By – Perry Thomas Lopez

Note from LessonPlansPage.com: This inspirational message refers to an earlier submission by this remarkable man. Click

here

to read about his Wright Brother’s and Brooklyn Bridge projects.

Hello Fellow Colleagues,

First of all, I would like to thank the teachers that were kind enough to E-Mail me and give me such wonderful feedback. I met many interesting people, such as new teachers, engineers and relatives of the Wright Brother’s family. A website was made for my students and I by John Latz, a representative of the Wright Brother’s Organization

http://caltech.edu/~johnlatz/wright_fair/

Although I completed this 70 lb. replica of the 1903 Flyer in the classroom a few years ago, I could see my students glowing with enthusiasm as though it was yesterday.

Last year, I built a fifteen-foot replica of the Brooklyn Bridge with my students. A representative of the Port Authority of NY was scheduled to pay us a visit; unfortunately, the bridge had to be dismantled before his/her visit, to allow for more space within our school cafeteria.

This year, my students and I are constructing a full size mechanical replica of a Great White Shark. I plan to install a rotating head and tail electronically-I’m also a licensed electrician. In June, my students will perform Romeo & Juliet on stage. A professional crew is currently filming both projects.

This past Wednesday, April 16, My students entered BRONXNET, a cable company, and spoke about the Great White Shark Project during a real taping session. My students were interviewing each other, ‘manning’ the cameras and operating technical equipment within the sound/editing room. This was thrilling!

I always said that teaching is the most rewarding job in the world. I try to instill the same values that I acquired as a child through caring parents and Catholic school upbringing. I am forever grateful to my own parents for their sacrifices and labors of love.

In the next inspirational message I will submit, I will explain to you how I plan to use my athletic background as a resource, so that others in my community could benefit. I am a former member of Puerto Rico’s National Racquetball Team for seven years. I am nationally certified as a Racquetball Instructor by Jim Winterton, former USA Team coach. My extensive traveling over the years; Two World Championships, One Central American Game and Two Pan American Games has taught me a great deal about various cultures. As a NYC schoolteacher, I often reflect on those personalities that I had a pleasure to experience.

I currently teach racquetball at Herbert H. Lehman College, in the Bronx. There is still so much that I want to do for my community!

Keep Your Dreams Alive…our children depend on them!

Sincerely,

Perry Thomas Lopez

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Perry Thomas Lopez