Medina Valley ISD teacher wins KENS 5 EXCEL Award [Video]

SAN ANTONIO — Whether you call her Coach or Mrs., there’s no mistake in what you’re getting in Sonia Chapa’s English Language Arts class.

The minute you step into her classroom at Loma Alta Middle School, you can feel her energy. Chapa doesn’t waste anytime, circling the classroom nonstop and checking on her students, “Probably because of my coaching background,” Chapa said, “I believe every first year teacher needs to go teach PE or coach a sport. That’s where I learn my classroom management.”

She now juggles both but no matter what she’s doing, Chapa stays true to herself.

“She’s tough on us,” one student said. “She just pushes us.”

It’s the sort of tough her students admire and respect. They can …