PATRICIO SÁENZ FLORES, EdD

According to publishing company Merriam-Webster, Inc., to teach, is to instruct students about certain subjects; Mr. Saenz has shown me teaching means much, much more. What used to be my ordinary History teacher turned into a mentor, exploiting abilities in me I never knew I had. I am now not the person I was a year ago; I have transformed into an entrepreneur. Mr. Saenz made me realize I was capable of doing things I would have never imagined before: he made me a leader.

Mr. Saenz has shown me that when put into a “no-win situation, you have to rewrite the rules”. Watching his rigorous work ethics and responsibility among others, this man is no ordinary teacher, but a sensei. Throughout his work in TECHO, he has become a source of greatness- emitting extraordinary rays of ambition and determination. He forms adolescents in a way so that they can reach their maximum. He pushes you, he cares for you, he protects you. Mr. Saenz listens, recommends and executes. Devoting himself to serve others, Mr. Saenz has worked and works intensively to achieve a better world.

Mr. Saenz just popped into my life as my Mexican History teacher in 10th grade. I always knew there was more to do, and generally welcomed challenges, but I never made a deliberate effort to push myself. Thankfully, that all changed after I met and became friends with the most impactful, welcoming, and hilarious teacher I have ever known, if that makes any sense. Mr. Saenz motivated me, pushed me on and encouraged me with that infectious happiness and enthusiasm he has and talks with. In my three years of knowing him, he has become a very trustworthy friend and teacher – in a word, my mentor.

After having the pleasure of working with Mr. Saenz for two years, I learned that Sir Winston Churchill had it right "This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure." Mr. Saenz has taken me on an unexpected journey that has taken a turn for the great. He is indubitably a teacher capable of enriching students lives through his great teaching, excellent advice, and by providing life changing opportunities.

I had the privilege of being in Mr. Saenz’s Social Studies 9 class, and I can honestly say that was the best history class I’d ever taken. Being a lover of history myself, I’ve enjoyed every Social Studies class; not quite as much as I enjoyed his class, however. Mr. Saenz is honestly one of the nicest, wittiest, most down-to-earth teachers in our school and he is well loved within the student community. I opened up in his class, expressed myself and began to value my academic strength. Mr. Saenz does this to everyone he meets; he explores student potential, makes sure they are aware of it, and is the best teacher I’ve ever had.

In 19 years, I had never met a better teacher, adviser and friend than Mr. Saenz. The past three years have been the best ones of my life especially because I got to grow immensely both intellectually and spiritually thanks to Mr. Saenz’s teachings. He found a timid and mediocre young man and turned me into an ambitious thinker with a strong sense for service and love for his friends. He is the type of person that takes great pleasure from small acts of kindness, the ones nobody notices and expects no recognition or reward ever. Mr. Saenz has taught me (and so many others) one of the hardest skills one can ever be taught: enjoying each and every moment.

Never before had I met a teacher who was considered a friend as much as a figure of authority until I entered Mr. Sáenz’s AP Psychology course. Garnering a lucrative learning environment is no simple task; yet, he manages this so swiftly, instructing students with patience as he provides countless, unique explanatory examples of the topic at hand. His soft humor keeps the crowd alive and engaged, and he is never less than eager to share his vast knowledge with every student. Above this, however, he strives to make himself available for anyone who seeks additional help, be it in matters that pertain to his course subjects, or any other topic he may be familiar with. He is widely admired by the student body for taking on advisor responsibilities for various student-led groups – which have produced noteworthy stories of success. Without a doubt, our school has transcended previous expectations in both the curricular and leadership arenas alike since Mr. Sáenz’s induction to the staff.

I don't get along with most teachers. It's a bold statement but I can honestly say that my relationship with educators during my academic career has been one packed with irritation and spite (from both sides). However, Mr. Saenz was one of the rare ones, an outlier that kept me in check and ran a thoroughly enjoyable class. He is a teacher who is genuinely willing to understand your personality and character. In his class, students feel appreciated, a great learning environment is created, and your individual learning style is respected. As well as helping me succeed in IB psychology, Mr. Saenz helped me run a passion project and really encouraged me to pursue my goals. Additionally, he was a great mentor, respectfully encouraging me to stay out of trouble, helping me make better life choices.

Upon the start of my senior year, I became aware I would be getting a new HL Psychology teacher and extended essay advisor. I was unsure of what to expect of Mr. Saenz, but it soon became clear to me that he would play a much bigger role in my life than simply teacher. Without any hesitation, he offered his insights in both education and life. He guided me through extremely difficult situations and gave me an outlet to convey my emotions that I had previously not realised I needed. Despite being a well-accomplished teacher, Mr. Saenz is the embodiment of a great person. I would not be the man I am today with his unerring guidance, support and care. He is a true inspiration for me and continues to drive my need to improve myself as a person. He has moulded my mind into that of a critical thinker through his rigour and motivation, leading me to accomplish goals in education that I thought impossible. He has enriched the lives of his students and should be very proud of his influence. His teachings and advice are implemented in my life on a daily basis and I will forever be grateful to have had him in my life as a teacher, mentor and most importantly, friend.

I was extremely grateful to have Mr. Saenz as a teacher and service learning advisor because of how motivated, hardworking, and passionate he is about his work and students. He had one of the most friendly, fun classroom environments and I always looked forward to his psychology class. Mr. Saenz cared deeply about my academic progress in IB Psychology but more importantly, he supported me in achieving my personal goals. He is a teacher who definitely goes beyond the classroom to engage with his students. He approached me within the first semester of 11th grade and said that he saw leadership potential in me and would help me create a service club at ISK. I chose to start a walk/run to raise money for Kenyans suffering from cancer. Mr. Saenz was there every step of the way for encouragement, advice and help. It wouldn't have been the success that it was without him. Mr. Saenz saw something in me that I had not yet realized myself, bringing forth my best qualities and skills. He taught me to persevere and that even when you hit a roadblock, there will always another path leading to the same destination.

In the 3 years of having Dr. Saenz as my Psychology teacher and club advisor, I can safely say that he is the most unique teacher I have ever met. While the word unique may denote ‘strange’ or ‘weird’, I’d say that in the realm of education, unique is exactly what students need. Like most teachers, he is very committed to providing students all the knowledge they require to apprehend the subject. Like some teachers, he ensures his students understand course material and think critically on discussed subject matters. Like a few teachers, he pushes his students to excel, challenging them to reach higher. But never have I met a teacher that is more committed to the individual growth of his students. He is the rarity that many students, such as myself, didn’t realize we needed until he came into our lives. And, it’s the qualities that make him an amazing mentor and advisor, that are precisely responsible for what makes him an incredible educator and exceptional person. He understands his students, their wants and their needs; making time, even outside of class, to help them with whatever it may be. He always made it a point to remind us that it’s okay to struggle, after all, as he’d put it, “how does one understand they’ve reached success if they have never failed?” Dr. Saenz listens to his students, cares about their opinions, and pushes them to constantly aspire improvement; and for these reasons, I will always be grateful to have been his student.