Madeworthy Sep/Oct 2020

®

madeworthy

Remodeling

YOUR ONE STOP REMODELING SHOP!

(817) 891-2545

Romero's Remodeling

romerosremodeling

ON VIEW THROUGH NOVEMBER 1

cartermuseum.org/ActingOut #ActingOutCarter

Benjamin J. Falk, New York, NY, Helena Luy (detail), 1880s, albumen silver print, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, P2016.120

Think BIG. Think First Financial Bank.

Home Improvement Loans There’s real value in your home and chances are it’s growing every day. We offer competitive rates and great terms on loans.

Talk to one of our expert lenders today and see what a home improvement loan can do for you.

YOU FIRST | FFIN.com

MEMBER FDIC

CONTRIBUTERS’ ® What book did you read in school that made the greatest impact on your life?

Issue 19 | The Education Issue | Sept/Oct 2020

P U B L I S H E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Wise E D I T O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Virden Geurkink A S S O C I A T E P U B L I S H E R . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Kieta ILL U S T R A T O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trish Wise

A: Brave New World

A: Either Hiroshima by John

A: The Dubliners

by James Joyce

A: Bunnicula

by James and Deborah Howe

- Victoria Wise

- Lee Virden Geurkink

- Lyle Brooks

- Edward Brown

A: The Diary of Anne Frank

A: All the King’s Men

by Robert Penn Warren

A: The Count of Monte Cristo

A: The Giver

- Julie Rhodes

- Shilo Urban

- Angela Weaver

by Aldous Huxley

Hershey or Dante’s Inferno

L E A D D E S I G N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sovic Creative C O V E R D E S I G N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Wise C O N T R I B UTI N G W R I T E R S Lyle Brooks

Angela Weaver

Edward Brown

Ken Wimberly

Julie Rhodes

William Wise

Shilo Urban

- Carolyn Morris

by Alexandre Dumas (pére)

by Lois Lowry

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Carolyn Morris, OMG Photostuff

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com Looking for more copies Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free, or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth or Whole Foods in the Waterside shopping center.

A: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

A: To Kill a Mockingbird

A: The Sound and the Fury

- Ken Wimberly

- Trish Wise

- William Wise

by Dr. Seuss

by Harper Lee

by William Faulkner

by Angela Weaver

LESSONS FROM THE LOCKER ROOM

There are people you meet during your education who can change your life. Chauncey Franks is one of those people.

The chaplain for Texas Christian University’s football team, Franks also oversees the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) ministry at TCU. He began serving with FCA in 2004 and came to TCU in 2010. Franks’ role at TCU is to guide his athletes not only on the field but also in their lives outside the locker room. He serves as a mentor in the process of finding students’ identities which can be quite daunting. College students often have a hard time adjusting and finding their purpose on campus, and Franks is there to be a voice of encouragement and to teach them to trust that God is there for them.

A native Texan originally from Lockhart, Franks knows all about great barbeque, fishing, and sports. He played football at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls where he also earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His wife Danika is the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the TCU & UNTHSC School of Medicine. They have three children: son Eli and daughters Eden and Elle.

As a veteran player, a collegiate character coach, and a Black man, Franks has gathered what he calls “Lessons from the Locker Room.” He shows his athletes how engaging with teammates and hearing their life photos by Karris Pharris

experiences can build a healthy environment for tackling complex and deep-rooted issues like systemic racism.

Chauncey’s impact on his students may start in the locker room, but it goes far beyond the field and stretches all throughout their lives.

The lessons these students are learning are valuable and could help us all in learning to love, embrace, and build relationships with everyone around us.

Lesson 1: LEARN | Learning history is critical. Understanding how we got here helps us to better understand why we are where we are. Use every resource available. Books, articles, podcasts, and movies can impart a historical understanding. These resources are crucial to have an appreciation of what people of all colors and races have contributed to this country.

Lesson 2: LISTEN | When we hear a political debate, it’s easy to jump into our political “lanes” and start talking without listening. If an individual is telling you their story, it may not be your experience and it may be difficult relate to, but it is their reality. While these stories might be uncomfortable to hear, the importance of listening to someone talk about their story is crucial to understanding where they are coming from and what they have been through.

Lesson 3: LOVE & BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Franks says, “I’ve been telling people if you can love an individual on the football field or sports field for three hours, you can also love… and fight with them for issues that are affecting them throughout the rest of your life.” He relates how a White student once reached out to him in tears. She told him that outside her parents, Franks, a Black man, was the person who had the greatest impact on her life. She wanted Franks to know that she 6

loved him and his family and that she wanted to be part of the solution to systemic racism.

Franks says to reach out to people who are different than you and build relationships with them. Listen and learn about their lives. Form a genuine bond with someone whose life has been different from yours. This will help you better understand and love them.

Lesson 4: LEAD OUT | On the field, the leader is the one in the huddle who not only gives the play but gives encouragement to make sure that the plays are executed well.

In life, leaders look for chances to serve and encourage others. Look for opportunities to volunteer and get involved in your community.

Find ways to connect with people of different ethnicities in Fort Worth. Franks believes food, music, and sports bring people together and suggests finding ethnic restaurants, concerts, and sport events to expand your horizons.

Don’t be scared to ask respectful questions.

Franks shares a quote from the late Representative John Lewis: “What is the purpose of a nation if not to empower human beings to live better together than they could individually?” We live in a collective reality but have built enormous barriers between ourselves and our fellow human beings. Every small interaction we have with another person, if we engage with an intent to listen, hear, and accept their lived experiences, breaks down these walls and moves us forward.

by Shilo Urban e your kids t ak ar o

dt un

he world in a

pa

ic em nd

LOVE. LEAD.

destination: living room

The coronavirus pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives. Many families have been forced to cancel travel plans. However, you can still explore foreign countries with your children and ignite a curiosity for different cultures in their hearts. Embark on a trip across the globe together with home-school lessons that take your kids out of the books and into the wider world. Don’t worry about memorizing capital cities or pronouncing words correctly; your goal is to spark an interest in undiscovered lands and the people who inhabit them.

Grab a globe or world map and start your adventure by choosing your destinations. You can focus on just one city, country, or continent, but for a true around-the-world experience, pick four or five locations that are spread out around the globe.

Try to visit places that intrigue you, and your enthusiasm will spill over to your family.

Download free printable passports for kids

(there’s a good one on MakeAndTakes.com) to keep track of your journey, and then gather your resources and start planning. The best way to make your lessons fun and memorable is by engaging your children’s five senses: taste, smell, sound, sight, and feeling.

Stimulating the senses of taste and smell is easy: try the cuisine of the destination that you’re exploring. Cook a recipe together with older students or order takeout from a local restaurant.

For busy moms and/or picky kids, just do something simple and snack-ish, like French baguettes and Brie cheese. You can shop for a variety of ethnic foods at local groceries. Before you eat, Google the name of the food you’re trying plus the phrase “fun facts” (e.g., “lomo saltado fun facts”) to discover fascinating tidbits to talk about. And don’t just chow down – really smell your food, taste it, feel it (if it’s not too messy), and talk about what makes it similar and different than what your family usually eats.

Music is the easiest way to incorporate sound into your globe-trotting adventure. Search Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube for playlists that will transport you to foreign lands. Traditional music and folk sounds are good but be sure to play tunes from the modern era, too. While France’s Edith Piaf is an undeniable musical legend, most young French people would rather listen to L’Impératrice, Lomepal, or Petit Biscuit, and your kids probably will, too.

Engage the sense of sight with eye-candy travel pics and videos. Record family-friendly travel shows on good old PBS (channel 13), including “Globe Trekker,” “Rick Steve’s Europe,” and “Expedition.”

You can also watch videos on streaming sites (like Netflix and Hulu) and cable (try the Discovery Channel, Science, or National Geographic). The Fort Worth Public Library maintains a stash of travel DVDs you can borrow plus numerous travel books and guidebooks with useful maps and information. There are plenty of travel videos online, of course, but your kids are probably already staring at their computer screens all day long. Keep things interesting by

changing the setting. Hook up an old DVD player and hang blue sheets for a trip to the Greek Islands. Look at pictures of Egypt in the sandbox. Sit on the floor to read about Thailand, just like Thai schoolchildren do.

A small change in your environment can make a big difference.

“Feel” your destination by getting hands-on. Rip out pictures in travel magazines and create collages.

Design Indonesian-inspired textiles with markers and graph paper. You can also feel the enthusiasm of a person who’s been to the location that you’re studying. Do you know anyone from Paris, or who has visited South Africa on vacation? Many travelers are keen to talk about their trips and show off their photos. If they have souvenirs to pass around – postcards, foreign currency, ticket stubs – so much the better. These will give your kids a real, tactile connection to the country. If you need an excuse to shop, you can also find decor made in other countries at stores like World Market and HomeGoods. Or simply search your home for elements that evoke the spirit of a place, like brightly colored blankets for Guatemala or seashells for the Philippines. Bring all your plants into one room to visit the jungles of South Africa or cut the A/C low to explore the coast of Iceland.

Most of all, let your children’s interests and unique personalities guide you. Have fun together and just do the best that you can—and perhaps someday, you can experience these far-away lands for real on a family vacation.

photos contributed by Shilo Urban

Our mission to provide professional and caring dental service to Fort Worth, TX began in the 1970s. As your family grew, ours did as well. We now have three dentists with expertise in cosmetic, orthodontic, emergency, and implant dentistry. By investing in a first-class team, state-of-the-art technology, and advanced training, we are privileged to welcome you to a practice that feels like home.

As we all look towards finding a “new normal,” you can be rest assured that we continue to provide high-quality care in a safe and clean environment. Even in uncertain times, you can count on us to be your partner in cherishing your happy, healthy smile.

4900 Overton Ridge Blvd #112 Fort Worth, TX 76132 (817) 292-5957 hulendental.com

KOREAN GRILLED EGGPLANT: TANGLEWOOD MOMS FOR CENTRAL MARKET A recipe created for a Tanglewood Mom’s article for Central Market, this Korean-inspired eggplant dish is utterly delicious. Sweet, savory, smoky, and spicy are perfectly balanced.

ingredients 3 Asian eggplants (the long, skinny ones) Kosher salt 1 tablespoon oil (I use a neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed, for this recipe)

2 green onions, finely sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced FR OM FOR T WOR TH'S FOOD MASTERS

1 tablespoon soy sauce (you can use low sodium if you like)

1 scant teaspoon sugar 2 teaspoons unseasoned rice wine vinegar

GRILLED PORK SPRING ROLLS: FOUR SISTERS – A TASTE OF VIETNAM

1 tablespoon, more or less, gochujang (Korean red chili paste, available in most grocery stores these days)

You read it here first! These spring rolls aren’t even on the menu at Four Sisters – A Taste of Vietnam yet. However, the Madeworthy editorial staff took one for the team and tested the recipe. We are happy to report that it’s delicious!

Freshly ground pepper 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish directions Slice the eggplants into ½-inch slices and toss with salt. Allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the slices are slightly wilted and some liquid has seeped out. Pat the eggplant dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and toss with the neutral oil.

To make the sauce, whisk together the green onions, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, rice wine vinegar, gochujang, pepper, and sesame oil.

Grill the eggplant slices over a preheated, medium-high grill for 3 to 4 minutes a side, or until the eggplant slices are nicely marked and tender. Toss the hot eggplant slices with the sauce.

ingredients for the rolls 1 package large rice paper (Three Lady brand preferred)

¼ bag vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package directions

1 cucumber, ends removed, halved, and cut into strips (approximately 3” by ½”)

1 head green leaf or romaine lettuce, rinsed and drained well 1 small bunch cilantro, rinsed and drained well

1 pound grilled pork, cut into strips (this is a great recipe to use up extra grilled pork chops or pork loin – the MW staff used leftover grilled pork loin)

ingredients for the sauce ½ cup creamy peanut butter

This can be served warm or cold.

½ cup hoisin sauce (available in supermarkets)

1 cup chicken stock or water

CAST IRON SEARED WAGYU TRI-TIP STEAK, THE MEAT BOARD

4 cloves garlic, finely minced ½ teaspoon neutral oil (the MW staff used grapeseed, as it was in the cupboard)

This recipe from The Meat Board on Camp Bowie features a tri-tip steak. From the bottom sirloin, the tri-tip is a great cut of meat that features prominently in Santa Maria-style barbecue. This Wagyu steak is a luxurious main course!

1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon roasted peanuts 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

ingredients

1 teaspoon sambal or sriracha

1 Wagyu tri-tip Steak seasoning (The Meat Board has their own

directions for the rolls Fill a wide bowl ¾ of the way with warm water. Make sure you have all the ingredients for the rolls ready. Dip one sheet of rice paper in the warm water until fully covered; remove and place on a flat round plate. Add approximately 1 oz of the vermicelli noodles, one piece of lettuce, one strip of cucumber, a few sprigs of cilantro, and about four strips of grilled pork. Be sure that there is an inch of space at both ends of the rice paper. Fold the side of the rice paper closest to you over the ingredients. Fold the left and right sides over, closing the ends of the roll. Carefully roll the whole thing forward so your spring roll is tight enough to hold the ingredients but not so tight as to tear the rice paper. (This part is not easy, but with a little practice, you will become a spring roll rolling master.)

brand, and it’s great!)

Roasted garlic olive oil (you can either make your own by roasting garlic cloves in olive oil or you can get some at The Meat Board)

directions Preheat the oven to 275°.

Rub the tri-tip all over with the roasted garlic olive oil.

Season generously with the steak seasoning.

Heat about a tablespoon of the oil in a large cast iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil “shimmers,” sear the tri-tip on all sides to a golden mahogany brown.

If you have a programable meat thermometer (available at The Meat Board), place it into the thickest part of the meat and set it for 145°. If not, that’s okay. Place the skillet into the oven and roast for about 45 minutes. Remove the skillet from the oven. Let the tri-tip rest for about 15 minutes. This is important!

Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring an amazingly juicy and tender steak. To serve, slice against the grain.

directions for the sauce In a small pot, sauté the garlic in the neutral oil over medium heat until the garlic is translucent or until you can smell it. Combine the rest of the sauce ingredients in pot and stir until incorporated. You want to make sure the sauce is well-mixed, but do not bring it to a boil. Remove the sauce from the heat and let cool to room temperature to serve.

This recipes is enough for six rolls and sauce.

One tri-tip serves 3 to 4 people.

8

ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES WHERE EVERYTHING HAS A HOME.

Due to ongoing concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus and schooling,

compiled by the Madeworthy team

the Madeworthy editorial staff has gathered a list of online

We are a professional organizing company who strives to make every space beautiful, organized and functional. Each project is unique and we take pride in exceeding your expectations from start to finish.

www.organizednest.com

educational resources for your

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

children. These websites are fun supplements to online learning!

Games that teach basic math, ages 3 through 12 www.coolmath4kids.com

HIGH SCHOOL

Language arts and math lessons, ages 4 through 9 www.starfall.com Science and art from the museum in San Francisco www.exploratorium.edu Fun history resource (please note that while this page has been archived, it is still available and a great history resource!) www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids All sorts of educational games, videos, and lessons www.pbskids.org Free printable lessons, coloring sheets, certificates, awards, and more www.freeology.com Hands-on experiments, science fair ideas and more www.sciencebob.com

Curated TED Talks on a staggering variety of subjects www.ed.ted.com/lessons A gateway site for US history resources www.historymatters.gmu.edu The Folger Shakespeare Library’s educational resources for learning Shakespeare www.folger.edu/teach-learn Learning to code in all coding languages www.codecademy.com Extensive math resources for high school students www.mathworld.wolfram.com

FOR ALL AGES

Word games and lessons www.abcya.com

Resources for almost any topic for almost any age www.edutopia.org/topic/openeducation-resources

MIDDLE SCHOOL Learn over 35 languages, offers both Android and iOS apps as well as the website www.duolingo.com Incredibly cool site which uses video games to address social issues (please note there are some dead links, but there are some great games there) www.gamesforchange.org Run by MIT offering STEM videos www.k12videos.mit.edu Child-friendly videos on art, technology, science, math, and more thekidshouldseethis.com

Resources from the Annenberg institute for all ages in all topics www.learner.org/classroomresources History for all ages www.teachinghistory.org Introductory information for all ages, aimed more at younger learners www.kids.nationalgeographic.com Educational videos, games, quizzes, and puzzles for all ages www.neok12.com Index of over 33,000 educational videos in over 3000 categories www.watchknowlearn.org

A video series about the founding of the United States www.youtube.com/user/ LibertysKidsTV Focuses on pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry www.shmoop.com/math-shack A 3D exploration of the cosmos from NASA www.eyes.nasa.gov

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s Discovery Lab Online www.fwmuseum.org/learn/ discovery-lab-online-groups The granddaddy of all educational sites offers in-depth, free educational resources for all ages in all subjects www.khanacademy.org

VOLUNTEER Volunteering is a great way for high school and college students to supplement online learning. According to Youth Services of America, volunteering helps increase students’ motivation to learn, and students who volunteer perform better in school. Taste Project provides multiple opportunities for students to serve at Taste Community Restaurant.

Visit www.tasteproject.org for more information.

by Lee Virden Geurkink

FORT WORTH'S

As a freshman in college, Sarah Chance took a class called Intro to Music Education, and her career path became clear. The band director at McLean Middle School says, “I definitely enjoyed several of my academic classes… but I just didn’t feel the same connection to other classes as I did to music.”

In her classes, she doesn’t just teach music; she aims to “develop a band program where students have a home, a family, and a place of belonging and can develop important life skills such as goal setting, perseverance, and drive.” Sarah believes in the power of band.

“Band is so much more than just music – it is friendships, memories, hard work, failure, and success – and… it is my job to create a safe environment for students to explore this.”

TOP TEACHERS OF 2020 Once again, we are honored to recognize Fort Worth’s oustanding educators, as chosen

by Tanglewood Moms rea ders.

For ten years, Heather Goldman has taught third grade at Fort Worth Country Day. She was inspired to teach by Mr. Behal, her fifth-grade teacher. “He challenged me more than any other teacher I ever had.

His class was hard… but he stuck with me and continued to challenge me.” Like Mr. Behal, Heather holds her students “to a high set of expectations, yet [provides] a safe place to fail. Their smiles when they face a challenge and succeed make my heart soar.” Her love for her students is palpable. “When my students reflect… I want them to remember that their teacher challenged them and lifted them up… I want them to smile with fondness and say, ‘Yep, I am a part of Mrs. Goldman’s family.’”

Teri Bielefeldt has taught everything from kindergarten to eighth grade.

She is now in her 29th year of teaching at St. Paul Lutheran School. Teri particularly loves kindergarten, which she currently teaches.

“Kindergarten students are wonderful to teach because they embrace everything with enthusiasm.” Teaching at St. Paul “enables me to encourage faith development in children. This is the most important part of my teaching.” Teri marvels at her students. “Each class develops their own personality… Even though the content remains the same, the way the students learn and grow is different which keeps teaching fresh and constantly changing. I strive to make learning fun

Pam Hulsey has taught for 25 years, all of them at Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center. Her daughter’s second-grade teacher, Jeannie Robinson, was an inspiration. “I saw children learning the importance of reading, writing, and math, but also [learning] to think: to think about academic concepts, to think about others, and to take action when it is needed.”

As a second/third grade teacher, Pam believes “wholeheartedly in the power of reading, and nothing gives me greater joy than sharing literature with children that inspires them to create change when they see a need, to be stronger than they thought possible, and to think beyond the words on the page, imagining possibilities.”

and engaging [because] it is important to me that the children grow into lifelong learners.”

Todd Bailey teaches US History and coaches boys athletics at Aledo Middle School.

A teacher for 14 years, he was inspired to teach when, as a senior in high school, he was asked to help coach the freshman football team.

“Teaching and coaching doesn’t feel like a job. It is a passion and… there is joy and pleasure even on the hardest days.” His junior English teacher, Bruce Henry, inspired his teaching style.

“I remember the struggle of learning and the reward of gaining knowledge. Mr. Henry demanded excellence. It is a trait I ask of all my students and athletes every day.” While he could have pursued other careers, Todd says, “Teaching and coaching is a passion for me. I believe it is my calling.”

Currently in her 19th year teaching,

Sarah Brockway teaches second

grade at Fort Worth Country Day. “Teaching is a very creative job, and I enjoy coming up with ways to challenge and relate to my students,” she says. Inspired by Starpoint’s Lisa May (one of last year’s Top Teachers) who taught her son, Sarah works to make a positive difference in her students’ lives. “My favorite part of teaching is the genuine relationship I build with my students. I love being an encouragement to them… and it is important to me for each child to feel proud of their individual successes and know that they are smart, unique, loved, and valued.”

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 2

10

photos by Carolyn Morris (OMG Photo Stuff)

a LEGACY of LEARNING DAPHNE BROOKINS

by Edward Brown

T

he challenges facing the Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD) are daunting.

Teachers are tasked with providing for the education of more than 84,000 young minds and much more. After decades of work in social services, nonprofit governance, and community organizing, school district trustee Daphne Brookins understands the work that Fort Worth’s teachers put into helping their students goes far beyond what many would expect.

long stretch between her first run at college and her eventual graduation from Texas Wesleyan University in 2001, Brookins worked for Fort Worth Housing Solutions as coordinator for the I Have a Dream Foundation, a charitable trust that provides social, emotional, and academic support to young people from low-income communities.

Whether as a foundation coordinator, nonprofit board member, or school board trustee, Brookins said she has always had a “passion to help people succeed.”

When the foundation merged with another organization seven years into her job, Brookins was laid off. However, she used it as an opportunity to finish college. While earning a three-part degree in two years that encompassed business management, psychology, and fine arts, Brookins described catching the “political science bug” while taking a political science class under professor Ibrahim Salih. After years of being the point of contact between public policy and underserved communities, Brookins wanted to learn how to affect change from the top.

“Our teachers and staff are essentially caregivers to each student that walks through our doors,” Brookins said. “They provide them with social and emotional support. They are normally the ones who can tell when [students] aren’t feeling well and assist to get them to the nurse or make sure they have breakfast and lunch. They are our [front] line advocates for their students as well as the whole child.”

The trustee’s moral compass was shaped early in childhood by her parents — particularly her father, Slidell Harvey, Sr. The former professional baseball player would tell Brookins and her five siblings, “Legs are not forever. Even if you are an athlete, you need to be a student first.”

“I was intrigued when I took that class,” she recalled. “I asked him, ‘How do I get involved in this?’ I had been in social services and was ready to take it to the next level. He said to start volunteering in the community and to start getting involved in the city council. I applied for a committee in Forest Hill and was appointed.”

Brookins’ father had a successful career playing for the Houston Astros, but his early jump into the major leagues before finishing high school left him ill-equipped for the transition to a post-baseball career. Harvey instilled values like discipline and hard work into his children, Brookins said, and he wasn’t afraid to dangle carrots when he knew his children could rise to the occasion.

During her second year in that position, a city councilmember announced his pending retirement.

Stating that he liked Brookins’ work ethic, the council member endorsed Brookins, and in 2002, she subsequently became the youngest city councilmember the city of Forest Hill had known.

She then served as Mayor Pro Tem for Forest Hill from 2005 to 2007.

“We had a bet when I was a freshman in high school that if I won the regional championship in the shot put, he would buy me a car,” Brookins recalled with a laugh. “Not only did I end up winning the regional championship, I went to State, so he couldn’t back down from his offer.”

Brookins was a young wife and mother at the time and worked to keep family-related issues as part of the discourse among the more senior city councilmembers. She also took her children’s education seriously. She made sure to keep her boys involved during summer breaks to keep their minds sharp. Both of her boys attended college (one is a recent graduate), so her efforts paid off.

Brookins had early setbacks in her efforts to earn a college degree. Like her father, she pursued athletics after college. After winning the NCAA D11 Indoor National Championship in shot put, she failed to qualify for the Olympics that year. Brookins’ mother was stricken with a serious illness around that time.

“They were constantly learning, even during the summertime,” she recalled. “Having a father who didn’t graduate from high school made me want to make sure that my children took advantage of those opportunities.”

“I was just done,” Brookins recalled of her decision to not complete her last season of college track.

Just as her father had reminded Brookins that legs don’t last forever, the young mother told her children that she wanted them to be “forever students,” whether that meant reading, formal learning, or simply seeking new experiences.

By her early 20s, Brookins had developed a passion for social service work, a service that she advocates for to this day. During the nearly decade-

12

The years after her work in Forest Hill were full of accolades and leadership roles, including the Fort Worth Business Press’ Greatest Woman in Texas Award (2009), a governor appointment to the One Star National Service Commission, and Mayor Mike Moncrief’s Believing in Youth Award (2009), among many others.

helping to keep people engaged during meal distributions.”

“Daphne has a very thoughtful style of leadership that makes for a great public servant,” Paz continued. “She listens to all perspectives and stays engaged through the deliberative process in a very soft-spoken manner.

That’s why when Daphne speaks up, I know it’s time to listen.”

Last year, Brookins won a three-way race to represent Fort Worth School District 4. In doing so, she replaced Dr. T.A. Sims, the district’s longest-serving board member. Leading a district that serves more than 84,000 students has given the long-time public servant her most powerful platform for affecting change yet. Instability, poverty, access to healthcare — countless social issues are closely tied to public education, she said.

Brookins said a recent board meeting discussed the need to continue feeding students until campuses reopen. As of the publishing of this article, that opening date is still a moving target. Tarrant County public health officials recently postponed in-person classes until September 8, and there’s no telling if that date will even allow for a totally safe opening.

“I believe that all that time I was working in social services — working with youth and college kids — I was being prepared for a position like this,” she said.

When asked about the strengths of Fort Worth’s schools, Brookins immediately began talking about the teachers.

It is the duty of this generation’s parents and taxpayers to support public schools because these students are future caretakers, doctors, and lawyers, she added. The ongoing pandemic is pushing the science community’s brightest minds to find a cure for COVID-19. Brookins said future generations will face similar challenges, and many of those problem-solvers may be products of this country’s public-school system.

“The teachers are really passionate about their jobs,” she said. “I don’t think a lot of people see that because of everything that is going on. They miss being in the classroom [with their students]. They have always been tasked beyond delivering instruction.” Teachers and school staff become second families to their students, celebrating successes and comforting after failures. Having an adult who is not a family member as a mentor is powerful for a child. The district’s teachers inspire their students to greater achievements in the classroom, in the arts, on the athletic fields, and in life.

“The majority of children who attend public schools need support,” she said. “They need resources. Growing up, everyone on our street knew my family. We don’t have that anymore. Our kids need that extra support. They need that village back.”

Like most large urban school districts, Fort Worth ISD performs its work on a tight budget. Brookins said the district is making strides in important areas like parent engagement and college readiness. The community leader credits the advice of past mentors and teachers like her father and Dr. Salih for guiding the way to her current leadership position. She works daily to provide those same opportunities to others.

Though new at her role as a school board trustee, Brookins said her efforts are focused on ensuring that daycare providers have the resources and training to ensure that children in pre-kindergarten and Head Start (an early education program for financially struggling families) are on track to meet certain reading metrics by third grade. Parents are another part of the educational equation that the trustee is focused on. The abrupt halting of in-person classes has reinforced the importance of parental involvement in learning.

“That is something that both of my parents instilled in me,” she said. “To always be that voice for the voiceless and to always help others.

No matter what our financial situation was, there was always someone worse off, and we needed to help them.”

“We need to make sure that these parents are equipped to help,” Brookins said.

Beyond that, there is the longstanding goal of any educator: to prepare students to graduate so they can go on to higher education or to get a certification.

Many of those goals were put on hold when a deadly pandemic spread through North Texas and caused the closing of school campuses last March.

“We were getting a lot of calls,” the trustee recalled. “Parents were wondering how we were going to do this. We were asking ourselves if we had enough technology to make sure all the schools were covered and not just the ones who had the funds. We first had to pivot moving around 84,000 students to an online learning platform within a week. Then, we had to make sure teachers had the resources needed to teach from home.

Coronavirus has presented a challenge on how to meet our student needs in all these areas. It is difficult to engage students when we don’t see them in person.”

The dangers posed by the pandemic keep her up at night.

“There are so many lives involved — not just our students but our staff,” she said.

Brookins was relieved when Tarrant County public health officials made the decision to delay in-person classes for six weeks. COVID-19 cases remain at record levels in Texas, and many teachers and staff are concerned for their safety and the safety of children who would be asked to congregate in classrooms where social distancing is possible in theory but likely impossible in practice.

While there are economic and educational considerations to be had when reopening public schools, for Brookins, safety and lives come first.

“This virus has so many unknowns,” she said. “I would rather delay than put their lives on the line. The extension gives us more time to make sure every safety precaution is taken before we start back to in-person instruction.

We can always bounce back as far as the economy worries go. Once you lose a life, that life is gone.”

The school district does much more than teach young minds. Campuses across Fort Worth are often the only source of lunch for children, the vast majority of whom qualify for reduced or free meals. The district partnered with Tarrant Area Food Bank and other groups to provide meals to students throughout the pandemic and the following summer.

Fellow school board trustee Ashley Paz said Brookins has taken on the recent challenges by “personally buying meals for hungry families and 13

Tanglewood Moms Ad

by Julie Rhodes

The Education I Never Wanted:

My B.S. in COVID-19 Studies On Monday, my mother forwarded me a YouTube video of a doctor in Midland who had found the silver bullet for treating COVID-19. Apparently, he had used a nebulized steroid called budesonide with great results. Could my doctor try that with me?

I struggled with how to answer her.

Since Easter Sunday of this year, I have lived with COVID-19 symptoms but have never tested positive. As I write this on Day 87, I’m still struggling with shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, tachycardia, and a cough. Plus some unmentionable symptoms I am too delicate to share.

I didn’t know this before, but when you have a mysterious illness, you are immediately required to attend Internet Medical School.

About a month into my top-tier Google education, I joined a Facebook Group called Long-Haul COVID Fighters.

When I joined, there were 862 members. Now there are 5,133.

People all over the world are suffering for more than 80 days with COVID symptoms. The members commiserate and share insights from doctor visits along with tips for, well, not dying.

We also share articles.

We share articles from medical journals, major news outlets, and top researchers. For the first six weeks, when all I could do was lie on the couch trying to breathe, I read. I read and read and read. I read about T cells, ACE2 receptors, and cytokine storms.

It dawned on me that my doctors were spending all their time treating patients and didn’t have the bandwidth to research this novel virus as it was unfurling its awful feathers in real-time.

Was I so arrogant as to believe I knew more about it than they did? I knew enough to be dangerous, that’s for sure.

I also knew enough to advocate for myself.

People in the Facebook group reported that cardiologists were finding heart damage in some COVID patients. I, therefore, sent a message to my PCP asking for a referral to a cardiologist, and the tests from that visit led to medication that has helped my tachycardia immensely.

When I found an urgent care place that offered antibody tests for both IgG AND IgM antibodies, I got myself an appointment. This led to an immediate CT scan, which led me to a pulmonologist. This led to an inhaler, which means I can now walk around my house without gasping for air.

In every one of these doctor’s offices, I have gently suggested that perhaps it would be prudent to assume I have COVID-19 after all, given my symptoms. I spent 45 minutes in bed one morning crafting a diplomatic email to my primary care physician outlining the research showing how problematic the testing is, linking helpful articles and news stories. I sent the first draft to my mom to make sure it didn’t sound too know-it-all or desperate before I sent it to my doctor.

My doctor never wrote me back.

However, I’m grateful for my PCP’s referrals to specialists. And I’m grateful for some symptom relief.

Internet University should also offer Diplomacy with People Who Have Real Diplomas as part of its core curriculum.

Back to my mother and her email about the nebulized budesonide. What could I even say to my pulmonologist?

“I know I’ve tested negative for COVID, but could we try this method a guy out in Midland swears by just in case? I saw it on YouTube.” I may not be a doctor, but I can feel his skeptical and emphatic eye-roll from afar.

But you know what? Maybe I’ll send the email after all. Maybe if I decide I’d like to be able to jog again, or not run afternoon fevers again, or take a deep breath again, I’ll send the dang email.

I’ll send it because I’m not too proud to appear a wee bit batty if it actually

might work.

This is what our friends in the COVID community are up against all over the world, gentle reader — even those who have tested positive, even those who have “recovered” on paper but are still symptomatic weeks later. It’s a constant battle for information, an everpresent burden to be a pleasant and reasonable COVID-19 Ambassador of Goodwill to doctors, and, of course, a daily fight to feel better and maybe even heal.

Please be kind to us when you meet us.

And if you become one of us, well… welcome to the Class of 2020.

Recommended Reading: “The Lady’s Handbook For Her Mysterious Illness”

by Sarah Ramey

HUNTINGTON STUDY HALL Huntington Hall"

Learning

provides

environment

a

Center's

structured

during

the

"Study

learning

school

day

where students learning virtually can complete

their

school

work

(packets

or online assignments) independently while

under

certified school

the

supervision

teacher.

has

different

Because virtual

Huntington

offers

options

accommodate

to

flexible

of

a

each

formats,

scheduling the

needs

of each family.

SPACE IS LIMITED!

817-738-1756 WWW.CITYROOFING.COM 817-738-1756 WWW.CITYROOFING.COM 2826 S HULEN STREET | 817-924-5800 HUNTINGTONHELPS.COM/CENTER/FORT-WORTH

KEEPING FORT WORTH CLEAN FREE PICK UP & DELIVERY

HUGS AND KISSES

DOWNLOAD THE APP ON YOUR SMART DEVICE TODAY HUGS AND KISSES

MAKING YOUR HOME YOURS BOOK A CONSULTATION. SMCCLLC.COM

SERVICES

dry cleaning shirt laundry wash,dry,fold alterations leather/purses

Ready to start your project?

(817) 886-3386 SMCC HAS A REVAMPED WEBSITE PLEASE VISIT SMCCLLC.COM TO SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO!

shoes household items drapes heirlooming rugs

CALL TODAY

CLIENT CENTERED We help turn your house into the home of your dreams RELATIONSHIP DRIVEN Effective general contractors rely on strong relationships QUALITY FOCUSED We adhere to exceptional standards for quality of work

817-201-6736

15

www.linkslaundries.com

by William Wise The Education I Never Wanted:

the

Gandhi is misquoted as saying “Be the change you want to see in the world”. The quotation is “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change”.

The incorrect quote is a handy distillation of the message of the actual quote. It takes courage to look beyond ourselves, as Gandhi did, to the world at large. However, the spirit of the words is the same, and few embody that spirit as wholly as Dr. Sharla Horton-Williams does.

Dr. Horton-Williams is a Fort Worth native. After attending Catholic school as a child, she excelled in the magnet program at Dunbar High School.

She attended the University of North Texas for her undergraduate studies, during which she worked at a pre-school. After college, Horton-Williams got married and started a family.

It wasn’t long before Horton-Williams and her husband found themselves in a position familiar to many young parents. The cost of daycare was nearly equivalent to one parent’s income, and it didn’t make sense to be working simply to pay for childcare. To be with her children and to create the childhood experiences she wanted for them, Horton-Williams started a preschool.

Initially, the Joshua School was a Christian preschool-only program with classes through prekindergarten. Before it closed, the school expanded to include classes through eighth grade. HortonWilliams ran the school for 10 years, leaving to join the YMCA as the Director of Child Development for Fort Worth.

“At the YMCA, I was in charge of strategic planning for 55 after school programs and over 40

summer programs… while I liked what I was doing I realized it wasn’t my thing. My thing is being on a campus with students and teachers and parents.

That’s where I belong,” says Horton-Williams.

In 2012, Horton-Williams decided to get back into education. She had started the Joshua School as an untrained educator, learning as she went. Thinking it would only be for a year, Horton-Williams jumped into the public-school system to get her teaching certification, planning on returning to private school education.

Eight years later, HortonWilliams is still a public-school educator.

“That first year, I was what they refer to as a TiNA – Teacher in Need of Assistance… a nicer way of saying I didn’t know what I was doing,” Horton-Williams says, laughing at the memory.

“I had led a school for nearly 10 years, and during that time, we had at most 200 in the whole school. My first year in public school, I had 196 kids! The scale was so much greater, and I had kids who were learning at all levels. Thankfully, I had an amazing principal, Dr. Renee Treat, who is God’s gift to education. She took me under her wing and taught me how to be a great teacher. Dr. Treat lit a fire in me to lead in school and lead in the classroom.”

Inspired by Dr. Treat, Horton-Williams got a master’s degree in Education Administration with a Principal’s Certification from Lamar University in 2015.

In 2017, she began a doctoral program at Texas A&M University which she completed this year.

In graduate school, Horton-Williams became passionate about changing outcomes for

underperforming student groups and closing the achievement gap between public and charter schools. She became an expert in effecting change within the current system to achieve educational equity within individual schools and throughout an entire district. In her current role as principal, HortonWilliams trains other teachers and administrators to lead with the intent to overcome educational inequity within their own schools.

“The picture of educational inequity is much bigger than we see on the news. It is important for people to understand all kids don’t get the same opportunities. They don’t have the same educational outcomes as kids at different schools in the same city,” Horton-Williams says.

Children who don’t have the same educational opportunities grow up to be adults who don’t have the same career choices.

To coin a phrase, our children actually ARE the future. They are future innovators, CEOs, doctors, and educators. Our public-school system should provide a level-playing field for all students, regardless of what neighborhood they live in. By not providing that level playing field, we aren’t just hindering students in disadvantaged schools. We’re hindering the future of our city, our state, and our nation.

Gandhi’s perspective was global, but it grew from his experiences in his community. Horton-Williams’ perspective is also global, her vision for change is universal. Sharla Horton-Williams is ensuring a brighter future for all of us. Like Gandhi, she began her mission in her community, making Fort Worth an epicenter of what will hopefully be a global change.

LET US HANDLE THE BUGS!

RECEIVE 25% OFF ANY ANNU AL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WHEN YOU MENTION THIS AD.

Open for you again We can’t wait to see you - for our first phase of reopening we’ve reimagined our space so that your family can learn and play safely.

Some familiar exhibits are closed for now, but with exciting new spaces and interactive programs that might become your new favorite, we can’t wait for you to visit!

Come check out our two new live experiences:

SCIENCE THEATER

STEAM

LAB

LIVE demonstrations and activities led by expert staff New program schedule every week Multiple shows daily Free with Museum admission

Call 817-447-0438 to schedule an appointment. www.idealpartners.com

Check out our website for current hours and information https://www.fwmuseum.org/

by Ken Wimberly

digging through boxes of old photos, clipping news articles from small moments of my life, and detailing the story of over 30 years of family history.

THE MOST HEARTFELT GIFT

photos courtesy of Ken Wimberly

My journey started with a gift.

On my 34th birthday, my stepmother, Donna Wimberly, gave me the most heartfelt gift I had ever received. It was a beautiful leather-bound album that was filled with the story of my life. The first photo in the book was the very first photo ever taken of me in the hospital at my birth. It chronicled my life from birth, through childhood, adolescence, my time at Kemper Military School, my TCU graduation, and on through the birth of my first child. There were handwritten notes in the margins that told the story of the trips we took as a family and the jokes we told while on those treasured road trips. She included the history of the Wimberly surname and even researched trivia from 1971, the year I was born. I cried when I received it. I thought of how many hours she must have spent

Two years after she gave me this incredible gift, Donna was diagnosed with bone cancer. She fought a brave battle, but quickly the cancer spread to her lymph nodes, and we lost her. Today, that leatherbound scrapbook serves as a testament to her thoughtfulness, generosity, and love for her family.

write about my decisions so that one day my kids can read those entries when they become parents. My hope is it will give them insight and help them on their own parenting journey.

When I became a father, I started thinking about what I could do for my own children to capture the moments as they were happening to one day pass down those memories. I wanted to impact my children as Donna’s gift impacted me.

As time went on, the collection of stories grew and grew. I now have hundreds of stories that tell of the highs and lows of our family life. I have documented every family vacation we have ever taken, captured all the major milestone moments of their lives, shared my business success and failures, told the story of my divorce and the story of my re-marriage, shared the wins and struggles of a blended family, documented the birth of their beautiful baby brother Kai, and captured so many little moments of simply laughing, learning, and loving together.

Eventually, I made a simple commitment that has forever changed my life. I committed to journaling to each child at least once per month. The monthly rhythm seemed like something doable without being overwhelming. I started this process when my daughter Grace was just one year old and my son Knox was still in the womb.

Over the years, I have told hundreds of parents about this process. Many of them have started their own journeys of recording their family’s stories. I eventually created an app to make it easier for parents to save their memories, moments, and milestones, complete with stories, photos, audio files, saved voicemails, and video.

I began by writing their stories in a simple Word document. I wrote the date of each entry, along with my age and the age of each child at the time of the entry. The monthly entries started off as simple little love notes and details of the big and little moments that were happening in our lives. Over time, I started adding photos to the entries to give more context and texture to the stories.

My oldest child Grace is now 17 and will be graduating high school next year. For her graduation gift, I will be giving her the most meaningful and heartfelt gift I can possibly give. She will be receiving 18 years of her life as seen through her father’s loving eyes.

As parents, we often have to make decisions that our children don’t necessarily agree with. As a child, I heard the words, “Because I said so,” “That’s the way it is,” or “Because I’m the parent.” Those words never sat well with me. I wanted to hear and understand the logic and reasoning behind my parents’ decisions. As a father, I have ALWAYS explained to my children why I make the decisions I make. This is not always easy, and it often falls on deaf ears. I use my journaling to

SNORING ISN’T SEXY...

It could be linked to serious health problems.

QU AL I T Y B EDDIN G AT DR E AM PR IC ES !

DIRECT FROM OUR FACTORY TO YOU! MATTRESS SETS, ADJUSTABLE BEDS, MATTRESS PADS, DOWN COMFORTERS, PILLOWS AND MORE! WE WANT YOUR FAMILY TO HAVE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP ON US. BRING IN THIS AD FOR AN EXTRA 20% OFF* *CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS

Oral appliance therapy is a great option for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and snoring patients who find CPAP uncomfortable or inconvenient when traveling. OSA and snoring have been linked to serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes and obesity, so the quality of your sleep does matter. Our treatment options are designed to be easy to use, comfortable and convenient.

We are in network with most major medical insurance plans. To guarantee oral appliance therapy to be covered in 2020, schedule before October 16th.

Call Dr. Mitch Conditt at 817 835 9933

MITCH CONDITT DDS

900 EAST VICKERY, FORT WORTH, TX 76104 WWW.THEMATTRESSFACTORY.COM 817-334-0361

Sleep Better. Feel Better. Live Longer 5722 Locke Ave., Ft. Worth, TX | www.sleepsnoringtmj.com

Photo courtesy of Hope Center for Autism

O U R C O M M U N I T Y ’ S M O V E R S & S H A K E R S by Lee Virden Geurkink

Photo courtesy of The Magnolia Network

Photo by Damian Marks

The Magnolia Network, the new television network from Waco’s Chip and Joanna Gaines, will have a familiar Fort Worth face when it debuts. Jonathan Morris, owner of Fort Worth Barber Shop, will host “Self Employed.” The show will follow Morris as he meets small business owners and entrepreneurs across the country. “All I want to do is champion the people, places, and ideas that push culture forward,” Morris wrote in an Instagram post announcing the show. “I want to inspire and encourage people to pursue their dreams, lean into community, and bring their ideas to life.” The Magnolia Network is expected on your television in 2021.

AC T IVI T IES fo r KI DS

MAZE:

Special needs children need therapy, teaching, and, most importantly, routine. During these troubled times, working parents are struggling even more than ever to help their children with special needs. Hope Center for Autism is a lifeline for these families. Their Bridge of Hope Academy focuses on language skills, cognitive development, self-care, and social and play skills necessary to have a productive and happy life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, resources have been diverted, yet Hope Center for Autism continues to offer help and hope to Fort Worth’s special needs families.

Laura King Dickinson, M.Ed, LPC, has been a passionate educator in public and private schools for over 20 years. She began as a classroom teacher in Fort Worth ISD in 1998, and her journey as a school counselor took her to Keller High in 2003.

For ten years, she was a school counselor at Brewer High School in White Settlement ISD. After obtaining her LPC-Intern, she became the first school counselor at her alma mater, All Saints’ Episcopal School. In the process of building a school counseling program from the ground up, Laura has learned the importance of collaboration across the school and the local community with all stakeholders.

help the puppy find his way to the tennis ball

COLOR BY NUMBER: solve the math problem & fill in the coordinating color

The TCU Neeley School of Business and the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FWHCC) are teaming up to provide annual scholarships to FWHCC members to help multicultural professionals obtain a full-time MBA degree from TCU. The scholarship includes full tuition and a waiver of all fees for two academic years to attend the program, as well as covering the cost of a two-year membership in the FWHCC. Glenda Diaz, a realtor with Keller Williams, and Andres Crosby, a senior project manager with American Airlines, are the first recipients of the scholarship; they will begin the MBA program in the fall of 2020.

COLORING PAGE:

color in the shapes to create a unique picture

CONNECT THE DOTS:

connect the dots starting at “1” through “116”

t 0 F H s resh w Food

Ne

Two s n o i Locat Rd, 76114 t n e m e l t t Se 5101 White O 76109!

T N O O S G COMIN Circle t e n n o b e 3522 Blu

@lettucecook_gourmetonthego (817) 989-2665

by Lyle Brooks

SCHOLARACTIVIST Our country is embroiled in confronting and renegotiating the social contract we share, and long-time fissures in our justice and governance systems are emerging throughout America. The word “unprecedented” has lost meaning just as the phrase “the new normal” has become ubiquitous.

Living through such a heightened moment in history challenges our shared notions of community.

For an engaged scholar-activist like Texas Christian University’s Max Krochmal, this national unmasking process has been a central element of his research. His first book, Blue Texas, published in 2017 by the University of North Carolina Press, has won awards on the state and national levels for its vibrant depiction of the multicultural coalitions forged across Texas during the Civil Rights era. He expresses how these coalitions succeeded with a vital tenet: “We can build power better by linking struggles together.” His collaborative oral history project, Civil Rights in Black and Brown, which utilizes a highly accessible collection of 530 interviews, is coming from the University of Texas Press next year.

As part of the history faculty at TCU, Krochmal has led a series of field trips now called Justice Journeys; these provide an entry to discussing social justice issues with white students and faculty members of color.

Following a trip for the 50th anniversary of civil rights demonstrators’ march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama, an exceptional group of students began to research the requirements for creating a new interdisciplinary major.

“Throughout my time teaching this class, students would ask where they could take another class on these subjects. I’d refer them to other teachers in other departments. This particular group did wonderful work developing curriculum and contacting faculty; eventually, they came to me for help.” The Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies Department is the result of these students’ hard work. Krochmal is the Founding Chair, although Dr. Scott Kurashige has now taken over the department’s chairmanship.

Historians spend quiet hours poring through lost documents to attempt to understand forgotten truths while placing the present in the context of human experience. Krochmal’s scholarship informs and inspires his activism just as the work he does within his community feeds back into his research, enriching the message he brings into the classroom. “Being engaged helps me ask better questions and target problems more specifically.”

In that spirit, Krochmal collaborates with groups like Fort Worth Futures, the Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight, and United Fort Worth to promote justice and equality in our city. These collaborations develop initiatives to assist everyone in the community; the Community Bail Fund, for example, helps those in jail solely because they are too poor to pay fines and court fees.

Krochmal explains the approach to community engagement: “United Fort Worth brings together people too often left on the outside of the political process. The leaders are local to Fort Worth and have an expansive sense of what ordinary people are capable of, and they believe if you bring people together, you’ll

,

We believe in service not sales.

410 Missouri Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104 817-239-6693 • mcservco@yahoo.com • servicecompanyplumbing.com

have the answers you need.”

The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in May signaled a sea change in how citizens express their outrage at the abuse of police power which results in death, such as the death of Fort Worth’s Atatiana Jefferson in the fall of 2019. Widespread protests led to greater scrutiny of how resources are allocated in cities large and small. People began to draw connections between various power structures everywhere, including Fort Worth. Krochmal says that “Folks are now questioning things that nobody questioned before, which is a start.”

Helping Fort Worth Sleep Better for Over 30 Years Custom Beds I Factory Price I Texas Made

Solve the Dream Bed Maze and Receive an Additional

10% Off Your Purchase!

900 S. Haltom Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76117 I 817-834-1648 I citymattressfactory.com

KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT THE NEW BIG MOUTH BACKPACK Shop online @ SaddlebackLeather.com

Helping to establish the Fort Worth Independent School District’s Racial Equity Committee is another step for progress, dedicated to rooting out all forms of inequity in the district. Krochmal has served two terms as co-chair of the committee. “It was such a welcome change to be in an organization that wanted transformation on a big scale from the very top. We’ve been on that train ever since. It has been powerful to see how they fight internal inertia.”

Krochmal’s wife, Courtney Wait, is an educator who has further clarified her husband’s experience with the school district. They frequently discuss the substance of our current state of engagement with their children, 8-year old Elijah and 6-year old Rayna. “These issues are out there. They aren’t issues of the past. We want them [our children] to think about how unfairly others may treat their classmates of color and how they can act as advocates for them. It is our duty as parents to give our kids a social education beyond what they are learning at school.”

Just as the family went to the airport to protest the Muslim ban a few years ago, in April, they joined a mobile caravan of immigration rights groups to protest the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado used by ICE. “The kids made banners that we put on the car’s side that read, ‘Free Them All.’ They were multi-colored and beautiful. We joined 100-something other cars to participate.”

The family moved to Fort Worth in 2011. “We were shocked to find when we moved to Fort Worth that parents were scared of public schools, which boiled down to race.” He explains that features of the school district like Schools of Choice and neighborhood preference often reinforce the privilege of upper-middle class students. The district is taking actions that will help to foster more balance.

Public education is the crux of justice and equality in this country.

Everyone builds their lives on the foundation provided by our schools. If the whole community does not benefit from the educational system, it must be re-imagined. More voices are necessary to better tell the story of a city, state, or nation. Beyond listening, this transformation requires advocates to facilitate engagement on the municipal level.

Unfortunately, there is a breakdown in the access of communities of color to stand up and be counted. When limits are placed on voting access, the system ultimately grows weaker and further out of balance.

Although frustrated by the political climate, Krochmal is also hopeful, thanks to the recent increases in community engagement. “Fort Worth is last in voter turnout, and I think there are many reasons for that. Often our leaders are only interested in civic engagement with people who agree with them.” Younger generations are bringing attention to how traditional power structures have been allowed to stagnate, further marginalizing those already on the outside.

As we accept new ways to live, we will grow more accustomed to reinvention. Krochmal encourages a new perspective. “Those at wealthy schools who want to contribute to equity in schools should work intentionally to forge relationships with counterparts across town. Find out what communities in other areas need and want rather than only advocating for your immediate area.”

We as citizens respond resources at our

to crises by choosing how we use the disposal. These choices go a long way in teaching subsequent generations how to value each other and what sort of world we can create together. As our collective values continue to change, Max Krochmal, alongside other historians and activists, holds our institutions to account by drawing attention to issues that have gone unaddressed.

F O R T W O R T H R E A L E S TAT E

3774 W 4TH STREET | 76107 | $774,000

3716 LENOX DRIVE | 76107 | $730,000

224 CLEMENTINE COURT | 76114 | $1,199,000

JOSEPH BERKES

JOSEPH BERKES

JOSEPH BERKES

joseph@williamstrew.com 817.266.1355

joseph@williamstrew.com 817.266.1355

joseph@williamstrew.com 817.266.1355

1809 THOMAS PLACE | 76107 | $429,900

3608 SUFFOLK DRIVE | 76109 | $659,900

3621 HARLEY AVENUE | 76107 | $294,000

CARLEY J. MOORE

CARLEY J. MOORE

CHRISTA HOLBERT

carley@leaguere.com 817.734.8185

carley@leaguere.com 817.734.8185

christa@leaguere.com 214.734.0285

“My child is just like me – we’re not good at math.”

“Oh, he has that Math Brain.”

“Well, he’s a boy, so he’s good at math.”

There are all sorts of myths that surround math, but here’s a truth: Math is not a measure of intelligence.

It’s a measure of how math concepts are taught. In elementary and middle school, math class is really an exercise in building a toolbox so that higher mathematics like algebra, geometry, and calculus make sense.

When evaluating a math tutor, here are some questions to ask: Do you use a set of diagnostics to identify current weaknesses and gaps in understanding of the previous year’s concepts?

Does your curriculum address these gaps, allowing the student to practice those critical concepts?

Does your teaching method ensure the student can demonstrate competency when not being tutored?

If you are not satisfied with any of these answers, Mathnasium is ready to help. Mathnasium uses a proprietary set of diagnostics to create a targeted learning plan that allows our instructors to help your child not only “learn math,” but learn confidence and gain self-esteem. Mathnasium’s programs offer support for children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, from counting and sorting games to preparing for the SAT and ACT.

Our Foundations Program for Pre-Kindergarten to First Grade This program for pre-kindergarten to first grade focuses on creating the numerical fluency framework needed to ensure success in later grades while encouraging a life-long positive relationship with math using a combination of hands-on learning and games.

Diagnostic and Instruction Program Developed for children who need to catch up, this program sets the foundation of number sense by developing fluency in counting, parts and whole, proportional reasoning, and other basic concepts.

Enrichment Program Moving from a conceptual understanding of math to the application of those concepts is vital when tackling higher math. This program focuses on not only continued success in current math classes but setting your child up for future success in standardized tests, college, and beyond.

Online Math Homework Help Mathnasium understands that sometimes, your child needs a backup for math homework. This program includes help with problems, answer checking, and test review.

We are offering a free diagnostic and 2-week free trial to show you how our program works. Note that this does not apply to homework help. MENTION TANGLEWOOD MOMS OR MADEWORTHY TO GET THE OFFER.

MATHNASIUM OF FORT WORTH 3100 S HULEN ST | (817) 732-6284 MATHNASIUM.COM/FTWORTHWEST

MATHNASIUM OF ALEDO 229 SHOPS BLVD SUITE 105 | (817) 900-3321 MATHNASIUM.COM/ALEDO

WE OFFER PARENTS PEACE OF MIND

BY PARTNERING WITH THEM TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

St. Paul Lutheran School graduates are confident, academically strong, grounded in Christian faith, and know they are well-loved.

ST. PAUL

LUTHERAN SCHOOL 1800 W. Freeway (I-30 at Summit) Fort Worth, TX 76102 817.353.2929 | www.stpauleagles.org

St. Paul Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, or national and ethnic origin.

JOHN M. KELLEY JR. DDS, MS 4901 BRYANT IRVIN RD. N, STE 300 (817) 338-0771 | www.kelleyortho.com

. . . u o y o t T hanks

The Fort Worth Zoo has been voted the #1 Zoo in North America by USA Today’s Readers’ Choice contest. Because of your support, this recognition allows us to further our conservation and wildlife education efforts locally and around the world.

Check out what's happening at fortworthzoo.org.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 8

U.S. history teacher

Andrew Thomas Amy King taught in Chicago, Missouri, and Pennsylvania before she landed at St. Paul Lutheran School. The fifth-grade teacher says, “In a world that can be quite chaotic, especially by today’s standards, I take comfort in knowing that I am a guiding light to children of an impressionable age.” When asked why she keeps teaching, especially given the current challenges teachers face, she says, “I could say that my students bring fun and happiness to my life, or I could talk about how I consider myself a lifelong learner, embracing the challenges in an ever-changing educational world, but the long and the short of it is that I keep teaching because I love it – it’s that simple.”

has taught at Fort Worth Country Day School for the last eight years.

“What really drew me to teaching was the experience of not having a father,” Thomas says. “He died when I was 20 months old. From elementary school through graduate school… I looked for good and decent men to fill that void, and I often found them in education.” Mr. Thomas eats lunch with his students and goes to their games and performances.

The teachers who inspired him “had one attribute in common: authenticity. Their behavior in the classroom matched their actions out of it.” When asked what keeps him teaching, he simply says, “The kids keep me coming back.”

Texas Tech alumna

Dev’n Goodman Jane Justin School teacher Claire Cartmel grew up in Fort Worth. With degrees from Texas A&M in Youth Development and the University of Kansas in Special Education, she teaches children ages three through seven with learning disabilities and related behavioral problems.

“It is not lost on me that their first experiences at school can shape the way they feel about learning and the classroom in the future.”

While she was inspired by many teachers, especially her secondgrade teacher Ms. Daniels, she is most inspired by her colleagues. “It is truly a gift to be surrounded by talented, motivated teachers who seek to provide meaningful education every day and push me to be the best educator I can be.”

Lily B. Clayton Elementary School’s Lori Werth teaches fourth grade.

“Is there a more perfect age?

Probably not,” she enthuses.

Growing up in a family of educators, watching her mother grade papers at the kitchen table, she knew teaching required dedication and love, but she believes “if we can… build the talents and strengths of our children, we can grow and strengthen our community.” Inspired by great teachers all through her school career, Mrs. Werth also credits the teachers she has worked beside for teaching her and informing her work with her students. “This is a creative and dynamic job… I learn and grow every single day… I hope that I have a positive impact, because, the truth is, the kids, my colleagues, and this job all have a positive impact on me.”

set out to be an education lawyer but realized that she first needed to understand the education system.

Once in the classroom, she “realized that my passion is teaching, and thankfully… I’ve had the opportunity to still engage in advocacy, while remaining in the classroom.” The I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA Humanities teacher grew up in a family of educators. “My true motivation for wanting to join the ‘family business’ was to advocate that teachers receive the support they deserve, and every student receives the best education for them as a person.” She says that she can attribute “every positive change in myself to a student interaction, whether it was through a conversation… or being challenged…”

Montana native

Michael Stephens has been teaching in Fort Worth ISD for 19 years with the last three years at Tanglewood Elementary School. The second-grade teacher feels he has the best job in the entire world. “I literally jump out of bed in the morning because I love teaching kids… I especially enjoy it when kids begin to understand the connection between effort and success.” Mr. Stephens was fortunate to have many inspiring teachers, but he most remembers his U.S. history teacher Mr. Edmonds, who didn’t teach from a textbook but “shared artifacts he had collected and pictures… he had taken himself.”

The father of five says, “This may sound clichéd, but I became a teacher because I wanted to make a difference in the world.”

B R E A S T

A U G M E N T A T I O N

personalized for every patient

Dr. Matthew H. Steele personalizes every breast augmentation and gives women a full, feminine, proportional, and natural looking enhancement. Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed procedures in our practice.

Dr. Steele offers: Implant Variety with Projection, Shape, & Volume Options Detailed Surgical Plan Crisalix 3D Imaging Technology Patient Satisfaction from the Initial Consult Through the Recovery Process

www.drsteeleplasticsurgery.com 817.731.5330 | info@drsteeleplasticsurgery.com

4074 Clarke Avenue 76107 $1,125,000

4 Bed

4.1 Bath 4,615 SqFt

2881 Manorwood Trail 76109 $747,500

3 Bed

2.5 Bath 3 car garage

511 Trailrider Road 76114 $685,000 4 Bed

Educating Buyers and Sellers with each step of their Real Estate Transaction.

We make your move our Top Priority!

3.5 Bath

vaughancrockettgroup@compass.com M: 817.235.4589

M: 817.360.4522

®

P.O. Box 101704 Fort Worth, TX 76185