Parent U Draws Record Turnout

A record crowd of parents, students, teachers and district staff members took part in the annual, half-day, conference-style program that was held recently at Spring Woods High School.

The Sept. 6 Parent U program was promoted with the tag line, “Helping you help your child get ready for, to and through higher education.” SBISD’s singular goal, known as T-2-4, aims to double the number of its graduates who earn either military certification or complete technical certification, a two-year or four-year college degree.

More than 300 pre-registered for the weekend morning programs, and many more walked up to register on the day of the event. The program was led by the SBISD Community Relations and Teaching and Learning Teams, which worked with the district’s educators, partners and higher education professional advisors.

 District and area experts led more than 50 learning sessions in English and Spanish on topics ranging from higher education finances – saving for college, scholarships and financial aid – to using Naviance, the district’s web-based platform for academic, higher education and career planning and applications.

Professional college advisors who partner with SBISD’s Collegiate Challenge program offered insights on everything from writing the perfect college essay and crafting the best college resume to how college admissions offices view the “gap year” in their admissions decisions. A standing room only crowd of parents learned the benefits of and strategies for earning high school credits while still in middle school.

Participant comments included: 

• We are so glad that the district offers this program to prepare parents for the college application process. Great resources and presentation. With the information we learned from the sessions, we already got our eldest son started on the PSAT preparation over the weekend.

• My daughter picked this one and I'm so glad we did. I had no idea how important volunteering was to a college resume and that starting early is so important. My daughter volunteers with a lot of organizations, but we've never kept track of the time. We'll start now thanks to the good advice of the teacher!

• Robert Stevenson’s paying for college tax strategies session was worth more than the price of admission! The packet is great and, as the parent of a middle schooler, I'm glad I have time to plan and work the plan, Martha Meyer and Donna Handlin's House Bill 5 session was very informative. I'm much less confused and can't wait for the rest of the information to be made available.

Based on immediate feedback and parent requests, the district will host a follow-up session, “Parent U – Back By Popular Demand,” through Naviance on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 4:30-6 p.m. inside the Wayne F. Schaper Leadership Center, located at 955 Campbell Road. 

Additional learning opportunities around the FAFSA process and financial aid will be hosted early next spring For more information or to recommend topics for future Parent U events, please contact SBISD Community Relations at partner@springbranchisd.com, or call 713.251.2468.

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Two educators named Texans Stars in the Classroom Winners

Two Spring Branch ISD educators were named new Texans Stars in the Classroom winners on Sept. 9 when Texans Defensive End Tim Jamison and members of First Community Credit Union made surprise visits to two SBISD campuses.

Winning instructors are Javier Martinez, who teaches English and creative writing at Northbrook High School, and Megan Wooten, a kindergarten teacher at Terrace Elementary School. A former student and two parents nominated them. Both attended and had sideline passes for the Sept. 7 Texans-Washington game. Each received a Brian Cushing autographed jersey during campus presentations.

Javier Martinez, English Teacher at Northbrook High School (Pictured: 3rd From Left)

At Northbrook High, Defensive End Jamison told a student group that his own path to a NFL Dream took more than high athletic ability and incredible brawn. “I struggled in high school,” he told students. “I learned in my senior year that I’d need to earn all A’s because I had not done well enough as a freshman.”

A professional football player today needs brains and brawn, he said. Players now must study hours of game films, as well as memorize opposing team strategy and tactics on a weekly basis. “You separate yourself today by how smart you are.

I really need to be smart to outmaneuver and to out think the person standing opposite me,” Jamison said. Northbrook High English teacher Javier Martinez was nominated by senior Kevin Cruz, who was enrolled in Martinez’s English III class last year. Kevin took home a signed football for his winning nomination.

“He brings charisma to class like no one else. He’s unmatched,” Kevin said of his former teacher. “He greets us at the door each day. He’s straight forward. ‘You’ll have work to do here, but I’ll do the work with you.’ He’s more like a friend than traditional teacher,” he added. Martinez, dressed in a suit and tie, was shocked by all the attention.

“We all teach students, and we don’t know what will happen when they walk out the door. This feels good,” he said. At Terrace Elementary, Jamison took time to talk with kindergartners about how important school will be in their lives.

“Listen to your parents and teachers. They want you to do your best, and to be the best that you can be,” he said. Patsy and Leobardo Mendiola nominated Megan Wooten. They are the parents of kindergartener Leo III, who was feeling a little bashful during the presentation.

Ms. Wooten has taught kindergarten, first- and second-grade at Terrace eight years now. Patsy said that Wooten impressed her by mailing postcards to students before classes even began on Aug. 25. “She wrote ‘Welcome to Kindergarten!” and that was so special. Then, at Meet the Teacher, she was so great. She made our son feel at home,” she said.

Megan Wooten, Terrace Elementary School Teacher (Pictured: 2nd Row, 2nd from Left)

“Our teachers need to get credit for what they do. [Ms. Wooten] represents all teachers.” Ms. Wooten figured out quickly what was going on after she was suddenly called out of a lunch to meet school officials near the front office where the presentation was held.

“I was surprised. I was kind of nervous when I heard that my students were all up here and gathered. That’s not a normal for a teacher to hear,” she said.

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