Ochoa Joins Ulysses News Staff as Reporter

Soila Ochoa is the Ulysses News’ newest reporter. She decided to write for the paper as a way to give back to her community.

“I’d like to give back to the community because I’m originally from here. I already attend most of the events, so it felt like a natural fit.”

Ochoa graduated from high school in Ulysses before attending Fort Hays State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and mass media. Afterward, she moved back to Ulysses and started working at Pioneer Communications. She spent about 15 years at Pioneer working in the Marketing Department before leaving to become a stay-at-home mom for two years. She then worked as an office manager at a physical therapy office for three years. Currently, Ochoa is a business teacher at Stanton County Jr/Sr High School.

Ochoa began working toward a master’s degree in elementary education, but when she got a job working with high school students, she realized she loved working with them. She switched her focus and is now returning to Fort Hays State through the Transition to Teaching, or T2T, program so she can teach high school.

Ochoa likes teaching high school students because there is more communication. “You can communicate with high school students differently than you can with elementary students.” She especially loves marketing and being able to teach it to students while giving them opportunities to be creative. “I think it’s fun to see the kids get creative.”

Ochoa teaches graphic design, yearbook, business management-entrepreneurship, digital media tech, marketing, business essentials, and video production.

Her teaching method largely consists of hands-on projects. “It’s not a class where you just come in, get on your Chromebook, and complete an assignment without communicating with anyone. There are lots of projects and presentations.”

For example, in her graphic design class, Ochoa organizes projects such as a food truck project and a Christmas card project. “I just like giving them lots of projects to work on,” she said.

Ochoa also teaches a class called business essentials, where students learn skills such as how to write a résumé, fill out an application, open a checking account, buy a house or car, and understand insurance.

“I think the younger generation needs to learn those things. I’m trying to prepare them for the real world. I don’t know if they’re listening, but hopefully when they’re out of high school, they’ll remember something Mrs. Ochoa taught them and think, ‘Maybe I should have listened,’” she said with a smile.

When asked to describe herself, Ochoa chose “caring, creative and encouraging.”

“My room is always open, and the kids love to hang out there because they feel at home. I want it to be comfortable and peaceful. If I’m going to be spending seven or eight hours a day there, and it’s going to be my home away from home, I want to be comfortable. I want my students to feel comfortable, too.”

Outside of school, family is an important part of Ochoa’s life. She is married to David Ochoa, and the couple is celebrating 23 years of marriage. They have three children: David Jr., Reina, and Mia.

Now, Ochoa hopes to bring the same enthusiasm she has for her students, her family, and her community to the stories she reports for the Ulysses News.