Uvalde Teachers Eva Mireles & Irma Garcia鈥檚 Classroom Was Filled With ‘Love’
The Robb Elementary Teachers who died protecting their fourth graders were remembered as dedicated educators who led full lives outside the classroom
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They were co-teachers at Robb Elementary school for the last five years, overseeing a fourth grade classroom filled with 鈥渇un, growth, giggles.鈥�
Eva Mireles was remembered by a former student鈥檚 mother for going 鈥渁bove and beyond鈥� for her daughter.
Irma Garcia was the school鈥檚 teacher of the year just two years ago.
Longtime dedicated and cherished educators in the tiny Texas town of Uvalde, Mireles and Garcia died protecting their fourth grade students from the gunman who massacred them Tuesday, just days from summer vacation.
The colleagues, with 40 years combined teaching experience, were excited for the year ahead, according to letters from the teachers to their incoming students last fall.
鈥淲e have a wonderful year ahead of us,鈥� Mireles in a school biography posted on the school鈥檚 website.
Garcia she was 鈥渆xcited鈥� to begin the new school year, providing her students with details of her life:
The duo were called 鈥渢wo of the greatest teachers Uvalde, TX has ever known,鈥� by Natalie Arias, a blended learning specialist in the school district. 鈥淭heir classroom was full of fun, growth, giggles, teamwork, and, most of all, love.鈥�
The mother of one of Mireles鈥檚 former students said she was 鈥渁 beautiful person and a dedicated teacher. She believed in Gabby & went above & beyond to teach her.鈥�
Outside of the classroom, Mireles and Garcia led rich lives as loving mothers, wives, good friends and aunts.
Mireles, 44, loved hiking, crossfit and being outdoors with her family and dogs.
Her husband, Ruben Ruiz, is a police officer at the district’s police force, which is investigating the school shooting.
Garcia, 46, loved to barbecue and travel with her husband of 24 years. The couple had four children.
Mireles鈥檚 daughter Adalynn said she was 鈥渢he most hardworking cross fitter in the afternoon鈥� after a full day of teaching.
In a Facebook post, Adalynn called her mother 鈥渢he half that makes me whole,”…鈥淢om, I have no words to describe how I feel right now, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life 鈥� I will forever say your name so you are always remembered,鈥� Adalynn wrote, 鈥淓va Mireles, 4th grade teacher at Robb Elementary who selflessly jumped in front of her students to save their lives.鈥�
Later, Adalynn posted a photo of her adventurous, hike-loving mother at the top of a climb.
Garcia鈥檚 Facebook profile is a scrapbook of family memories and proud-mom moments: From her son鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 List award, her daughter鈥檚 quincea帽era, to photos from a family fishing trip captioned 鈥淭hank you Jesus for my amazing husband and my babies.”
Her posts also reveal she spent much of her time thinking about her other kids 鈥� her students at Robb Elementary.
鈥�…learned so many new ways to challenge my future students to be independent learners鈥� Garcia posted in May of 2020.
Two years after that post, her loved ones are mourning her death.
鈥淪he sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom,鈥� a devastated nephew posted, 鈥淚 beg of you to keep my family, including all of her family, in y鈥檃ll鈥檚 prayers.鈥�
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