Teachers often have the greatest impact on their students; they help mold us into the people we are today, yet sometimes it's only until later in life that you truly recognize the profoundness of their method of teaching or approach.

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to one of those teachers -- 11th grade AP US History teacher Wesley Perez at La Puente High School in La Puente, California (in the Los Angeles area) who impacted his students by inviting Grammy Award-winning band La Santa Cecilia to his school to perform and do a Q&A in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

La Santa Cecilia won a 2014 Grammy for Best Latin Rock and Alternative Album for "Trenta Dias" (30 Days). The L.A.-based band includes lead vocalist Marisol "La Marisoul" Hernandez, accordionist and requintero Jose "Pepe" Carlos, bassist Alex Bendaña and percussionist Miguel Ramirez.

Dubbed "ambassadors of immigration reform," La Santa Cecilia recently released its song and animated video for The Beatles' 1967 hit "Strawberry Fields Forever" ("Los Campos de Fresas"). It's the second single from the band's critically-acclaimed new album, "Someday New."

Perez was thrilled to welcome the band who gave insight and advice to his impressionable class. La Santa Cecilia addressed topics that resonated with his students -- from having immigrant parents to becoming independent Latinas, having self-esteem and celebrating yourself and both your Latin and American cultures.

This wasn't the first time that music and its message has impacted Perez's students, however.

"While this is my first year at La Puente High, I taught at Hawthorne High School for four years were I was able to bring Ozomatli to speak and preform for my students," Perez told Latin Post.

Perez did a remix of Ozomatli's "After Party," and incorporated the Bill of Rights into the song and used it as a teaching exercise, which really impressed the band.

"I believe that students need to have positive experiences in high school, because these can truly change lives. I, unfortunately didn't have those, while I had lovely parents -- an immigrant mother from Mexico (who he calls his inspiration), I was a hard-headed teenager that had to discover myself in the deserts of Iraq," he admitted. "I spent eight years in the U.S. Army which changed my life forever. This is why I have chosen the profession of teaching."

After the success of Ozomatli's visit, Perez heard La Santa Cecilia's music and immediately thought, "'wow, what a sound!'"

In addition to their performance, La Santa Cecilia was "very candid," about discussing their "highs and lows" in their careers, Perez explained.

Perez assigned his students 10 questions to ask La Santa Cecilia, which involved advice for Latino students.

The most impactful question came from Perez's student, Evie Martin, who asked: "What advice would you give to Latinas in regards to being independent when our culture doesn't encourage us to become independent?"

"Oh my God, the message that [Hernandez] gave, was like, 'Mija, you got to do you, and you have to remember that your parents are going to love you regardless and you have got to love yourself. You're going to be on your own and you have to do what's best for you.  The message went out, and our kids, you could tell they all had chills," Perez explained.

Hernandez recalled her struggles growing up -- and how she still struggles at times. She recalled a time when she was encouraged by Spanish TV to take part in a photo shoot alongside other female stars who had skinny, model-type figures.

"A lot of her fans said that she was a sell-out, and asked her why she would go on this photo shoot. She responded that women of her mold, if you will, don't have a voice -- and she is becoming that voice," he pointed out. "That's something that we, as a whole, need to project to our community. Social media and the entertainment industry says that you have got to be this perfect person and if you're not, then there's something wrong with you. She talked about the beauty of being you and that was so good for the students to hear that."

The band also touched upon that in the past it used to be frowned upon to speak Spanish, even in southern California where there is a large Latino population, it was a "negative stigma," Perez added. "Now, it's like, 'hey be proud of your language and your culture ... It's important to celebrate both, 'eres dos personas" (you are two people) you are not one, you're both (Latino and American.)"

Perez noted that he served in Iraq for one year in basic training when 9/11 happened, which made him look closer at the impact of U.S. history, foreign relations and how history is taught to our youth.

With little Latino representation in U.S. History textbooks, Perez helps his student recognize that Latinos are part of the fabric of this country. He highlights this in his lesson plans, including what he calls, a "True American Story," where his students interview family members and tie it into US history.

Whether it's his lesson plans, incorporating the Bill of Rights into Ozomatli's hit song, "After Party," or inviting La Santa Cecilia to his school for an memorable visit, Perez is doing his part to positively impact young minds.

"My goal is to give Latino students once in a lifetime experiences and sharing the afternoon with such an inspirational band is something that could truly be life changing," Perez said.