If you have ever visited CAST Med High School, chances are you may have run into Mr. Neri or heard him teaching his class. His interactive teaching style and belief in his students are two of the big reasons he was named CAST Med’s Teacher of the Year this year. Neri is a San Antonio native. Having grown up on the east side, his family moved to North East ISD, however he still felt connected to his roots. He fondly remembers visiting Market Square on the weekends to see his dad and his band play, which is where his interest in music also started.

Mr. Neri graduated from MacArthur High School, and later attended San Antonio College. He then transferred to Texas State University, and later the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a degree in Nuclear Engineering and Physics. After graduation, Neri was interested in becoming a doctor, so he began working at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. When he finished his premed classes, Neri moved back to San Antonio and began working at Methodist Hospital. However, after speaking with doctors and reassessing his situation, Mr. Neri realized he needed to commit to a career path soon. While exploring different avenues, he discovered that teaching was something that he genuinely enjoyed.

Through San Antonio College’s Educator Preparation Program, Mr. Neri met Dr. Rodriguez, CAST Med’s previous principal. Rodriguez suggested to Neri that he come work for him at Kennedy High School, and Neri was hired as a long-term substitute teacher. This position then turned into a full-time teaching position as the school’s Biology teacher. During his time at Kennedy, Mr. Neri learned how to best engage with his students, and how to implement his lessons efficiently. Neri remained with Kennedy High School, where he eventually became department chair, got married, and even obtained his Master’s in Curriculum Instruction at Our Lady of the Lake University.

Mr. Neri then moved to Houston to teach engineering at Cypress ISD, where his program was eventually recognized on a national level. In 2019, the program was cut, and Mr. Neri decided to move back to San Antonio. Mr. Neri now had children at this point, and his son, who is hearing impaired, would be able to receive better services in San Antonio than Houston, so this also influenced his decision. Now back in San Antonio, Neri began working under Dr. Rodriguez again, but this time at CAST Med High School, where he has remained since then.

Mr. Neri prioritizes getting to personally know his students in order to best connect with them. This gives Mr. Neri a better perspective when he teaches, as he understands that not everybody comes from the same background. Mr. Neri is also adjusting, both physically and in terms of his teaching style. You will never see Mr. Neri sitting, and he is also constantly adjusting his teaching approach. Mr. Neri is also incredibly goal-oriented, and tries to set a professional goal for himself each year. His goal for 2024? See what the next step is for him and his family.

So far, Mr. Neri has already been able to see the impact he has had on his students. The students at CAST Med love him, and they genuinely look forward to his class period. Mr. Neri still keeps in touch with his students from Kennedy High School and even Houston, and he looks forward to hearing back from his CAST Med kids long after they graduate high school.

To learn more about Mr. Neri and the rest of CAST M11cvbbvbvced’s incredible teachers, visit castschools.com