As a Camp Pendleton-based Marine infantryman, Louis Madrid was ready for just about anything.
He was the point man for a nine-man infantry squad that inspected explosive ordinances, and he served as the decision-maker on daily Afghanistan patrols. As a result of his service, Madrid received the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) medal for cooperation with Afghanistan and coalition forces during Operation Enduring Freedom.
“My job took me all over the world. It forced me think on my feet. The Marine Corps helped me to adapt and overcome and keep pushing forward. It was definitely an experience for me. I was happy to serve my country.”
A new teacher at Lucerne Valley Middle High School, Madrid brings that experience as a Marine, along with a bachelor’s degree in history he earned last year at UCLA to his teaching position.
EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL
“Mr. Madrid will serve as an excellent role model for the students at Lucerne Valley Middle High School,” said Lucerne Valley Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Nate Lambdin, who also serves as a co-principal of the Middle High School. “His experience serving our country in the military coupled with the incredible education he received at UCLA, and his passion for teaching history will truly benefit our students.”
While he was working on his teaching credential at Cal State University San Bernardino following his graduation at UCLA in 2019, he served as a student teacher at Richardson Prep Hi Middle School in San Bernardino.
“Louis Madrid is a rare gem already possessing the qualities most principals seek to develop in newly credentialed teachers — intelligence, creativity, interpersonal skills, concern for others, devotion to all students, dependability, and loyalty,” according to Madrid’s student teaching supervisor, Robin Braithwaite.
Yanira Rodriguez, a social studies teacher who worked with Madrid at Richardson School, said he is “a kind and honest person with a high degree of integrity.”
"OPTIMISTIC" AND "EXCITED"
The first few weeks teaching in Lucerne Valley have been very different. As all Middle High School teachers are doing, he is teaching via the online webinar program, Zoom. “I would have preferred to meet them in person,” he said of the first week of school, but he doesn’t let that get in the way. “I want to build that sense of community, to get them to feel comfortable.”
Even through the computer screen, Madrid is able to develop a rapport and sense students’ needs. Like in a normal classroom, the teacher and sense physical cues from students.
“Is everyone doing OK?” he will ask. He and students give the “thumbs up” sign. “We’re finding different ways to talk to each other.”
It’s that willingness to explore new ways to teach students that impressed school administrators during their interview with him.
“When Nate (Lambdin) and I interviewed Louis of course one of the first topics we discussed was Distance Learning and how he would approach it,” Co-Principal Kelly Boeing said. “Most teachers went into teaching to work directly with students, to help them grow, learn, and to inspire them. Distance learning has turned the profession on its face.”
Veteran teachers are saying that they feel like first-year teachers again while new teachers are taking it in stride, according to Boeing.
“Louis responded to my question with excitement. He said that we have this unique opportunity and ability to teach our kids all of these new skills out of necessity, not choice, as it had been in years past. He was so optimistic and excited about what this could mean for our kids that he had no room for the trepidation that many others have expressed. His excitement is genuine and contagious!”
Not only is Madrid impressed with Lucerne Valley students, but he is impressed with fellow staff members.
“I’ve met met them both virtually and in person. They are just wonderful people. They been very supportive and ask me if there is anything I need. It’s a super friendly, welcoming culture. It’s made that transition so much easier and so much smoother.”
One thing’s for sure in these uncertain times: once a Marine always a marine. That means the Marine motto, the Latin phrase “Semper Fi,” is always top of mind for Madrid.
“I carry that on for the rest of my life with my colleagues and with my students. It’s equally applicable to myself as a teacher: always faithful, always keep pushing forward.”
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Joining Madrid as new teachers at the Middle High School are middle school math and science teacher Nolan Almodovar, specialized academic instructor Stephaine Barden, English Language Arts teacher Mariah McClellan, Cadet Corp instructor Jacob Sedillo, health teacher Jessica LaVoise, and CTE Law instructor Steven Gaskell.