Three decades later, student-teacher bond extended

Constance Williams remembers spending her days learning in Rosa Briseño's second-grade classroom.

That was in Pampa, Texas. The calendar showed 1989.

Fast forward 28 years. Williams now lives in Clovis with her husband, Jamaal, and their three children. She graduated from Eastern New Mexico University, but returned to Clovis in 2011 when Jamaal landed a job at Southwest Cheese.

Briseño now lives in Clovis as well. She's been teaching elementary school for 35 years.

Her travels have taken her from Artesia to Pampa to Clovis to Springer, back to Artesia and now back to Clovis. She's been here since 1996, spending the past five school years as a kindergarten teacher at La Casita Elementary.

Williams had no idea her teacher from three decades ago lived in the same city; likewise for Briseño.

In a twist probably best summed up to fate, Williams' son, Chief, landed in Briseño's classroom at La Casita this year. Separated by nearly 30 years and 160-plus miles, Williams views it as a fortunate twist.

"She had been so influential in my life, teaching my two older brothers and myself over 25 years ago," Williams said. "She wasn't at the school for my third-grade year. I had heard she moved and it made me sad. Her enthusiasm for learning and life was so vibrant and genuine."

Now, 6-year-old Chief is part of the school's bilingual program at La Casita. The Williamses always wanted their children to learn a second language, but private lessons and computer programs can be expensive. That's why they saw the opportunities at La Casita as invaluable.

"Chief has thrived in the bilingual program and has developed a firm foundation in Spanish and English," said Williams, who will finish her online master's degree in social work at Western New Mexico University in December. "This program opens opportunities for my son that are endless. I feel lucky that in little old Clovis, my son is able to attend public school and get immersed in a foreign language. It's been such a blessing."

Briseño and Williams both shed tears of emotion when the pair walked down memory lane last week as the school year nears completion.

"In my 35 years of teaching, I'm in awe of parents like Mrs. Williams who handle discipline well and strive to be an awesome mother," said Briseño, who grew up as one of 10 children in her family. "It's a credit to her and what she does.

"Chief has had tremendous success with the bilingual program," Briseño added. "He can read and interpret in Spanish already. Not many students do as well as he's doing as a second-language learner. He's been a pleasure to have in the classroom this year."

Briseño said she'll probably retire from teaching in the next five years. She's seen the impact she's had as an educator for decades and in various locales.

The Williams family has certainly experienced it firsthand.

Rob Langrell is the publisher of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at: [email protected]