James Ryan Spence

Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I didn't realize that I wanted to pursue a career in education until I started doing it. Being a musician was something I always enjoyed, and earning a degree in music education seemed like a pursuit that would be both challenging and enjoyable. I believe that God chose this path for me because He knew how fulfilling it would be for me. I had some amazing teachers growing up, but my most memorable was definitely my own band director, Mr. Gonzalez. Much of who I am now is shaped by him.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There have been quite a few memorable experiences over the years, but recently we have been blessed to have our middle school band students invited to perform at a San Antonio Spurs game. We stopped in Kingsville on the way and toured the new music department facilities there, and we also stopped at the Alamo for a tour before going to the game. For many of our students who do not have the means to travel out of our area, it was wonderful to see how thrilled they were by the experience.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would likely use those funds to pay off some of my student loan debt from my masters degree program. In addition, I would likely look into using some of those funds as a down payment on a home. With prices and interest rates what they are, it has become increasingly difficult to purchase a home in this economy on a teacher's salary. I would also donate a portion to my local church, where I serve on the worship and production teams.