Uvalde victim's mother perseveres through teaching, connecting with 10-year-old daughter's memory

(24 May 2023)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4436256

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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
1. A mural depicts Tess Mata, who was killed in the school shooting at Robb Elementary School

HEADLINE: Mother of Uvalde victim perseveres through teaching

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
2. Veronica Mata, Tess' mother, walks out of a coffee shop

ANNOTATION: Veronica Mata has an established morning routine.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
3. Mata gets into her car while holding her coffee
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Veronica Mata, Tess Mata's mother:
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"If I'm not running late, I'll usually come and I'll pick up a coffee. And then I'll take a drive to Tess' mural just to wish her good morning."
5. Tight of the mural
6. Mata's car parked next to the mural
7. Mata looks up at the mural while seated in the car
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Veronica Mata, Tess Mata's mother:
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"It just makes me feel at peace when I drive by and I see it. And then just her giving her little peace sign, it's just the icing on the cake, you know. It's just -- it feels so good to see it."
9. Tight of the peace sign in the mural
10. A framed photo of Tess Mata sits at a memorial for the Robb victims located in the center of a downtown park

ANNOTATION: Ten-year-old Tess Mata was killed a year ago in one of the most notorious mass shootings in U.S. history.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
11. Various of a memorial for Tess Mata and the other victims set up outside Robb Elementary
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Veronica Mata, Tess Mata's mother:
"It's a horrible day, a day that no mother and father should ever have to go through."
13. Various of Mata visiting Tess' gravesite

ANNOTATION: One that has been very hard from which to move forward.

ANNOTATION: Mata says she has drawn strength from Tess’ memory.

ANNOTATION: And her kindergarten students. Mata just finished up her 12th year of teaching.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Veronica Mata, Tess Mata's mother:
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" I have a picture of Tess on my nightstand, and I just look at it and I just tell her, you know, 'Tess, you know, give me the strength, baby girl. Help me get up.'"
15. The Uvalde water tower

ANNOTATION: Uvalde also is in need of some assistance.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
16. Various of flags whipping in the wind outside city hall

ANNOTATION: It once was known as a quiet town not far from the Texas-Mexico border with trees sometimes situated in the middle of the street.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
17. A tree stands in the middle of a neighborhood street
18. A (English) "Uvalde Strong" message is written in the window of a downtown business

ANNOTATION: Now, memorials honoring the 19 children and two teachers who lost their lives are visible from one end of town to the other.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uvalde, Texas - 3 May 2023
19. Rocks painted with messages honoring the Robb victims sit underneath a tree outside the school
20. Another (English) "Uvalde Strong" message on a wall at a car dealership
21. A lock with (English) "RIP" written on it is affixed to a fence outside Robb Elementary
22. Crosses honoring the victims at the park memorial
23. Flowers and a monument to the victims sit outside Robb
24. SOUNDBITE (English) Ronald Garza, Uvalde County commissioner:
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"I don't know if we've gotten past that sadness, right, the somberness. But we're inching."


ASSOCIATED PRESS








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