Twenty years ago, Megan Speckman was one of the first students at the newly opened Medeiros Elementary School in north Turlock. On Wednesday, Megan Speckman – now Megan Reid, a first grade teacher at her alma mater — shared a little of her Medeiros past during a celebration of the school’s anniversary. In third grade, a young Megan wrote that she wanted to grow up and become a teacher at Medeiros, a dream that is now a reality. She encouraged the current students to also reach for their dreams.
“One day you might find yourself standing here too, looking back and realizing just how much this place and people helped shape you. You may not have been here the day that Medeiros opened its doors, but each day that you are here, you add something special to this wonderful place. You are the new legacy of Medeiros and whatever dreams you have, we are here to support you every step of the way. Always reach for the stars. Happy 20th anniversary, and here’s to many more years of learning, growth and community,” said Reid.
The school opened in 2006, and was named after Sandra Tovar Medeiros, “a beloved teacher and reading specialist who dedicated her career to helping children develop a love for learning and literacy,” according to Medeiros Principal Sumeet Singh.
“Her passion for students continues to inspire what we do every day on this campus. Over the past 20 years, Medeiros has grown into a vibrant school community serving hundreds of students each year in grades TK through six. Today, we proudly educate roughly 750 students each year and provide programs that support the diverse needs of our learners. But numbers and programs only tell part of the story. The true strength of Medeiros has always been its culture. Our students know what it means to be a Medeiros star,” said Singh.
The 20th anniversary celebration included visits from former principals Annal Ellerson, Dr. Jen Yacoub and the school’s first principal Al Silveira.
“We became stronger each subsequent year as we hired additional teachers, caring, loving wonderful people, support staff and we worked hard and we had a lot of fun, but we always placed students first in a safe, positive and productive learning environment. And to the students that stand here before me, I’m going to tell you something that I told our students 20 years ago: Don’t worry about being the best. You don’t have to be the best. All you have to do is your best. Do your best every day,” said Silveira.
