Staff Spotlight: Veteran Omar Pacheco
A veteran is defined as “a former member of the armed forces”. Though this definition is correct, the simplicity of it cannot begin to touch on what it truly means to be a veteran; the bravery and sacrifice it takes to fight for the freedom of our nation.
Many people have connections to veterans and might not even know it. They are grandparents, neighbors, co-workers – and like Veteran Omar Pacheco’s case, they are teachers.
Service in the Army
Pacheco served in the Army branch of the U.S. military from 2006 to 2016 and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, he is in his second year of teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) at Wagner Middle School. Pacheco started his career in the Army the same way he started his career as a teacher: unexpectedly.
“It all started accidentally when I lost my mortgage company in 2006,” Pacheco said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I joined the Army. My wife served in the Army for 33 years, so she inspired me.”
Pacheco served as an eleven bravo infantryman.
“Infantry basically means that you do everything on foot – it’s a real strain on the body,” Pacheco said. “We were out there learning how to survive in the mountains.”
“I was miserable in the beginning, but then I really started to change the way I looked at life,” Pacheco said. “I saw the impact of the values that the army drills into soldiers.”
Those values are laid out in an acronym: LDRSHIP (Loyalty, Duty first, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, Personal courage) which Pacheco carried into his next career.
Service in the Classroom
“My first brush with teaching was actually in the military,” Pacheco said. “Many of my soldiers were younger, and some had learning disabilities. I took opportunities to help them learn and comprehend things – I always tried to be helpful on that front.”
Pacheco never expected to teach outside of the military, until one day when his son, then a student at Mitchell Elementary, suggested that he try substituting at his school.
“I told my son, ‘Never!’ but eventually, he convinced me,” Pacheco said. “On my first day, I realized there was a great need for support for the Spanish-speaking students.”
“I am bilingual, and when I left that day, all of the students clung to me,” Pacheco said. “They all screamed ‘Mr. Pacheco! Are you coming back tomorrow?’”
And that was all it took. Pacheco continued to sub at Mitchell until a full-time position opened up at Wagner. Pacheco holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Business from the University of Arkansas - Grantham and pursued his certificate to teach in the state of Texas.
“I was an ESL student myself, and I could understand the difficulties those students were facing,” Veteran Pacheco said. “I felt it was my next calling to serve them.”
Since his time as an educator, Pacheco has created lessons around integrity, selflessness and other attributes one must have to serve in the military, often referencing the LDRSHIP acronym.
Pacheco also dedicates his time to mentoring students with interests in joining the military. He is currently working with two eighth graders, one of which has their heart set on going into the Marines.
“I explain to students I mentor that it is crucial they are able to comprehend core subjects,” Pacheco said. “You have to know math, English and reading comprehension in order to pass the ASVAB (The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test, required for admission into the armed services”
“Beyond that, you have to have the willpower to leave home,” Pacheco said. “I missed my kids’ first steps, and I missed one of my kid’s first words. But I knew what I was doing was in the best interest of my family.”
“Serving in the military requires selflessness, and so does being a teacher,” Pacheco said. “You have to have a passion for making a difference.”
Georgetown ISD is thankful to the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our nation.
Visit our website for a list of campus Veteran’s Day celebrations that will take place on November 11.
