Early this month, an era came to an end as Mr. Nevarez left his post as a Government teacher and took on the greater task of being Vice-Principal.

Mr. Nevarez taught U.S. History, Government, and AP Government for fifteen years; he started at Downey five years ago. Once the position became available, Principal Tom Houts found Mr. Nevarez to be a satisfactory replacement and offered him the position. Later, Nevarez made the right choice for himself – to become the new Vice Principal. It has been a drastic change for the new administrator, since the routine teaching schedule of his past five years has been transformed into a constantly evolving agenda.

“It was hard to leave something that I’ve done for fifteen years,” Nevarez said.

The change did not come easy to Nevarez’s esteemed students who admitted that they would miss their teacher.

“I think he made the right decision. The whole class is going to miss him and his stories, but I think it was the right choice for him to make,” senior Rosanna Calderon said. “He took an opportunity that not a lot of teachers are given.”

It was certainly an adjustment for both his students and himself. Not only was Nevarez leaving a position he had held for over fifteen years, but he also plunged into an area of education he was unfamiliar as with. He claims the hardest part of his job is dealing with students’ parents.

Only a couple of days into his new position, Nevarez felt the intensity of his job, but fellow administrators have played a pivotal role in helping him adjust. Fellow Annex resident Mrs. Sanchez has answered every one of the new administrator’s questions. Nevarez feels busier now because of the new things he is learning each day.

“I have a whole new appreciation for what administrators do,” Nevarez said “I feel so busy that the day flies by.”

Nevarez’s classes were left into good hands, as Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Jones took upon the task to continue with the courses’ outline. Rosenberg was very pleased to hear that Nevarez had mentioned his name when suggesting his replacement.

“I think the world of him,” Rosenberg said. “I learned a lot from him, in case of storytelling and making the concept accessible to the students.”

Rosenberg was a student teacher for Nevarez’s class the previous year and learned a lot from him. Because of his experience, he felt more comfortable accepting the position.
Highly esteemed among the student body and now the administrative aspect of the campus, Nevarez looks forward to a career that focuses on every side of education.