CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — To be the Teacher of the Year, you have to have more than just respect from your peers -- you have to have the students' trust.
Robstown native Irma Medrano is inspiring future generations and wanted to return home to teach.
"I've always wanted to help students from Robstown since I was born and raised here, and when I graduated from college this is where I wanted to give back to my community," Medrano said.
After a voting process by Medrano's peers, the fifth-grade math teacher ended up becoming Robstown's Teacher of the Year for Elementary Schools.
"So honored, and excited, and proud," Medrano said.
According to Medrano, the biggest reward is being appreciated by her students.
"In order to be respected, I need to respect them. Also when I respect them, they show me all the work they can do," Medrano said.
"She's a really kind-hearted teacher and really helps all the students," Medrano's students said. "She's always energetic, and she always makes us laugh and always tells us her stories."
Medrano has parting advice for any future teachers.
"We're role models to them. We have to make sure that they look up to us. That we do things they will remember for their lifetime," Medrano said.
3News would like to congratulate Medrano on her achievement.