Later, during a chance encounter, he met the father he never knew, and it changed his life. Heath was working at Los Angeles International Airport when a man noticed his last name, and as they got to talking, they realized they were related.

Getting to know his father revealed not only his personal history but also a blueprint for success built on perseverance, diligence, and reflection.

His path then took another improbable yet decisive turn while substitute teaching. After connecting deeply with a foster student whose story reminded him of his own childhood, Heath knew his calling was in the classroom.

He realized that, “I can affect kids that came from my background, be a positive influence in their life,” he said.

For the past decade at Caliber, Heath has honed a teaching style that is vibrant, built on a genuine connection with his students, and extraordinarily effective.

Rachael Weingarten, Chief Schools Officer at Caliber Public Schools, said Heath sets high expectations for his students while remaining joyous. “He connects so incredibly well with his students,” she said.

Students respond well to his authentic style and his unwavering belief in them.

“He makes it okay to be cool and be a scholar,” said Terence Johnson, CEO of Caliber. “There’s a deep belief that kids can do the work. It’s okay to fail, and you’ve got to keep on coming back.”

Data shows his proficiency rates have climbed each year, making him one of the highest-performing math teachers in West Contra Costa. Yet, his focus is never on the ranking.

Weingarten recalled showing him the data. “He was proud, but he looked at it and said, ‘That’s not good enough,’” she said. “He started looking at how other schools were performing and said, ‘Our students can perform just as well.’ That’s his mentality. We can continue to do better, because our kids deserve it.”

Heath is an experienced educator who remains committed to working on his craft. He actively seeks coaching and professional development opportunities. “He embodies that curiosity,” Johnson said. “He enjoys having a coach. He enjoys learning new things to make his craft better.”

His humility and drive create a ripple effect. “He’s that teammate that you see working hard, and you’re like, ‘I better take care of my end,’” Johnson said, connecting Heath’s ethos to the legacy of Julie Wright. “He believes in our kids. His teammates want to work as hard as he does. They want their students to have the same success in their classes.”

Heath is guided by a powerful motto: “Be to a child the person you would have liked in your life when you were their age.”

Years ago, a struggling student he mentored at a previous school needed a place to live. Heath welcomed him in, and that student, Andre, now 31, became his son. “He asked, ‘Can I call you dad?’” Heath said. “It was another blessing.”

This experience of becoming a parent deepened his empathy and strengthened his commitment to partnership with families.

For Heath, the Julie Wright Changemaker Award was a complete surprise. “I come to work, I am in my room, I work really hard,” he said. “I felt really grateful that someone even thought of me at that level.”

With the award, he has chosen to support The Mindful Life Project, an organization that brings mindfulness and self-regulation practices to schools.

After more than two decades in education, Heath is driven by gratitude and the knowledge that he has found his purpose.

“I made it,” he said, reflecting on his tumultuous early life as a child in the Los Angeles foster care system. “And now, I must help others.”