NOTE: Throughout the month of July, BrownwoodNews.com is publishing stories daily on 40 standout citizens under the age of 40 making a positive impact and contribution within the Brown County community.
A Brownwood ISD graduate is giving back to the youth of the community both by his professional work as well as the time he spends as a volunteer.
Jake Senkirik is the assistant principal at what will be the revamped Coggin Elementary School this coming year, as well as a member of the Brown County Youth Fair board.
Senkirik, 31, just completed his ninth year as an educator, a career that began as an Ag teacher at Priddy for three years, followed by a three-year stint teaching Ag at North Forney High School. For the past three years, Senkirik worked as the assistant principal of what was then Coggin Intermediate School.
As for returning to Brownwood, Senkirik said, “It’s cool and special to come back. When you go into education or any field where you can come back home and support and give back to the community and school district that you were raised in and graduated from, it’s hard to put into words how special it is.”
Senkirik cited, “always wanting to give back,” as a reason he chose the education field for a career.
“Back when I was in high school, I played football and was in FFA and Ag,” Senkirik said. “I was very passionate about the FFA and Ag side. I went to college and got an animal science degree. I didn’t necessarily go to college pursuing the teacher route, but I knew when I graduated something I thought I would always enjoy was being an Ag teacher, which is what I did when I first graduated. Sharing that love and knowledge I got from my Ag teachers when I came through school is something I always wanted to give back.”
Regarding his work with the Brown County Youth Fair, Senkirik spoke of the role the event played in molding him into the person he has become.
“It’s extremely important and something I was extremely involved in when I started third grade,” Senkirik said. “As soon as I could I was showing animals all the way through high school and kept on going. There’s so many life lessons learned growing up and going through the youth fair, showing animals, even the rodeo. Responsibility, work ethic, there’s so many things these kids learn that they take on that makes them better citizens and future leaders.”
As for his future in education, Senkirik stated he wanted to, “just keep growing.”
He continued, “I don’t have a goal to where when I hit a certain spot I’m done. I want to grow as an educator, spend a lot of time learning, helping and supporting the kids the best that I can. No end goal in sight. When God opens up a lane, take it and keep moving forward.”
Senkirik and his wife Alexis just celebrated their sixth anniversary and the process of finalizing the adoption of their three daughters is near completion.
“We’ve fostered them coming up on two years and we’re past the foster process and we’re in the adoption piece and it’ll be finalized sometime before school starts hopefully,” Senkirik said.