Meet Yesenia Watts | Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yesenia Watts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yesenia, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
As an educator, especially coming from a first-generation background, I’ve faced moments where doubt, burnout, and the weight of responsibility made me question everything. But every time a student saw themselves in me, every time a kid believed they could do more because I believed in them first — I was reminded why I started.

This career has shown me that impact isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s in the quiet ways you shift someone’s belief in themselves. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about climbing higher; it’s about reaching back and lifting others with you.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career in education has been anything but easy — but it’s been deeply meaningful. What sets me apart is that I didn’t just choose this path — I lived it. As a first-generation Latina, I grew up navigating systems I wasn’t taught to understand, often translating life for myself and for those around me. That lived experience gave me a passion not just to teach, but to reach — to connect, uplift, and empower.

I’ve taught in classrooms where students didn’t believe in themselves, didn’t see the point, didn’t feel seen. And that’s where I thrive — being the educator/mentor who sees them anyway. I show up with realness, with love, and with the expectation that they can rise, because someone once expected the same of me.

Professionally, I got here through grit, mentorship, prayer, and perseverance. There were moments I wanted to give up. Moments where the system felt heavy, isolating, and unfair. But I kept showing up — for myself, for my students, and for the bigger picture. As my parents always said “Ponte la pilas mija.”

One of my proudest accomplishments is knowing that my presence in education is a form of representation. I want young girls who look like me — or who come from similar backgrounds — to know they belong in every room they walk into. My story is one of purpose. Of pushing through. Of being proud of where I come from and using it as fuel to change the game from the inside out.

I want the world to know that I’m not just an educator — I’m teaching confidence and leadership. I’m building up the next generation with love, culture, and conviction.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d start slow — grab brunch at The Biscuit in Deep Ellum for some Southern comfort, then stroll around Klyde Warren Park and go up to the Dallas Museum of Art if we’re feeling inspired. Dinner? We’re heading to The Porch on Henderson — low-key vibes with a cozy menu. We’d have to do it right — a mix of culture, comfort, food, and a little bit of adventure. I’m all about making memories that feel good to the soul.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unwavering love and support of my parents. (Gracias Mama y Papá. Los quiero mucho!)

They laid the foundation of everything I am: resilience, humility, and the drive to keep going even when the odds feel stacked. As first-generation parents, they sacrificed so much so I could dream bigger — and actually chase those dreams. Thanks to them I am the educator I am today.

I also want to give a special shoutout to my high school mentor, Tara Addison. She’s been more than a mentor — she’s been a guide, an encourager, and a reminder that my voice and purpose matter. She believed in me at a time when I was still learning to believe in myself after graduation. There have also been other mentors along the way who poured into me at just the right moments — and I carry their wisdom with me daily in my classroom and beyond.

Instagram: Yesibunz

Facebook: Yesenia Watts

Image Credits
In the 1st picture is of a student who came to visit me after he graduated. 2nd picture is student who gave me gifts for teacher appreciation week. In the 3rd and 6th picture is my student Natalie Rodriguez who was the one who nominated me for this Shoutout. In the 4th picture it’s me after graduating high school with high honors. In the 5th picture it’s a student who invited me to her graduation in 2018. In the last picture it’s my mentor I mentioned Tara and myself after a professional workshop.