Mr. Alonzo Garza has been teaching for seven years, the last six at H. M. King High School in Kingsville, Texas. Mr. Garza teaches Automotive Technology and Collision Repair, as well as Aviation Maintenance.

With a Master of Science degree in Occupational Trades and Development, as well as being certified as a Temporary Assistant Principal and Probationary Principal, Mr. Garza brings a love of learning and achievement into the classroom. Mr. Garza spends a lot of his time helping young people prepare for their career, emphasizing that no one can tell them they "can't do it" but themselves. He thinks that technology education classes best serve students by giving them a foundation on which to learn and grow as individuals.

As complex technology becomes more and more mainstream in everyone’s daily life, Mr. Garza feels that the rapid changes are the greatest challenge to young people, "They must continue to learn, ask questions, and stay in tune with quickly changing technologies." But he also feels that students must "step up to the plate" to get the full benefit of what technology has to offer. He says, "It’s a process that starts in school and must continue throughout their lives - learning, asking questions, and analyzing." Mr. Garza wonders, "Will we always be able to question and analyze the development and evolution of technology, or will it out pace us?" Preparing students for these challenges is what makes Mr. Garza the 2007-2008 Technology Education Teacher of the Year.

StudentAware joins the Air Force in congratulating Mr. Garza on his selection as the Technology Education Teacher of the Year for the 2007-2008 school year.