Terri Navrkal has been teaching the son of one of her former students.

Texas Tech K-12 health teacher Terri Navrkal was stunned when she saw the familiar name in her email, a communication from the mother of one of her current students. 

Hi, this is Carter Steed’s mom! But also, it is Erin Fletcher (Steed) from Coronado High School!! I could not even believe it when I saw your name here! Carter just transferred here in October and graduates in May. If you will be there, I would sure love to hug your neck after all these years!”

Although Terri is the longest-employed teacher in Texas Tech K-12, starting part-time in 1990, she taught in Lubbock public schools for 30 years from 1981-2011. She had Erin in one of her classes around the mid-1980s. 

“What are the odds that I would be teaching a child of one of my former students?” Terri said in disbelief. “I could understand if I were teaching in a public school, but Texas Tech K-12, amazing!”

Come to find out, since they’d been out of touch for decades, Erin is also a Red Raider with a bachelor’s in journalism specializing in broadcast.

Long-Term Part-Time Gig

Terri is a graduate of Texas Tech’s College of Education, earning a bachelor’s in secondary education and a master’s in educational administration. In those 30 years in public school, she was a teacher, assistant principal, associate principal and retired in May 2011 as the executive director of personnel.

While working in the public schools, Terri wanted some part-time work. She had a close friend who worked as a health instructor for then-TTUISD. The school was looking for a sociology teacher, and the friend gave Terri’s name to the executive director – who Terri also happened to know because she taught one of the executive director’s sons at Coronado. 

“She called me, visited with me and hired me,” Terri recalled. “I won’t lie; The pay was good, and I could work part time while working full time! The rest is history.”

After she was hired, health classes were added to her teaching duties. 

She teaches three health courses for Texas Tech K-12: CPR, Health 1 and Career and College Exploration – Exploring Health Sciences. She also is certified to teach (and has taught) health and sociology for grades six through 12. Additionally, she is a certified Driver’s Education instructor.

Terri believes health is a course that should be required for all students in high school. 

“It is the one subject that can literally save your life,” she says emphatically. “Topics that are covered are topics that teach us how to prolong our lives. Health is a subject that combines physical, mental and social well-being.”

Enduring Impact

Having spent decades in both traditional classrooms and the distance learning space – starting at Texas Tech K-12 when it was all by snail mail, then by fax and email before going fully online – Terri has adapted alongside its evolution while continuing to build meaningful connections with students.

“This sounds like I am being boastful, but I know if students saw me and interacted with me, they would say I am enthusiastic, friendly and willing to help,” Terri grins. “I usually overcome the lack of face-to-face interaction by encouraging students to attend my tutorial sessions, if for no other reason, just to get to know me, put a name with a face. I always provide an introduction of myself to students as they enroll and submit their first assignment for grading.”

Cari Moye, Texas Tech K-12’s principal of Recruitment, Investment, Strategic Partnerships & Pathways and Engagement, explained that Terri has been a valued part of the K-12 family for many years and is deeply respected by both staff and students. 

“She consistently goes above and beyond in everything she does, and her genuine heart for educating and supporting kids shines through every day,” Moye said. “We are truly lucky to have her as part of our team.”

Terri’s dedication and love for education is enduring, to say the least, having worked in the field most of her life. To her, the most rewarding part of being an educator is her belief that she truly makes a difference in a student’s life. She loves what she does and interactions with her students – and her devotion and enthusiasm is sometimes rewarded when she least expects it.

“To this day, there are former students I will run into at the grocery store, shopping at the mall or eating at a restaurant that will ask, ‘Are you Mrs. Nav?’” she says, with her eyes sparkling. “And I cannot tell you how many of my former students will say I was their favorite teacher. That’s what is rewarding!”

Students like Erin Steed, who recognize and remember her fondly after 30-plus years. 

Terri’s lifetime of imparting knowledge endures, whether a student was traditional like Erin or is at a distance like Carter. Her go-to advice works for any age and era: You can do anything in life that you want to. Just make sure you remain true to yourself, set lofty goals, work hard and have fun along the way.