For the past nine years, he has put this talent to good use in the classroom, using the district’ s i-Ready diagnostic tools and other resources to pinpoint students’ strengths and challenges and tailor his lessons to fit the varying skills of his students.

“ I’ ve always been strategic and quick with numbers,” Her said.

At Viking Elementary School, his colleagues affectionately call him“ Mr. Data.”

Combine Her’ s expert data crunching with a passion for teaching and developing deep connections with his students and their families, and it’ s no surprise that his students consistently show above average academic growth.

His students’ reading scores went from 32 % on or above grade level in the first i-Ready test to 68 % on or above in reading. Math scores went from 14 % to 74 %.

Her’ s skills have not gone unnoticed: He was nominated for Fresno Unified’ s Excellence in Education awards and was a finalist in February.

It took Her awhile to achieve his longtime goal of being a teacher. Even going to college was nearly derailed. He graduated from Buchanan High School half a year early, planning to go straight into the workforce to help his parents.

At that time, they were growing corn, tomatoes and chilies on a few rented acres of land and struggling financially. His parents had immigrated to the United States from Laos in the early 1980s. Her is the oldest of eight siblings.

He also was encouraged way back in the third grade by his teacher at Turner Elementary School, Kathy Houghton, who told him he would be a great teacher.

“ Her belief in me, even at such a young age, stayed with me throughout the years,” Her said.

But instead of pursuing teaching, he took a job in the manufacturing industry after graduating from Fresno State. Meanwhile, his wife, Pangia Yang, did become a teacher( she works at Anthony Elementary School). After 15 years working in jobs he did not enjoy, his wife convinced him to go back to school and get his credential. Instead of coming home every night and complaining about his job, Her said,“ I’ m coming home and planning new lessons for the leaders of the future.”

“ Teaching is a profession I hold dear because it allows me to make a direct impact on future generations,” Her said.“ I strive to not only teach academic subjects but also to inspire students to appreciate their cultural heritage and to see the value of hard work and perseverance, much as my parents taught me.”

Her is generous with his ideas, helping his colleagues design lessons that are not only effective, but are fun and engaging.

“ Working together to ensure our students get the best possible education is something I genuinely enjoy and look forward to every day. It keeps me motivated and reminds me why I chose this career in the first place,” Her said.

When Her is not working, much of his time is devoted to watching his four daughters compete for Team USA in in taekwondo, with the goal of making the Olympic team for the 2028 Los Angeles games.

Even at age 16, he gave his first paycheck from his job at McDonald’ s to his mom— $ 124. His mom hung on to it, touched by the gesture and unwilling to cash it. When she found out that her oldest son was not planning on going to college,“ she was not a happy camper,” Her said.

“ Mom always wanted me to be a teacher,” he said.

Viking Elementary School teacher Anthony Her works with his fourth-grade students on a project.

9