Look at Ms. Martinez and her class! They had the most IReady lessons passed in reading AND math in February. #hardworkers @HicksTigers @CurriculumAssoc @dtwong1997

Writing brings clarity.

Ms. Sosa's class had the most lessons passed in 1st grade during February! @HicksTigers @CurriculumAssoc

When I was a high school principal, I interviewed a teacher named Jake Huggins. He seemed like a good candidate—friendly, experienced, and thoughtful. I believed he could be a solid addition to our faculty. But any lingering doubt disappeared when he answered one particular question. It has always been my favorite. I asked him, “Jake, in every school in America, you can place teachers on a continuum. On one end are those who don’t seem to want to be there. They’re always complaining. Their colleagues wonder why they haven’t retired yet. They drain the energy of the building. But on the other end are teachers who are excited to come to work. They love their students. They value their colleagues. They lift the spirits of everyone around them. When graduates come back, these are the teachers they want to see. So Jake… what’s the difference between these two teachers? What is the X factor? Because that’s what we’re looking for.” Most teachers answer that question by talking about passion. Or purpose. Or the desire to make a difference rather than just earn a paycheck. Those are good answers. But Jake said something different—something I’ve never forgotten. He said, “I think almost every teacher starts out idealistic. They love kids. They want to change the world. But after a few years, you hit a wall. You realize how hard this job really is. There are endless papers to grade. Some students make it incredibly challenging to teach. And parents aren’t always supportive. Some teachers never move past that reality check. They burn out. But others do. They keep their sense of purpose in spite of the challenges. The work is hard, but they remain convinced it matters. Some students are difficult, but they know those students need someone who refuses to give up on them. They face adversity, but they don’t let it steal their passion. Those are the teachers who make a difference year after year.” We hired Jake. A few years later he was named the school’s Teacher of the Year. So today, I salute Jake—and every educator who has faced that “reality check” and chosen to keep going. The ones who remember their whyon the hard days. The ones who refuse to let frustration turn into cynicism. The ones who continue to believe, even when the work is exhausting. Because those are the teachers who change lives. And they do it… year after year. Cheers, Danny

We don’t have a classroom management problem. We have an emotional regulation crisis that teachers are being asked to handle. Somehow, “classroom management” has turned into: • de-escalating trauma • supporting anxiety and depression • calming panic attacks • being the counselor, social worker, and crisis team • carrying emotional loads no one sees And then we remove the very things that help like recess, movement, art, play, connection. Teachers aren’t trained for that. They shouldn’t have to be. Classroom management is about relationships, structure, routines, and connection. It was never meant to replace what families, communities, and systems failed to provide. And until we stop offloading every societal failure onto schools, teachers will keep drowning under expectations no human can meet.

Lots of good data discussion, lesson rehearsal & practice clinic with @HicksTigersMath @StacyMAmos & our awesome 2nd grade team!! And thanks @DrCharlieGarcia for stopping by to share your sentiments 💙 and check out some @HicksTigers happenings!!! #MOYDataDig #PracticeClinic

So important @HicksTigers

What is Grit?

Great Small Group PLC @StacyMAmos with our 2nd grade @HicksTigers teachers!!! #literacy 📚 #solidfoundation 📖 #Collaboration

During writing, students collaborate to write an informative book about animals, using books and online research to gather fascinating facts. 📚 @HicksTigers #OneTeamOneGoal

Feeling honored as a instructional coach that makes a difference. Thank you! @MatturroMEd @HicksTigers #KindWords

Congratulations to these @HicksTigers in Mr. Buckley’s class. They had the highest usage in @iReady Reading in the month of September.

Congratulations to these @HicksTigers classes for having the highest usage in @iReady Reading for the month of September!! Way to go! @Yanivels14 @_MrsLyn

1st grade teachers and families are working together to support the students @HicksTigers

Today, we had a chance to finish drafting our personal narrative. We focused hard on creating detailed sentences. 📝✍🏾 #aliefproud #OneTeamOneGoal @HicksTigers @AliefISD

#ThrivingThursday in action.

We started our affirmations today! Students are learning new vocabulary, practicing directionality, and one to one correspondence while reading. Even my students who speak very little English were excited to take their turn 🥹 #ProudTeacher @Aliefsneed @AliefPreK

What a great start to the morning! Thanks Mrs. Martínez for the yummy treat. We made it through the first week of school! @StacyMAmos