Joseph Collatos 

• Positions: AP/Level Government , Beginner Advanced Debate, Speech and Debate Coach  
• Bachelors/Degrees & from where: Bachelors in Political Science and Minor In Philosophy, Texas A&M University 
• School Activities: Debate 
• Years at Caney Creek:  9
• Years Teaching: 9

How would other people describe you?

 Mr. Green would describe me as a troll, but I think others would describe me as an easy going person, sarcastic individual but also hopefully they would describe me as like a caring individual as well , is what I hope.

Was there a career you wanted to pursue OR pursued before teaching.

My plan since I was 10 years old was to be an attorney and then literally my last semester in college I had a career shift. 

Tell us about how you got into teaching. 

 I was at A&M University and I sat down with an advisor and asked them based on my grades and work ethic what they would recommend and they said that they definitely saw more passion with me when I talked about teaching than as an attorney.

What do you do outside of school for fun? Why? 

I spend a lot of time with my daughter. My wife and i like to take her out. So we take her to soccer games or events that our friends kids are in so like she can watch them and everything like that. My kid takes up most of time 

When people get to know you, what are they most surprised to learn about you? 

People are really shocked when I tell the, i don’t like tea or coffee. They just taste gross. I hate  both of them. They are yuck

Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.

I mean, the answer it is, like with your kid and everything. But I think, like for me, it wasn’t when I felt most proud, but it kind of reassured me that I was doing the right thing as I was working. It was my first year teaching, and an assistant principal came in my room, and it was at the end of the day, and they looked around and my room was a mess from my kids. And she looked around and she said, you can tell learning took place in here, and that kind of, just like, being a first year teacher just kind of made me feel proud of myself, of like, Alright, I am doing a good job. And like, even without her looking at my students’ grades or anything, she could just tell from the environment in my room that, like, learning took place, which really made me feel good. 

Who is someone you are thankful for and why?

I am thankful. Besides the obvious answer of my wife here at work, there’s a lot of people I’m thankful for. I’m thankful for Dr Benson and the constant support she gives her teachers, as well as the programs. Thankful for Miss Wicks, who is an amazing department chair, who has always been there, both personally and professionally. I’m thankful for Mr. Green and everything he does for this campus, but also all the work he does with the speech and debate team as well. I’m thankful for my varsity members of the speech and debate team, because they have really stepped up this year and helped out a lot, especially with all the new people we have, which takes a lot off of Mister greens and mine shoulders, which we both are very grateful for.

What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career similar to yours?

Don’t be afraid to fail, and don’t ever be content with where you’re at. I think we as people, we’re just afraid to fail in general, but especially in education, like, try a new lesson, try something out. It might not work, and that’s okay. Like, we’re all like, we have to teach everything, and we have to get them prepared for graduation and prepared for star, and it’s like, it’s okay that every lesson isn’t amazing and try something new and different, because it might be amazing, but don’t be afraid to fill don’t be afraid to try something new. And if you get content with where you’re at, that’s where you end up becoming complacent. And that ends up not doing anyone a service, the students or yourself.

What do you hope to be remembered for? 

I think, like in education, I just wanted to be remembered for like and, you know, doing everything I can for the students and like the students actually like knowing that I cared that they learned and that I cared about them personally. So like in work, like remembered for, like people, just knowing that there was a care there in all regards in life, I want to be remembered for my infamously good looks.

What’s on your bucket list? 

I want to go to grace. I want to go to Italy. I also want to win the lottery so that you can retire and move to Belize , the compound that my wife and I have been looking at that we want.

Favorite 

• Food: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese
• Song/Artist/Music: “Alicia Keys” 
• Movie: “My Cousin Vinny” 
• Book: “1984” by George Orwell