Mr. Zambrano, known to students as Mr. Z, has had a career whose trajectory can only be described as a winding, twisted path, often diverging into unexpected places. His diverse job titles may insinuate that he is several different people, but they are all simply part of his expansive resume: economist, law clerk at the Texas Supreme Court, attorney specializing in civil litigation, adjunct professor at SMU Law School, legal writer, AP Human Geography teacher, and now, the newest addition to the Law Magnet faculty.
A Lawyer From the Start
Mr. Zambrano spent his high school years in Midland as a debater and a participant in a program called Teen Court, where teenage prosecutors and defenders try to get the greatest or lowest community service hours for a teen client. Though his path initially led into business and technology, he eventually returned to the original plan. “I dusted off my plans [of becoming a lawyer], and the [Law School Admission Test (LSAT)] is an essential first step to getting into law school. There was a chance to take this exam, and so I said, eh, let’s take it and see what happens,” he recalls. After taking the LSAT in 1997, he received an offer to attend SMU Law School, where he would later become an adjunct professor.
While teaching graduate students, Mr. Zambrano felt he was not making the impact on his students’ lives that he wanted to. “There’s another path I could’ve taken, where I could’ve become a law professor, and I was a law professor for 4 or 5 years, but I didn’t want to teach graduate students anymore. I wanted to teach where I felt it made the maximum possible difference in helping students write and speak well, and for me, that was high school,” he muses.
The Law Magnet’s Mission
Emphasizing the ability to write, speak, and ultimately think well is a vital element of his teaching, and he believes that any student has the capacity to absorb these skills, particularly at the Law Magnet.
“What we do here has a tremendous ability to shift the course of a person’s life. We can take someone that may not feel like they’re the strongest writer in the world, somebody that feels awkward when they speak, and by the time they finish learning at this school, they become brilliant writers and thinkers and speakers and proud of the things they’ve accomplished. That’s what it’s about for me—bringing them through to the ultimate conclusion,” he declares.
Students quickly learned that Mr. Zambrano’s class would be more writing-intensive than they were accustomed to. “Teaching how you create a good, solid piece of writing helps the brain develop in a way that strengthens the way that people think and approach problems, so when you teach effective writing, you’re also training the brain in general, and when somebody becomes a really strong writer, they also become a really strong thinker.”
Dressed for the Courtroom and Classroom
His clothing choices reflect decades of practicing law and following the formal styles expected in the courtroom. “I’m a real business-casual person, and I’m probably a touch too business-y in my business-casual. I’m used to the sports jacket and the slacks and the collared shirt, maybe because that’s what I wore when I was a lawyer for several years. That’s probably my go-to, sports jacket, business-casual kind of look.”
First Impressions
When asked about his first impression of the Law Magnet’s students, he expressed admiration for their commitment to participating in what they enjoy. “I’m so impressed with the students here, and just the willingness to learn new things and become better writers and thinkers and speakers. This is a magnet school, so by design it attracts students that want to dedicate themselves to academics, and it shows. It’s a really, really strong group of kids.”
Choosing Your Path Without a Map
According to Mr. Zambrano, the most important part of choosing a career path is understanding what one truly enjoys. He acknowledges that students are not always afforded this luxury, but he maintains that it is important for deciding what career to pursue.
“The key is to find what sparks you. Don’t be afraid to figure out what that is, and explore it. Jump in with two feet and explore whatever you’re really interested in. Sometimes it’s hard to find what sparks you, because you learn so many things in school and you don’t really get to talk to yourself and think, what really motivates me? What drives you? What makes you passionate?
A Legacy In the Making
Mr. Zambrano is a teacher who wants to leave a memorable impact on students. His teaching reflects an ardent desire to think deeply in ways that feel challenging in the moment but prove to be infinitely rewarding. Through thought-provoking lessons and a genuine interest in connecting with his students, Mr. Zambrano has quickly proven himself to be a teacher worth remembering.
On the topic of his favorite film, Mr. Zambrano had no hesitation. “I’m a huge Star Wars fan. I could watch Empire Strikes Back a billion times and still enjoy it. The moment I saw it in theaters I was like, oh, this is the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he gushed.
