The Leader • Saturday, August 24, 2019 • Page 1B
Alternative certification helps teacher fulfill calling By Betsy Denson
teacher educator program has provided teacher training to college grads and second career seekers. The Educator Certification and Advancement division also trains and prepares principals and superintendents for certification. “For the past seven years, our program has reported a 99-percent pass rate for students completing course and taking the certification exams,� Zatopek said. Fuller also is nominated for the National Association for Alternative Certifi-
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Camila Escobar Fuller never imagined being a teacher when she was growing up in Columbia. Now, though, she’s an award-winning educator. Fuller, a Heights resident in her second year of teaching at Love Elementary, recently was honored as one of the top three winners of the Texas Alternative Certification Association’s Intern of the Year Award. She received her teaching certification through the Harris County Department of Education. “The thought of spending my days as a kindergarten teacher was an unfathomable idea because my dream was to be the secretary general for the U.N,� Fuller wrote in an essay for the competition. “As a result, I chose to major in political science and religious studies. I was very interested in activism and doing the best I could to defend human rights.� Fuller, who spent her senior year of high school at a Humble ISD school, attended the Honors College at the University of Houston. During college, she worked with nonprofit SEWA international, which runs an education center in a Bellaire-area apartment complex populated primarily by refugees. Fuller helped students with their homework and on Saturdays assisted with a soccer camp at the local elementary school. Tutoring a middle school student who was illiterate in English as well as his native language changed the course of her career. “Tutoring him and designing the ESL (English as a second language) curriculum for the program truly opened my eyes,� Fuller wrote. “It became very clear to me that education is the only equalizer for these students who lack socioeconomic resources. I could make a difference in real time by being a teacher rather than trying to become part of the bureaucracy.� After college, Fuller started working with autistic children at Spectrum of Hope in Cypress while she pursued an alternative certification program. Fuller first looked at the programs that were solely online, but after what she described as a lack of customer service with the registration process, she
cation’s 2020 Outstanding New Teacher Award to be announced in December. She has a campaign on DonorsChoose.org to purchase two tablets for her students to engage in independent reading and practice literacy skills. For more information on HCDE’s teacher certification, visit www.hcde-texas.org/ teach-and-lead. For Fuller’s campaign, visit www.donorschoose.org and search for Love Elementary in Houston.
&OR !LL Maria Garza /WNER $ESIGNER 9OUR %LLA "LVD (OUSTON 48 &LORAL 0 .EEDS 0 Contributed photo Camila Escobar Fuller, center, works with students at Love Elementary last school year. Fuller was announced as a winner of the Texas Alternative Certification Association’s Intern of the Year Award.
changed course and went with the Harris County Department of Education. She said she liked that classroom time would be supplemented by online learning. “I wanted contact with veteran teachers,� Fuller said. “I remember first year I asked my instructor, who was also a principal, if I could show her my lesson plan. The face to face was so helpful.� It took Fuller a year-and-ahalf to get certified, and she passed her test close to the start of the 2018-19 school year. A great interview with Love principal Melba Heredia Johnson got her into a kindergarten classroom last year. During her first year, Fuller leaned on the support of her mentors at the HCDE. “(Teaching) is very overwhelming,� Fuller said. “You get paid for the hours of teaching, but not all the planning that goes into it. None of (the regular school day) is getting ready, with materials, and lesson planning. If you’re not prepared, you won’t be a good teacher. There’s not enough hours in the day to get ready for the next day.� A monthly seminar class called Communities of Practice for first-year teachers was particularly helpful to
Fuller. “They offered resources for real-world issues,� Fuller said, “things like self-care and how to talk to parents.� After Fuller’s internship year, in which she also was the teacher of record, a field supervisor who had been observing her in the classroom recommended her to be certified. Fuller said she enjoys her role in a dual-language classroom where she teaches all subjects. A Spanish-speaking student is paired with an English-speaking one to facilitate language acquisition. “The single best thing I can do to help a child’s success is to teach them how to read well,� Fuller said. “I have kids who are now reading on a second-grade level.� Fuller now wants to get a master’s degree in in education. “I really want to be a success in this field, and feel that so many things can be improved,� she said. HCDE program director Lidia Zatopek said the department is recruiting applicants for a new group of potential teachers. The program starts Oct. 1. There are several information sessions to learn about the program and admission process. For 12 years, HCDE’s
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Photo by Flamegrower In foreground from left to right, artist John Runnels, his grandson Tristan Hadley and Oak Forest Elementary principal Andrew Casler participate in a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school.
Oak Forest students to ride rainbow wave into school By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Artist John Runnels was featured in The Leader in March. That’s when his 12-foot hubcap sculpture in the shape of a globe, named “What goes around, Comes around‌,â€? was unveiled on Heights Boulevard. Runnels created the sculpture with his wife, fellow artist Charlie Jean Sartwelle, and grandson, Tristan Hadley. Their latest creation is now on display at Oak Forest Elementary School, where Hadley will be a fifth-grader this year. R A I N. B OW. WAV E . WALK‌.2019 is a 280-foot by 8-foot work of art made with acrylic latex paint on the school’s concrete sidewalk. Oak Forest principal Andrew
Casler said Runnels and Sartwelle had a vision to add color and life to the pathway leading into the school. “When the city told them they could not pursue their original plan of painting the street, they didn’t give up their idea and instead shifted their efforts into the creation of the rainbow walk under our front wave,� Casler said. “After much thoughtful planning and collaboration, our empower values were added to the vision and serve as bookends to this beautiful installation.� The school’s empower values include effort, motivation, perseverance, ownership, wisdom, empathy and respect. Runnels said the seven empower words were a perfect fit with the seven colors of the rainbow -- red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, indigo and violet. A team of volunteers, including art teacher Keith Roy, Tristan’s mother, Laura, and a number of other Oak Forest faculty, parents and students, worked for a month through the summer heat to complete the task. On work days they assembled from 8 a.m.-noon. “Thank goodness for the shade under the wave,� Runnels said. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held the week before the start of classes and about 150 students, staff and parents showed up to celebrate. “Mr. Runnels and his team not only created a beautiful art installation for all to enjoy as they walk into (Oak Forest Elementary), they also fittingly exemplified our empower values,� Casler said.
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Page 2B • Saturday, August 24, 2019 • The Leader
Area schools welcome new principals By Betsy Denson
years,” Flores said. “I am looking forward to being a part of the Durham community and working with the amazing staff for a long time.”
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Durham Elementary’s new principal said she can’t stop smiling. “The connection here is wonderful,” Carrie Flores said of the dual-language campus. “I’ve been overwhelmed with the community spirit.” Flores, who took over the role from new Houston ISD school support officer Amy Poerschke, is one of a few new principals at area schools as classes start Monday. Among the others are Melinda Daugherty at Katherine Smith Elementary and John Flowers at Highland Heights Elementary. Flores already has met some Durham parents at an informal meet and greet as well as a summer uniform exchange. The new school year is scheduled to start Monday. “I’ve been at the school since June and feel like the staff and I are really well-aligned,” Flores said. A Milby High School graduate, Flores moved to California and taught there before returning to Houston. She was a fourth-grade teacher at Windsor Village Elementary and then moved to teach third and fourth grade at Bonner Elementary. For 15 years, Flores worked at Pilgrim Academy, which is the same school Oak Forest principal Andrew Casler came from two years ago. Flores said she was the assistant principal when Pilgrim transitioned into a pre-kingergarten through eighth-grade campus. “After that transition I started working with the middle school,” Flores said. “I was provided the opportunity to experience how important a strong elementary education set the foundation for a successful middle school education.” Flores said there are many similarities between Pilgrim and Durham in terms of the staffs’ drive and commitment to their communities. Although Flores did not come from an International Baccalaureate (IB) school such as Durham, she said a global mindset is one of HISD’s core philosophies. “(HISD) encourages children to think critically and to become
Melinda Daugherty
independent learners,” Flores said. “All campuses have a greater focus on the social emotional learning of the child. In an IB program this is essential to create an international mindset. Houston is a very diverse city. The IB program makes sense.” Flores said she sought the job as principal after taking leadership training with HISD. “A switch went on for me,” Flores said. “I thought that my skills and background would be a good fit for it.” Flores said there are many things she’d like to help accomplish at the school. This year she
Carrie Flores
wants to focus on building relationships within the community and on campus as well as teaming up with other schools. “I can’t wait to engage in and collaborate with schools similar to ours so that we become a stronger school,” Flores said. “It’s like engaging in the work so that we move from great to excellent.” Shorter-term goals include integrating technology as much as possible into classrooms. Longer term, Flores wants Durham to be a Blue Ribbon Campus. “There have been many school leaders through the
Daugherty takes over at Katherine Smith Daugherty, the new Katherine Smith Elementary principal, takes over for Queinnise Miller, who will be the principal at Marshall Middle Academy of Fine Arts this school year. Smith is one of the larger elementary schools in the area with an enrollment of 867 at the end of last year. Daugherty, who grew up in Cy-Fair, has been the assistant principal at Smith for three years. She’s been at the school for about 15 years, starting as a fourth-grade classroom teacher and then a language arts instructor. Daugherty also taught in Cy-Fair ISD and at HISD’s James Berry Elementary. She said she has seen many
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The Leader • Saturday, August 24, 2019 • Page 3B
Does your dog lick his lips excessively? Find out why often will accompany this liplicking appeasement gesture with averted eyes to present as submissive. So, in this case, your dog might be recognizing you as the ultimate “Alpha” in his “pack.” Licking also releases endorphins in your dog’s brain, which bring him feelings of contentment and pleasure. So in this case, it’s a sign of affection.
Dear Tabby, My dog is always licking his lips! Why does he do this? It doesn’t seem to just happen at feeding time either. He does it all day, every day (and even in his sleep).
Health issues can be cause Occasionally, lip-licking can be a sign of a health-related issue. Often, when dogs are nauseous (you might have seen dogs licking their lips excessively when riding in the
Licking Lips in Lazybrook Dear Licking Lips, What an interesting question! This is something that many of us notice our dogs doing, but never really question why they do it. Thanks to your query, I did some digging around and found a few potential answers to your question.
car), they’ll lick their lips and yawn often. If you see this happening, you might prepare for a vomiting pup. Vets also explain that lip-licking can be a sign of mouth pain, so a visit to the vet to have it checked out might not hurt. Pay attention to environment No matter what is causing your dog to lick his lips excessively, it might be a good idea to investigate his environment a bit more and check to see if there is anything in your home that could be causing your pooch undue stress. The addition of a new animal into the home, a new
person or even a new routine might be causing your dog to stress out a bit and he’s dealing with it by licking his lips. Perhaps spending some quiet, quality time with your dog might help to relieve any stress that might be causing this licking to happen. If all else fails, a trip to the vet will rule out any mouth issues and your vet might also be able to guide you in some training methods to help your dog cope and find some less tongue-wagging ways to express himself. Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week Meet Magnolia
Form of communication and affection According to many dog experts, they use their tongues, mouths and lips to communicate much like humans do. The difference is that, while humans use their mouths to communicate via speech, dogs use their mouths to communicate via biting and licking. When you see your dog obsessively licking his lips, what you might be witnessing is something that experts call an “appeasement gesture.” According to the website, www.thespruce.com, dogs often lick their lips as a way to calm or soothe someone they perceive as a threat. Dogs
This 10-month-old Lab mix is all puppy and eager to find her forever family. Magnolia loves walks on a leash and adores children! She is a bit timid around other dogs and cats, but with a little patience, she’s likely to adjust beautifully to a home with either. Magnolia is working hard on basic commands and is a quick learner. To learn more about this Southern Belle, visit www.animaljusticeleague.org.
Principals from P. 2B things change at Smith, both within and outside the campus. Smith finished a major construction project in 2016 that included a new library and multi-purpose cafeteria/auditorium space. New classrooms, ancillary, special education and administrative offices were part of the 2002 and 2007 bond programs. “The community knows me,” Daugherty said. “I wanted the opportunity [to become principal] to have a greater impact on the school and to continue to make it a positive space.” Smith’s school slogan - “Together We love, laugh, and lead” – is an apt one according to Daugherty, who said Smith’s strength is its school culture. “We work to bring in the parents and the community, and we focus on the growth of the whole child,” she said. “We really work on outreach to the families that need help. Our culture is to surround scholars with social and emotional support.” Daugherty said a misconception that some have about Smith is that it doesn’t have that culture. “We are very much a community,” she said, noting that Smith regularly does outreach to its families. Last year, the school did a “Welcome Back” walk in the surrounding neighborhoods and this year there will be a tailgate on campus. As part of a group of northwest HISD school leaders, Daugherty shares ideas and strategies with others. Her school also teams up with others in the feeder pattern, like Scarborough High School, for events. This school year, Daugherty said her focus is on Smith’s
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accountability rating with the state, which was a failing grade for the previous year. “We’re working on a strategic plan with the teachers and a strategy to support each student at the school,” Daugherty said. “We really want to work on reading and writing.” This year the school will have a parent representative, a social worker and a wraparound specialist to assist with non-academic needs that affect academic performance. “I believe that it does take a village to raise a child,” Daugherty said, noting that she would love to have more volunteers on campus to read to scholars. In five years, Daugherty said she wants Smith to be an A-ranked school where all scholars are welcome and all needs are met, and where children can become lifelong learners. “We’ve gotten more active with social media,” Daugherty said. “We want to show all the great things we are doing here.”
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Page 4B • Saturday, August 24, 2019 • The Leader
Dedicated to helping businesses improve their workspaces.
Contributed photo Students of Conmigo Spanish receive an interactive introduction to the Spanish language.
Heights program offering free Spanish classes for kids For the Leader Conmigo Spanish, a Heights business that teaches Spanish to young kids, is offering a complimentary class as part of a back-to-school promotion. Parents and caregivers of children can sign up for one free class to be held Aug. 26, Aug. 27, Aug. 29 or Aug. 30, with limited availability and time slots varying each day. Those interested must RSVP by emailing conmigospanish@gmail.com. Conmigo Spanish, or Spanish With Me, was founded in 2005 and provides an interac-
Local business is our business. Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com
tive introduction to Spanish using puppets, song, movement and games. Weekly morning classes, which are limited to eight students ages 15 months through 3-plus years, last 45 minutes and are
held at 1548 Heights Blvd. An affiliated Avec Moi French Program also is available this fall. Visit conmigospanish.net for more information.
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