Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
After over a decade of dedication, life-changing detours and personal growth, 40-year-old Jermaine Guerrero has come full circle—returning to his role as an Early Childhood Educator at the South Texas College Child Development Center at the Mid-Valley campus.
A former student, father, refinery worker and child care worker at the center, Guerrero is living proof of resilience, passion and the transformative power of education.
Guerrero’s journey began in 2012 as a field study student at the Child Development Center. It was there he first observed the critical stages of child development and honed essential skills like patience, empathy and reflective thinking.
After two years as a work-study student, Guerrero was promoted to Early Childhood Educator I and earned associate degrees in both Early Child Development and Automotive Technology.
In 2021, he stepped away from the classroom for an opportunity in the oil refinery industry. However, his world shifted when his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Guerrero left his job and returned home to be his father’s caregiver for two years. After his father’s passing, he briefly returned to refinery work—only to realize that the long distances, dangerous working conditions and time away from his two young daughters were no longer sustainable.
“My daughters were too young to understand that I was thousands of miles away,” he said. “They just knew I wasn’t there—and my wife started noticing changes in their behavior. That broke me. It made me realize how much my absence was affecting them.”
His decision to return to the Child Development Center was fueled not only by love for his family but by a renewed sense of purpose.
“I came back because I genuinely love working with the students,” he said. “If I can be a positive role model in their lives even for a short time, that’s enough for me. We’re not just teachers; we’re nurses, play partners, listeners and much more.”
A serendipitous moment thousands of miles from home reminded Guerrero of the lasting impact he had made. While working out of state in Detroit, he was unexpectedly recognized by a young man who had once been a student at the Child Development Center years earlier.
“I was shocked he remembered me,” Guerrero recalled. “He came up to me and said, ‘You were my teacher when I was little.’ In that moment, I realized the influence we have on these kids stays with them, even years later.”
That interaction reignited his passion for teaching and made him reflect deeply on the importance of his work.
“It made me miss being a teacher. I understood then that what we do really matters—we help shape who they become.”
Now back at the Mid-Valley campus, Guerrero approaches each day in the classroom with a renewed sense of purpose and humility. While he teaches and guides the children, he believes the learning goes both ways.
“The kids make the center what it is,” he said. “Each one of them is so different and I love discovering what makes them unique. Whether it’s their sense of humor, their curiosity, or how they see the world—those little things teach me just as much as I teach them.”
For Guerrero, it’s not just about routines and lessons; it’s about building meaningful relationships.
“Every connection matters. When a child opens up to you, trusts you and lights up when they see you—that’s the reward. That’s what keeps me going.”
As the only male teacher at the Child Development Center, Guerrero is on a mission to challenge outdated perceptions and break the stigma surrounding men in early childhood education.
“There have been times when parents felt uneasy about a man caring for their child,” he said. “But I take the time to reassure them, earn their trust and show them that their children are in safe, caring hands.”
Guerrero is a strong advocate for gender diversity in the classroom and believes that qualities like compassion, empathy and nurturing aren’t defined by gender—they’re defined by heart.
“I want to break the stereotype,” he said. “Men can work with young children and be just as nurturing and capable. We can be role models too. Boys need to see that being kind, supportive and emotionally present is just as much a part of being a man.”
Looking ahead, Guerrero’s next goal is to become a lead teacher—a milestone that would mark another step in his remarkable journey of dedication, growth and service.
Information source: STC
