“It’s important we remember what he stood for, his passion for learning, and continue to learn from that,” principal Nate Driver said. “And I think that that’s something that the leaders on this campus are looking forward to memorializing or honoring him in some way.”
On Monday, Nov. 20, longtime AHS Spanish teacher Michael Garcia tragically passed away at the age of 60 while at his home in Haltom City.
Garcia had worked in the high school since 2016, garnering a reputation as outgoing and determined.
“He worked extremely hard to get to where he was,” Driver said. “He really did have a lot of work ethic and a lot of passion for what he did, and devoted lots of time and energy. Just knowing that kind of passion he brought to the table, he had a big impact on the campus and our students.”
During his time here, he was known to be a friendly face to all; in his downtime he often walked the hallways and conversed with teachers and students alike, helping create a welcoming environment for everyone on campus.
“Mr. Garcia was a colleague, but he was also a friend,” English teacher Lou Ann Burnham said “Someone that anytime he saw me would ask how I was doing. He took that time. We were not in the same hallway, and I didn’t see him every day, but I came to enjoy the interactions that we had together.“
Garcia graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Economics, whereafter he began pursuing a career in Spanish education and eventually landed here in Azle.
He taught students various levels of Spanish over his tenure here at our high school, and he has truly left his mark on the staff and students.
“It’s hard to realize that he’s truly gone,” Burnham said with tears welling in her eyes. “He dedicated his life to teaching and really made a difference here at Azle.”
