre shared his delight at seeing former students return to the school as educators.
“One of the things that is on my bucket list is to work with one of my students,” said Mr. Lefevre.
Highlighting the bittersweet aspect of teaching – where teachers play a pivotal role in a student’s life, only to rarely ever see them after graduation, Lefevere reflected on Mr Kozak as a student. He recalled the young, talkative freshman who would check in on him even after leaving Seven Lakes. Seeing his former student now as an adult and colleague brings a sense of fulfillment to Mr. Lefevre’s teaching journey.
The Seven Lakes community is not only witnessing the growth of its students but also the return of these individuals as educators. As Ms. Christopher, Mr. Kozak, and others come back to contribute to the school’s legacy, SLHS becomes a place where past and present intertwine, creating a unique and inspiring educational environment.
