Golden Apple Award: Tiffany Rodgers, Shimotsu Elementary - Sharyland ISD

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — CBS 4 and ValleyCentral.com are honoring teachers across the Rio Grande Valley who are committed to academic excellence.

For our first teacher of December, CBS 4 went to Shimotsu Elementary School at Sharyland ISD to surprise a 3rd-grade teacher whose love and care for her students has a lasting impact on them even in the most difficult times.

Tiffany Rodgers has been known to always have a positive influence on her students in her 18 years of teaching. However, Rodgers' influence has also made an impact on the parents as well, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angelina Martinez's two children were students of Mrs. Rodgers. She wrote to ValleyCentral to nominate her for the Golden Apple Award. Martinez said Rodgers helped her and her kids get through the most difficult time of their lives.

“COVID hit, so everybody stayed home," Martinez said. "My mother passed away from COVID, along with my aunt and my two uncles. So not only were my children being embraced through all that, I was a nervous wreck, just knowing that soon they were going to be back in school."

Martinez said once her children returned to school in person they lost a fourth family member to the pandemic. Martinez credits Rodgers for keeping her kids on track in the classroom during this difficult time but also being an inspiration to her.

"Had she not been there, had she not reassured us with her love, her passion for teaching just the person that she is, I don't know how I would have done it to send my kids to school," Martinez said. "She's a true inspiration, a teacher beyond those four classroom walls, she truly goes over and beyond every student and with every parent.”

As CBS 4 surprised Rodgers in her classroom, she said it is the parents' support that keeps her going and loves to see her students grow beyond the classroom.

"I love teaching reading," Rodgers said. "Whenever parents tell me, you've gotten my child into reading, you've gotten them to love reading, that to me is a big deal, because I know it'll have an effect for the rest of their lives."

Rodgers said she has always had a special bond with her students throughout the years.

"We talk a lot in class about how we're all special and we're all different, and how no one's more important than anyone else," she said. "We need to be able to see that in each other. I tell them, what makes you different makes you special, and I love to see them recognize that in themselves."

Rodgers' former students said they have never forgotten their time with her and said her influence still has an effect on them today.

“I didn't know if I was actually gonna learn a lot from her," said Hope Martinez. "But at the end of the day, I actually learned far and beyond what I actually really thought I would."

She would always make things fun and joyful," said Jeremiah Martinez. "I think she deserves this award because it really would make her feel happy."

CBS 4 will honor two teachers every month until March. Visit ValleyCentral’s Golden Apple Award to nominate your favorite teacher.