“ In dedication to Eric Calderon-Phangrath , for his unwavering commitment to Fort Miller Middle School . May the culture you ’ ve created forever live in these halls .”

Calderon-Phangrath joined Fort Miller ’ s staff in 2019 as a seventh-grade English teacher and became the campus culture director in 2020 . He strives every day to help students feel connected .

“ I absolutely love it here ,” he said .

He seeks solutions to problems that are keeping students from succeeding , such as missing school because they don ’ t have clean clothes to wear . During the last school year , he initiated fundraising to replace the worn-out clothes washer and dryer at Fort Miller . His efforts led to the district purchasing a washer and dryer for his school and several other campuses .

He enlists student leaders to mentor seventh graders through the Where Everyone Belongs ( WEB ) program . This school year , they are focusing on reducing student absences . WEB leaders meet with their mentees once a week and help them get any supplies they need , whether it ’ s a toothbrush or school supplies .

Calderon-Phangrath said peers are often more successful at getting to the bottom of why a student isn ’ t coming to school , and that their efforts are helping reduce chronic absenteeism .

Calderon-Phangrath identifies with the experiences of

Fort Miller Middle School campus culture director Eric Calderon-Phangrath works on a team building activity with students , clockwise from middle , Jasyuh Perez-Rangel , Adan Mercado , Juan Carlos Salazar , Nathan Rasmy , Zaiden Williams and Antonio Moreno-Cortez . many of his students . His father immigrated from Laos and his mother from Cambodia , and both were field workers . He was designated as an English learner until sixth grade .

He attended King and Carver elementary schools and Computech , graduating from Edison High School in 2005 .

Because of a wonderful teacher in second grade , Calderon-Phangrath decided he would be a teacher . It took a while , but he never wavered from that goal . He attended one semester at Fresno State , then moved to Seattle to help his brother after he was severely wounded in the Iraq War . He was able to return to Fresno State six years later and obtained his bachelor ’ s degree in liberal studies .

At about this time he became a foster parent and has since adopted three boys with special needs , now 8 , 9 and 12 . He decided to get his special education teaching credential and began his career in Fresno Unified at Easterby Elementary School in 2017 .

He also obtained his master ’ s degree in special education and teaches classroom management and introduction to special education in Fresno State ’ s credential program .

Calderon-Phangrath learned in February 2023 that he has stage 1 cardiac cancer and is on the heart transplant list . He is part of a treatment clinical trial at Stanford University Hospital and is now in partial remission and doing well .

His principal , Abraham Olivares , said Calderon-Phangrath is a dynamic teacher who advocates for educational equity by addressing disparities and improving student outcomes .

“ Eric is focused on building a culturally diverse , inclusive environment at Fort Miller . He has championed the development and implementation of strategies and practices to improve the conditions of our campus ,” Olivares said .

“ Eric is student-centered in his approach and exudes an unwavering belief in kids and their ability to learn .”

10 FACES

As to how the mural painted in Calderon-Phangrath ’ s honor came about , Olivares first saw the quote in Calderon-Phangrath ’ s classroom . The quote reads , “ In case no one told you today : hello , good morning , you belong here , you ’ re doing great , we believe in you .”