Colorful loteria cards line the classroom wall. The sound of Luis Miguel echoes through the room and sombreros pile the desk.

AP Spanish Language and Culture and Native Spanish speakers teacher Lucy Aguilar began teaching at Bellaire in 2011.

Prior to Bellaire, Aguilar worked at Yates High School for four years until a budget cut relocated her to the home of the Cardinals.

“My favorite thing about Bellaire is being able to sponsor a club because you get to meet the kids more personally,” Aguilar said. “It’s about the connections and getting to know the kids. I know a lot but some of them don’t like the classroom. With the club I get to know them more personally.”

In addition to the six class periods that she teaches, Aguilar sponsors three clubs: Spanish Club, Spanish Language Association and Spanish for Good.

“Spanish Club is my favorite,” Aguilar said. “We do so many events and reach a lot of students, it’s a very successful club.”

One side of teaching Aguilar doesn’t enjoy is grading.

“I try to grade and work as much as I can during the school day so that I don’t have anything to do by the time I get home,” Aguilar said. “AP exams make it hard to balance because I have to take a lot of papers home so while my husband drives or I’m at my mom’s house I’m there grading.”

Aguilar graduated from the University of Houston, majoring in Communications with a minor in Spanish. From there, she completed an internship at Telemundo before moving to Channel 57 for four years.

Starting as a Master Control Operator, Aguilar switched into the role of the station’s Web Content Manager.

“My favorite part about working there was meeting celebrities like Lucero,” Aguilar said. “I didn’t like the people; they’re not nice. It’s a hard industry to be in because you have to have tough skin, people are always talking about you.”

Contrary to the television industry, Aguilar said her co-workers in the teaching field are the nicest people in the world.

Working alongside Mica Segal de la Garza and Esther Galo, the team of Spanish teachers work together to put together the Hispanic Heritage Month program and the annual BISA festival.

While the Hispanic Heritage Month program highlights Hispanic culture, Aguilar encourages students of all backgrounds to participate.

“My favorite part of taking AP Spanish with Mrs. Aguilar is participating in the cultural aspect like crafts but more importantly dancing,” junior Koen Plank said. “Our class performed a dance for Hispanic Heritage and it was a lot of fun and definitely memorable.”

Aguilar’s favorite memories at Bellaire are at BISA fest. There, clubs have the opportunity to represent their cultural background through performances and food.

“BISA is my favorite because when I first came to Bellaire, Hispanic culture wasn’t represented and me along with the other teachers began working on it,” Aguilar said. “And now, I think that the Hispanic dances are the ones that stick out the most.”

Spanish Club events coordinator, senior Karla Ramirez, said putting dances together for performances is stressful but fun.

“When we have upcoming performances, it’s a lot of weekly practices and even more work for officers because we have to begin choreographing and planning way in advance,” Ramirez said.

Despite facing stressful times while managing a club, Ramirez said having a sponsor like Aguilar makes the club worth it.

“Mrs. Aguilar is truly the best sponsor we could have,” Ramirez said. “She gives us so much creative freedom to lead the club how we want, but she’s also always there when we need her. Our relationship with her has extended beyond just club officers and a sponsor.”

Spanish Club senior officers recently took a field trip to San Antonio where they explored Hispanic cultural and historical backgrounds of the city.

“We had this idea for the field trip back in October so we started planning it and Mrs. Aguilar was completely supportive,” Ramirez said. “All of us officers had an amazing time because we’re all seniors and close with Mrs. Aguilar, so it was fun getting an opportunity like this.”