As a child, Mariah Garza remembers crawling under classroom decks to pick up trash on Beautification Day, tending school gardens, and learning to play string instruments and the accordion at UT Elementary. Years later, she’s back—this time on the other side of the classroom.
When it came time to apply for her two-semester internship, the University of Texas at Austin senior chose UT Elementary without hesitation. The special education major was a Little Longhorn herself from PreK-Grade 5. Her family’s UT Elementary roots run deep: both her older sister and younger sister attended the school as well as her cousins. She was also active in the Neighborhood Longhorns, one of UT Austin’s outreach programs that encourages young students to do well in school and aspire to college. The impact of this large UT community shaped who she is and who she is becoming.
“I remember all of my teachers, they were amazing. Miss Kelly, my kindergarten teacher, inspired me. When things were hard at home, she comforted me and reassured me. All of the teachers met me halfway. They gave me a lot of grace but also held me up to high standards, which was good for me,” Mariah explains.
She attended the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in middle school and then Del Valle High School where she initially pursued a health science track, switching to education her junior year.
“In the back of my mind, I always wanted to be a teacher,” she says.
An interactive program that placed high school students in elementary classrooms solidified that goal. It was also where she discovered her calling in Life Skills education.
“I was influenced by one of my cousin’s experiences—it wasn’t great. She was neglected as a special ed student,” Mariah says. Everything clicked when she sat in on a Life Skills class at one of the elementary schools. “I realized how passionate I am to help individuals to navigate a world that is not so inclusive or accepting as it should be,” she explains.
Back at UT Elementary, Mariah has immersed herself in teaching special education. She credits the SPED team for shaping her growth, from implementing math supports to learning dyslexia interventions across grade levels. Just as importantly, she has learned to collaborate as part of a team.
She also points to her professors in the College of Education. “I can tell the professors truly care—the feedback and resources they provide are unlimited,” Mariah says.
Her internship mentor, teacher John Cheek, has played a key role in building her confidence in the classroom.
“Early on, Mariah stood out in the way she actively seeks out feedback and immediately puts it into practice, which is a strong indicator of the kind of educator she is becoming,” Cheek says. “The students respond incredibly well to her, and in less than a year she has already carved out a meaningful space in the classroom, not only contributing her voice but stepping into the role of a true partner in co-teaching.”
For Mariah, there is no place like her UT Elementary home. “It feels amazing being back here. I was so happy and excited to return. I’m so happy the school is still making an impact on students like it did for me. The Little Longhorns inspire me every day,”