LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Paul Tucker was nominated by his colleague, Toni Batiste.

"When contemplating what I could say about Mr. Tucker, I thought about how much more impactful it would be to hear what others had to say about him, as well as what he would express about himself," said Batiste.

The following is a piece written about Mr. Tucker to honor his legacy in education.

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Suppose you find yourself traveling down the hallways of Friendswood High School. In that case, there is a good chance you will hear the occasional beep of a walkie-talkie and the echoing of a particularly deep voice - usually singing or saying, "Hurry up and get to class. If you go any slower, you'll be going backward." Those combined sounds can only mean one thing: Mr. Tucker is near.

Mr. Tucker joined the Mustang family in 2009 as a history teacher. He had been working as an assistant principal at Santa Fe Junior High but was eager to join his wife Kay at FHS when the opportunity arose. However, Mr. Tucker had not always been in the field of education. In fact, there was a time when he would never have guessed he would end up where he is now. According to Mr. Tucker, he "struggled in school" as a high school student and eventually stopped attending class just before finishing tenth grade.

He eventually went to work in the chemical plants and found success, though he always regretted not finishing school. He decided to go back and get his GED, which lit a fire inside him.

"One day, I was at work, thinking about a career change," Tucker said. "I came home and told Kay. At the time, I didn't have a degree. I said, 'I think I want to go back to college and get a degree so I can coach high school basketball and be a history teacher.' I thought she was going to freak out, but she said, 'Okay.'"

Mr. Tucker obtained not just one, but two degrees and eventually found himself in the assistant principal's chair, sitting across from many students facing similar struggles he had faced in high school.

"God has a sense of humor," he joked.

Being as full-circle as it comes, Mr. Tucker's experience has created a great deal of empathy within him for all students.

"I've shared that story with several students, though I'm very careful about sharing it," Tucker said. "I have to be careful because I don't want them to think they can take that same path. That was not a good path for me. I struggled. I emphasize that the better path is to finish and not go through those struggles."

FHS Principal Mark Griffon said he has seen Mr. Tucker's heart for helping students shine through in everything he does.

"It does not matter whether they are a top kid or a kid we have most of our challenges with. He seeks those kids out and tries to champion them," Griffon said. "He challenges them and lets them know what he's been through and how he rose above it. He motivates them to do the same thing."

Motivating others is a big part of Mr. Tucker's mission for himself.

"I'd like to think if someone came to me having issues, I'm going to help them get to the bottom of it, I'm going to listen, and I'm going to cheer them on and resolve that issue," Tucker said. "That is probably my biggest contribution: being a cheerleader for teachers and students."

With this mindset, Mr. Tucker has transformed a position that is traditionally seen as disciplinary into one that brings great joy to so many.
 
"He can build positive relationships, and he does it through a customer-service heart so that everyone who deals with him knows he gives them his full attention and that he cares," Griffon said. "Kids feed off of that."

Mr. Tucker's impact is not only felt by students and teachers. He has also been able to significantly touch the hearts of FHS's custodial and maintenance staff. When Mr. Tucker was still a history teacher, he began the tradition of singing Christmas carols in the hallways around the holidays. Between classes, Mr. Tucker gathers in song with a group and collects tips for their performances. Just before schools close for Winter Break, Mr. Tucker gifts the money collected to the custodial and maintenance staff to thank them for their hard work. The tradition has grown each year, with thousands of dollars raised and more staff members participating.

"It is awesome, what Mr. Tucker does," Griffon said. "I know that is important to him, and it is always appreciated."

With the outstanding impact Mr. Tucker has made, there is no doubt he will be missed when he retires at the end of the school year.

"It will be a big hit for our team because he is an important part," Griffon said. "He brings a great deal of experience in helping the whole team and I. It will be hard to replace him, but we are happy for him that he feels it is time to retire and wish him the best in doing that."

Though he loves and enjoys his job, Mr. Tucker said he is ready for the next chapter of his life - exploring entrepreneurial opportunities and spending time with his family.

"I think I contributed to education, and now it is time to go do something else," he said. "This job has allowed me to be a better communicator, a better listener, and a more confident person. It has been a great experience."

It is difficult to imagine Friendswood High School without Mr. Tucker, but his legacy will live on through every student and teacher whose hearts he has touched.

"I would hope that I was seen as an encourager, that I brought joy, that I brought humor," Tucker said. "I want the students to know I cared for them and was there for them. I want my legacy to be that I served."

"On behalf of FISD, Mr. Tucker, it is evident that you have served us well," said Batiste.