Bossier High School advanced math teacher Cil Guerrero is called the backbone of the school and was recently named Bossier Schools’ Gold Star for her efforts to support the school inside and outside the classroom.

Her history with Bossier High began in 2003, when she says God put it on her heart to teach at the school, and she fell in love the minute she had her interview. She says the school is neat, friendly, and welcoming. To her, everyone truly feels like family. 

“I’m blessed to be a teacher this long in a great school system that takes care of its students and teachers,” Guerrero said. “I believe in Bossier Parish schools.”

She is now completing her 25th year in education and has had the privilege to teach an array of subjects, including Algebra I, Algebra II, PreCalculus, Advanced Math I and II, Calculus, and Dual Enrollment courses. 

“I. Love. Math!” said Guerrero. “I’ve always understood math, and it’s been easy for me. Now I get to help students discover that love of math and share the stories behind the numbers. I love how it fits together, and you can find it everywhere in the world – you can find it in nature as a recurring phenomenon.”

Even if she’s not helping students understand and come to love a difficult subject, she loves teaching in all its forms. She said that she does not want to leave the classroom for administration, believing she is where God wants her to be. 

“I get to make an impact on a student every day, no matter what that might be,” Guerrero said. “When I drive on campus every day, I know something is going to bless me. 

Her drive to help students find success extends outside the classroom, onto the Bossier High courts, fields, and even the dance floor. Just a few of the titles she is responsible for include sponsor of the senior class and National Honor Society, organizer of Homecoming and Prom, and a prominent cheerleader from the sidelines.

“Our students deserve the best education, but they also deserve the best athletic experience and the best prom or homecoming experience,” said Guerrero. “I want every activity or event at Bossier High to feel exciting and be an experience.” 

She says the amount of responsibility should be overwhelming, but she thrives on the stress. 

“When it’s time to buckle down, I find a different gear,” Guerrero explained. “I love the hustle and bustle, I want to keep 10 plates spinning in the air at all times, and high school is the perfect place for that because there’s always something going on.”

This other gear is what helped her win the Gold Star award. Guerrero said it’s an honor, but all the attention has given her a way to help give back to a community that raised her. A community that she always wanted to live in and raise a family in.

“Bossier has a lot to do but is not so big that you feel like a stranger because it has a small town feel and family atmosphere,” she said. “We live in a special place. There are amazing things going on in Bossier, and we need to focus on what’s great about our city and parish because we’re lucky to live here.”

That spirit of finding the good and being thankful for it is part of the recipe for Guerrero’s success, one she hopes is contagious to others.

“I want people to look for beauty in life and be thankful because every day is a gift,” Guerrero said. “Living here and having everything we have at our fingertips? We need to be thankful for it.”