Roel Morales
- Position: Spanish teacher
- Degrees & Alma Mater: AP Spanish & LOTE, Sam Houston, BA History & Political Science
- School Activities: Spanish Club
- Years at Caney Creek: 21
- Years Teaching: 21
How would other people describe you?
Gracioso, someone who is funny and makes a lot of jokes. Sometimes they’re bad though.
Was there a career you wanted to pursue OR pursued before teaching.
Teaching is actually my second career. When I first went to college, I went to Texas State Tech College, and I got an associate’s degree in process control engineering, and then I went to work offshore on the oil platforms, and I did that for about five years. But then I got married during that time, and I had children. That job takes a lot of your time, you have to be offshore for weeks, not months at a time, and I wanted to be home, and coaching baseball and soccer. So that’s what kind of motivated me to go back to school to find a job. That was a better schedule for my kids.
Tell us about how you got into teaching.
My wife became a teacher, and on my days off when I was home off the platform, sometimes I would go help her with her things. She was also the cheerleading coach, and so she actually had a whole lot of responsibilities, and I liked working with kids.
What do you do outside of school for fun? Why?
I’m a big outdoors person. I like hiking, biking, fishing, and hunting.
When people get to know you, what are they most surprised to learn about you?
I don’t have a degree in Spanish. I have a degree in History of Political Science.
Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.
The last two years, my daughter was a teacher here. I was very proud to see her here.
Who is someone you are thankful for and why?
My grandmother because when I was about six, my grandfather died, and she didn’t want to live alone. I went to live with her and she taught me a lot of things, like she taught me how to read, she taught me how to cook, she taught me how to clean, she taught me how to use a blunt shot. All of that has been so important in my life.
What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career similar to yours?
There’s going to be some hiccups, sometimes in the road, you know, some bumps in the road but you just got to keep going on. It’s a very difficult job, but it’s also a super important one.
What do you hope to be remembered for?
My kindness.
What’s on your bucket list?
I want to go to Machu Picchu in the mountains. I’d love to go see that.
Favorites
- Food: Rice and chicken
- Movie: “Doctor Strange”
- Book: “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck
