The Bartow County School System and Red Top Middle School deeply mourn the loss of Hector Arostegui Rodriguez.
He was a beloved presence within the Miner Family, consistently putting others before himself.
Each morning, before beginning his Exceptional Education classes, Hector greeted everyone with a fist bump and a pat on the shoulder, then helped students find their way to homeroom.
But his day didn’t stop there. Hector also made time to assist guidance counselors, school resource officers, and other staff members, often before the first bell even rang.
“Supporting others was important to Hector and I believed it to be the highlight of his school day,” said Ms. Vicky Neal, Hector’s Exceptional Education teacher. “He was truly an angel in disguise, and I know that my life was made better the day Hector became my student.”
Ms. Neal wholeheartedly considers Hector one of the greatest success stories in the world of education.
“Watching Hector grow tremendously in every domain of development has been the biggest highlight of my career,” said Ms. Neal. “He worked so hard over the years to exceed the limitations that were placed on him.”
Hector was excited to become a Cass High Colonel next week.
Today and always, we honor his legacy of compassion, empathy, and selflessness.
“Because of Hector, we are reminded that angels walk among us, sit next to us, watch us in the community, and even reside in our homes,” added Ms. Neal.