Born in Level land, TX, near Lubbock, second-year teacher Elijah Fielding lived most of his life in Whitney until tenth grade when his family moved to Waco. Last year, a team of his students (Russell Monthie, Dustin Liendo, and Dylan Istre) won the Analytical Integrated Mathematics (AIM) robotics competition robotics competition (designed by teachers at Waco High and AJ Moore), and he hopes to bring the trophy home again this year. Waco High, University, and A.J. Moore also participate in the competition.

This year’s competition will be held in May most likely at TSTC but with this year’s Engineering Math students or AIM students from the surrounding area. I’m not sure who is participating this year.

Fielding graduated from Connally HS and then went to Baylor for two years; then he finished his bachelor’s degree from Tarleton University by completing course work online and at MCC. In his free time, he likes to play guitar in his band and is forming a production company with some friends.

In his second year at La Vega, Fielding has not taught anywhere else and says he picked La Vega because it is so close to where he graduated and close to where his wife and dad work.

‘’ I heard of the opening through an on-line regional website that lists openings in all schools close by. Before that he mostly worked at a daycare called Kids Turn Learning Center. He worked with mostly pre-k students for seven years,” Fielding said. “My goal is to instill more work ethic and motivation to learn math. Too many students cheat and complain about their education when it is useful and more importantly free.”

He says he enjoys working with his co-teachers here at LVHS and enjoys students’ reactions when they finally do learn something.

"This place is unlike any other school I have attended. The overall motivation and work ethic is lower here than the schools I attended,” he said. “When school started last year, just about every student would get mad when I cut in line at lunch because they thought I was a student.”

His favorite sport to play is soccer, and he really does not get excited about many sports except during the Olympics. His all-time favorite TV show is “Lost,” and his favorite color is green.

“I miss learning. If I had the money, I would go back to get my Masters of Divinity and then my Doctorate in Christian Education,” Fielding said. “My wife is my best friend because she always supports me, makes me laugh, and cheers me up when I`m down.”

His favorite teacher was a college professor name Vince Clark, who teaches history at MCC, because ”He was amazing.”