Gregorio Esparza was one of ten Texians of Mexican descent who fought and died defending the Alamo. The Esparza family, who had been long-time residents of San Antonio, became divided in their beliefs about government. This resulted in Gregorio and his brother Francisco fighting on opposite sides against each other at the Battle of the Alamo. Gregorio, a Federalist, fought with the Texas Army; while Francisco, a Centralist, supported Santa Anna and the Mexican army.

The Esparza family was originally descended from Canary Islanders, some of the first European families to move to Texas. Gregorio's family had moved to the area of San Antonio de Bexar in 1795 where Gregorio was later born on March 11, 1808. Gregorio was the youngest of six children born to Juan and Maria Esparza and he lived all of his brief life in San Antonio. As a young boy, he did not go to school, but helped his parents work. When he was older, he worked as a "jornalero" (day-laborer) farmer and did odd jobs for the local priest.

As Texas' struggle for independence grew, Gregorio became a private in the Benavides company under Juan Seguin. He believed in a democratic constitution and that people should have the right to vote and express themselves, free of Mexico's rule. When word came that Santa Anna was sending an army to take over San Antonio, Gregorio planned for his wife Ana and four children to leave for a safer area. When they were trapped by the arrival of the Mexican army, Ana and the children sought refuge with Gregorio at the Alamo.

GREGORIO ESPARZA, Alamo Hero by Cahndice Smith Matthews, Illustrated by Yvonne Dilley-Cruz

TO PURCHASE: Eakin Press PO Drawer 90159 Austin, Texas 78709 Price: $12.95

During the final battle on March 6, 1836, Gregorio was hit by a fatal cannon ball in his chest, while his wife and children watched. After the battle ended, Santa Anna released the women and children of the Alamo. Since Gregorio's brother Francisco served Santa Anna in his army, he received permission to give Gregorio a proper burial at the San Fernando Campo Santo.

Between 1850 and 1860, Gregorio's sons, Enrique, Manuel and Francisco filed for the rights to land near Pleasanton, Texas, for their father's service at the Alamo. They eventually received the land and ranched, farmed, and ran a freight line between San Antonio and the coast.

Enrique lived to be eighty-nine years old, never forgetting his experiences at the Alamo. He taught himself to read and write and became a good translator between English and Spanish. He was well known for his clear memory of the events at the Alamo. "You ask me, do I remember it. I tell you, yes. It is burned into my brain and indelibly seared there. Neither age nor infirmity could make me forget, for the scene was one of such horror that it could never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed its incidents." Manuel owned a general store in Pleasanton, Texas, and later served a brief stint in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Francisco also served in the Confederate Army and later became a Texas Ranger. He eventually moved to Tucson, Arizona, and became known as a tough lawman in the area.

Today, the descendants of Gregorio Esparza continue to preserve the history of his sacrifice as an Alamo defender and Texas hero.

For more information-see the Gregorio Esparza curriculum unit, created by Esparza staff.

In 1970, ten acres were purchased from Science Park to build an elementary school in the area. Because the land was located in the Culebra Park subdivision, the Northside School District planned to call the school "Culebra Park Elementary." Members of the community then joined together and petitioned the school board to name the school for a famous Hispanic individual since the neighborhood was predominately Hispanic. After extensive research, it was decided that the Alamo hero, Gregorio Esparza, would be an appropriate namesake for the school.

17,000 square foot addition was added to the original back of the building.

A gym was added to the existing facilities.

Another 17,000 square foot addition was completed.

* Special Education transitioned to an inclusion model, beginning with 4th and 5th graders.

* Staff developed a School Vision which committed to creating a stimulating, challenging curriculum and instruction for all learning needs and styles, to providing personal and professional growth opportunities for all staff, and to developing partnerships with parents and community members.

* Staff and community studied the Accelerated School Program and decided to adopt its philosophy of high expectations for all and set the goal of having all students performing on grade level by the time they complete fifth grade. Strengths and weaknesses were identified and plans made to address deficit areas.
* A 14,373 square foot addition was added to the back of the school creating a Pre-Kinder/Kindergarten wing with Computer Labs.
* Esparza became a Performance Contract School with Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Region 20 in a statewide effort to improve student achievement. Region 20 provided guidance and support for restructuring efforts, curriculum development and alignment, and training in Accelerated Teaching and Learning strategies. Waivers were granted by TEA and additional staff development time was provided to accomplish these goals.

* Studied the Success for All Reading Model and developed a 1st Grade adaptation for Esparza.
* Began the study of Accelerated Teaching and Learning (AT&L) practices and attended our first International Alliance for Learning (IAL) Conference in St. Louis.
* Pre-Kinder, Kinder, and First Grade teachers developed the curriculum for our Oral Language Computer Lab for Pre-Kinder through First Grade students to address our students' language deficiency. Funds were allocated from Chapter I (now Title I) for the computers and software. The materials were copyrighted and offered to other campuses.

* Selected as the school site for the San Antonio 2000 Model Family Clinic.
* Participated in the Northside ISD Academics 2000 Grant.
* Became a School Affiliate with the International Alliance for Learning.

* First Edition of GREGORIO ESPARZA: Alamo Hero published by Eakin Press. Written by Cahndice Smith Matthews and illustrated by Yvonne Dilley-Cruz.

* Celebrated Esparza Elementary School's 25th Anniversary. Students studied the life of Gregorio Esparza and performed in a pageant celebrating his history.
* Hosted IAL Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
* Creation of Esparza Elementary website by Alfredo B. Cruz, campus webmaster.
* Creation of Esparza's Kindergarten Garden with Master Gardener Jerry Herrera.

* Studied the Integrated Thematic Instruction (ITI) Model and developed curriculum at every grade level.
* Studied the Chard Project Approach.
* Adapted and implemented Life Skills (from Kovalik) school-wide.

* Team of 10 teachers attended the Eric Jensen Brain Workshop in June 1998.
* Staff studied Teaching with the Brain in Mind by Eric Jensen.

* Team of 10 teachers attended the Eric Jensen Brain Workshop in June 1999

* Group of 24 (staff, parents, and community members) traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.
* Launched the first year of our Dual Language Program with one Kinder and one First Grade class.
* Celebrated Esparza Elementary School's 30th Anniversary. Students studied the life of Gregorio Esparza and performed in a pageant celebrating his history.

 

Continued the second year of our Dual Language Program with two Kinder, two First Grade, and one Second Grade classes. As part of the district Dual Language grant, the school was equipped with complete video conferencing equipment.

Training and beginning implementation of the video conferencing equipment began

2004-2005

School began major renovation project to:
* Install New HVAC System
* Add walls and doors to classrooms
* Replace chalkboards with dry erase boards
* Ensure compliance with ADA requirements

* Full implementation of The Dual Language Programs in grades K-5.
* Began development of the Learning Lab to provide interventions for Special Education and At Risk students.

- Achieved "Recognized" status according to the State of Texas Accountability System.