Classroom Conversations: Mr. O-Cruz and Errin
When Intervention Specialist Mr. Arón Olegnowicz-Cruz, better known as “Mr. O-Cruz” to the United Elementary State St. community, invites you into his space, you’re not stepping into a typical classroom. You’re entering O-Cruz’s Leadership Academy — a room where perseverance, compassion, gratitude, and integrity aren’t just words on the wall; they’re daily practice.
This year, third-grader Errin H. returned to the Academy after a year of mentorship that fueled his growth as a reader, leader, and learner. True to United’s deep school-family partnerships, Mr. O-Cruz’s first step when invited to share their story was to call Errin’s mom, whose excitement matched his own, before agreeing to participate.
In their conversation with The Huddle, Mr. O-Cruz and Errin discuss State St. values, stories that spark curiosity, and the partnerships that help students thrive.
The Huddle: Can you introduce yourselves?
Mr. O-Cruz: You want to go first, or you want me to go first?
Errin: I want to go first!
Mr. O-Cruz: Go ahead.
Errin: My name is Errin. I'm in third grade.
Mr. O-Cruz: My name is Mr. O-Cruz, and I am an intervention specialist teaching O-Cruz's Leadership Academy. My scholars are in kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade.
The Huddle: Amazing. And why did you choose Errin to talk to today?
Mr. O-Cruz: I chose Errin because Errin was one of my Academy scholars last year. He made me very, very proud with his growth as a behavior leader and as an academic scholar. Errin was among the scholars who grew the most on i-Ready reading throughout the last school year. This is an accomplishment that mom and I celebrated very, very much, and I'm very excited to see how he continues to succeed in third grade.
The Huddle: Wow, that's amazing. Congratulations, Errin!
Mr. O-Cruz: Do you want to ask the first question, or do you want me to ask?
Errin: You!
Mr. O-Cruz: All right, Mr. H.
Mr. O-Cruz: My first question for you is, of all the stories you've read in second grade last year and in third grade this year, which one has been your favorite?
Errin: I remember that one scene where a whole house flooded. I think it was a book from here. [Gesturing to the shelves behind us.] It had —I forgot his name. We read it here at Academy.
Mr. O-Cruz: Yeah, I think I know which one you're talking about. It's over on one of my shelves. Very nice.
What about this year in third grade? What's been your favorite story?
Errin: The rat and the mole! [Editor’s note: The rat and the mole are characters in the children’s book The Wind in the Willows.]
Mr. O-Cruz: The rat and the mole. Who's your favorite character from that story?
Errin: The badger.
Mr. O-Cruz: Hm, the badger. Why?
Errin: Because he was being kind and he let [the other characters] in, gave them food, and gave them a bed.
Mr. O-Cruz: Very nice. Did you read that in Ms. Dixon's class?
Errin: Yeah!
Mr. O-Cruz: Very good. The way this interview is going to work is I ask a question, and then you ask a question. So, you can choose any one of these questions and I will answer. Which question do you choose?
Errin: How long have you been a teacher?
Mr. O-Cruz: I’ve been a teacher for a little over a year now here at United Elementary. The whole time, it's been with O-Cruz's Leadership Academy, alongside scholars like yourself. My turn for the question.
Mr. O-Cruz: What's one memory from Academy last year that sticks with you?
Errin: The first time I met you!
Mr. O-Cruz: When was that?
Errin: Like, first grade or second grade?
Mr. O-Cruz: Do you remember when we met at the library with your Mom?
Errin: Mhm. I got a book. We played Uno!
Mr. O-Cruz: Yeah! And do you think that was a fun experience to meet a teacher outside of school?
[Errin nods.]
Errin: Well, what's your favorite thing about our school?
Mr. O-Cruz: Our school? That's a great question because it's so hard. I feel very lucky to be in this school because we have a lot of love for our scholars, teachers, and also for the people who make our building work — including the culture office staff, the administrative team, the operations team, and so on. I like the fact that every single person in this school is pushed to be their very best! And that doesn't matter if you're a scholar or a teacher. The people around you will make sure that you are chasing…
Errin: Excellence.
Mr. O-Cruz, pointing to a sign: Chasing what?
Errin: Excellence!
Mr. O-Cruz: You know it! So, I love the love that we feel, and I am very grateful to have everybody's support.
Mr. O-Cruz: What's one thing about Academy that you would like future Academy scholars to know?
Errin: To listen, do well, and read all the books you can! And to get good grades on the math and reading tests!
Mr. O-Cruz: Why is that important?
Errin: Because that means you can get good grades, and then you can go to the next grade, and then you can go to college, and then get out of college and be on your way to grow up!
Mr. O-Cruz: Love that answer.
Errin: What do you want students to learn from you?
Mr. O-Cruz: What do I want students to learn? Well, there are a few things I would like students to learn. Three things, actually. One is that I want scholars to be able to become very strong mathematicians, so they can use and see numbers in their lives every day and make better decisions for themselves and the people around them.
Second, I want all my scholars to become stellar readers. Because if you can read anything, you can learn anything without the need for a teacher or a grown-up. Great readers can learn anything they get their hands on and unlock any sort of knowledge that they want.
And lastly, I want to make sure every Academy scholar is a scholar of character, in our school and in their communities. What that means is being a leader and doing the right thing. And if you remember our four Academy value words [Gesturing to signs above the cabinet], they need to carry each and every one of them to every part of their lives. Perseverance, compassion, gratitude, and integrity.
Mr. O-Cruz: If you could go back to your first-grade teachers, that's Ms. Jackson and Ms. Robertson, now that you're in third grade, what would you tell them?
Errin: I would tell them you did a good job teaching me about new things, math, and reading!
Mr. O-Cruz: What would you tell their scholars right now?
Errin: Do your best and try to reach up to third grade.
Errin: What do you like to do outside of school?
Mr. O-Cruz: Outside of the school, that's a great question. There are a few things that I like to do when I'm outside of school. One is that I like to make sure I'm healthy. So, I exercise, I like to cook at home, and I also like to be with my loved ones, whether that's my family or my friends, because that keeps my heart and my mind healthy, on top of just my body.
I also like to learn about the world. So, I spend a lot of time reading about different places that are near to us and far away from us to make sure I know what's going on, and I can come back and teach all of you about it so that you're ready to enter that world and lead it.
Errin, approvingly: Mhm.
Mr. O-Cruz: So, one more. This will be the last one for me. Mr. H., my question for you is, now that you've gone through a year of Academy and three years here at United Elementary, what do you want to be after you graduate from college?
Errin, pointing to a Cristiano Ronaldo motivational poster: A soccer player.
Mr. O-Cruz, smiling: Like who?
Errin: Ronaldo!
Mr. O-Cruz: Why do you want to be like Ronaldo?
Errin: So I can score good goals, be kind to my teammates, and help them out!
The Huddle: What are each of your biggest goals for the rest of this school year?
Mr. O-Cruz: The single biggest goal?
The Huddle: The single biggest one, but I'll accept a couple if you really can't narrow it down!
Errin: I want my mom to sign me up for soccer! That's my biggest goal.
Mr. O-Cruz: If you work as hard in the field as you do in the classroom, you'll do well.
My biggest goal… Well, it's very, very important, like I mentioned earlier, for my scholars to leave school and continue being leaders the same way they are here at school.
But I want to make sure that their families and their grown-ups at home know exactly how to support their children so they can accomplish all the terrific achievements that they're on track for, while they're in the building, in their communities, and in their lives outside of our hallways and classrooms.
The Huddle: What is something you really appreciate about one another?
Mr. O-Cruz: Can I go first? I really appreciate Errin's hard work because Errin understands that here at United Elementary, we have a rigorous curriculum that can get quite hard at times. Sometimes it might take us many practice problems to understand how to multiply, or we might have to read a passage twice to understand the main idea. But that doesn't stop Errin.
Errin will do the multiplication 10 times if he needs to, or read the passage 20 times, because he knows that that's what it might take to grow his brain. So I admire that Errin shows perseverance and never gives up.
Errin: I appreciate that you teach us new things and help us. You help us to be our best!
Mr. O-Cruz: Thank you!
The Huddle: If you were to say “thank you” to the people who support your school, what would you say to them?
Errin: I'll say thank you for everything you have done for us and given us!
Mr. O-Cruz: I think I'll reference something I said earlier, which was about my favorite part of working at this school. That is the love that we feel from those around us. We feel a whole lot of love from the people we don't see every day; without your support, both material and emotional, our jobs would be a lot more difficult and, because we have your support, we are able to pour more time into our scholars, such as Errin, and watch them grow at a depth and speed that is truly quite remarkable and gives them and us much to be proud of.
Listening to Mr. O-Cruz and Errin is a reminder of what makes United special: relationships that outlast grade levels, encouragement that builds confidence, and learning that sparks possibility far beyond the classroom.
It’s in spaces like the Leadership Academy that students discover their own grit and voice — and where teachers, families, and supporters work hand in hand to prepare each child for the road ahead.
Thank you to Errin and Mr. O-Cruz for opening the door to their Academy at State St. and for showing how connection, care, and high expectations create extraordinary opportunities at United Schools.
Connection is a hallmark of United culture, and this is a glimpse into the dialogues that define our campuses.
