EL PASO, TX, September 19, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Victor M. Renteria with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Renteria celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
His "first stage" (1950-1970) began with the "listening/learning" phase. It opened with Brown vs Board of Education, included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and the entire "British Invasion." It ended with the fulfillment of President Kennedy's challenging goal "… to land and safely return a man from the moon …": and; with his pursuit of obtaining a degree. Each of these would frame his pursuits in the future they have so proven. Though neither of his parents went beyond the fifth grade, both were excellent teachers. From his father he learned how to use any hand tool imaginable, and how to play foot-, base- and even basketball. From his mother, he learned how to dance: many social skills and every laundry and kitchen skill needed to live independently. He feels that he has fulfilled the Commandment to "honor thy parents"; and have replaced them with his brother and niece, Oscar and Jacqueline who are now his sources of inspiration, dedication and motivation. He owes enormous "Heart-print: thanks to all his teachers from Alta Vista and Hillside Elementary; through Ross Intermediate and Burges High School. And, yes, he can still name each one of them by grade and subject.
His "second stage" (1970-1990) was developing and using his growing "skills bank." It was highlighted by "disco"; the phrase "… wax on, wax off …" and ended with the entry of "enablers" who would eventually assist his development in a vocation in which he had never thought of entering. His biggest personal milestone was his graduation from the University of Texas El Paso (formerly Texas Western College); and his "intrapersonal growth" as a member of Gamma Gamma Chapter of TKE. His fraternity brothers and the fraternity experience helped him add more to his "Skills bank" for teamwork, management planning, personal responsibility and interpersonal activities.
During his undergraduate schooling, Mr. Renteria twice served as President of the Gamma Gamma Chapter of TKE and once as n Chapter Historian. He was recognized as a TKE International Honor Historian. In June 2018 Mr. Renteria was notified he is now designated as a "Life Loyal Teke" for his contributions to the TKE Educational Fund. Mr. Renteria had memberships in the International Society for Technology in Education, the Mathematical Association of America, and is a 40 plus year contributor to both the University of Texas El Paso Alumni Association and the Tau Kappa Epsilon Alumni Association.
His "Sensai", Lynn L. Nichols and each of his belt-level instructors: David Burrola Sr. and Jr., James Hebert, Gregory K. Allen, Mike Grijalva, Rayme Parra, Glenn Pierce and Daryl Watts taught him that through persistent demonstration, setting rigorous sessions requiring high expectations and standard which are metaphoric for the possible difficulties in life. He attained a fourth-degree black belt in karate, but that 4th degree he feels was more honorary and for persistence than physical skills. He taught Butokan Taekwondo for 19 years.
Prior to entering education, he worked in the field of electronics manufacturing. He was self-employed from 1985 to 1990. Mr. Renteria was a Production Test Supervisor for Rockwell International in El Paso for two years and a Production Test Technician in Quality Assurance for GUS Manufacturing, also in El Paso., for five years. He also worked as the Engineering Content instructor for the summer with the Texas Pre-Engineering Program (TexPrep) at the University of Texas El Paso from 1992 to 2008.
He is a former member of the Parental Task Force and Campus Improvement Team, both of which he chaired for about three years. He is a certified teacher in the state of Texas and is a certified Near Pod User and began on-line hours with Microsoft In Education. Moreover, he had well over 600 CPE hours from attending Continuing Professional Development sessions provided by El Paso Independent School District.
Being a recipient of a 25-Year Service Pin in June 2018 from EPISD, Mr. Renteria has also been named a National Honor Roll's Outstanding Teacher every year since 2004. He has been cited in the 59th and 60th editions of Who's Who in America and the 7th and 8th editions of Who's Who in American Education.
His current, continuing stage (1990 – present) includes the entry of "Guardian angel enablers" who helped him realize that he must continue improving his "teaching Skills bank" to fulfill his part in completing LIFE's "cycle of paying it forward!" LIFE's inclusion of these "guardian angel enablers" eased the passing of both of his beloved, unschooled, but extremely talented, gifted and generous parents. He owes this stage of his career to, firstly, Phd's Woods, Anne Batcheder, and Norma Rodrigues of UTEP's Alternative Certification Program: and Phd's J. Michael Gray, Sam and Marsha Self, Manuel Berriozabel and Sally Blake for his 16 summers as a TexPrep instructor. Then, of course, most profound thanks to Paul J. Strelzin, his hiring Principal, who retained him after being surplused each of his first three years, the writings of Phd's Howard Gardener, Arthur L. Costa, Bena Kallick and Ruby K. Payne and Mrs's Kathy Seufert (recently deceased before her time), Amy Boatright at EPISD's Staff Development. The most significant teaching event of this time was his leaving an unfulfilling lab assignment of six years and returning to a "teaching classroom." He owes this rejuvenating return to his colleagues, at the time teachers Mrs's Patti True and Cecilia LaFon and Mr. Nick Cobos, his "interim Principal."
In this continuing stage, the most important contributors to his earning the "Lifetime Achievement Award": have been all his past and present students and colleagues at Bowie High School who have made his career challenging, meaningful, purposeful and enjoyable. To Mr. Renteria, every day in every year presents more opportunities to learn more about each student. The challenge is in learning students' personalities, skills, deficiencies, life goals and "what" it will take (this year) to motivate each one to reach their potential. "Paying it forward" became his motto upon hearing that phrase at a fraternity brother's memorial service. He thinks that phrase embodies and describes teaching the best.
Outside of his work in the classroom, Mr. Renteria has been a longtime contributor to Special Olympics (since 1996), SPLC (1993), Paralyzed Veterans of America, MDA, Habitat for Humanity, and the WWII Museum. When Mr. Renteria isn't teaching, he enjoys several avocations in his free time. He loves staying active by reading, stretching, weightlifting, dancing, and was a jogger. He collect CDs and other rock and roll memorabilia as well.
All of the above listed people in his "stages of his career in education," in their own, individual/collective way(s), through "life's contact" and personalities are the reasons why he is remaining in the classroom ad continuing "to try to" make a difference by "Paying It Forward" as best he can.
Finally, he would also like to pay an extra special thanks to whichever former (unknown or, now, unremembered) colleague or student nominated him in 2004 because without that individual this totally unexpected honor would probably not have ever occurred.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Victor M. Renteria has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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