I am so honored to be the 2016-2017 Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts. It was one of the most memorable and surreal experiences I've had in my teaching career. The journey began at the end of the 2015-2016 school year when both my principal at the time Mrs. Garza and my Art Director Beverly Fletcher encouraged me to apply for Teaching Chair. I began the application process at the end of May of 2015 asked Mrs. Garza to right my Principal Letter of Recommendation and as my good friend and co-worker Mr. Austin for the second Recommendation Letter.
It was mid September when I heard back from FWISD that I had made it to the second round that would be a 15 minute interview with a panel of 5 art and education professionals followed by a 15 minute mini lesson. I knew I had luck at my side as the actual date for my interview was on my birthday Friday, September 30th. (Side note the best thing about celebrating your birthday as a teacher are all the students birthday wishes, smiles and hugs #happyartteacher.) I went to the interview with a sense of empowerment and confidence or so I thought until I drop my water all over my materials and I nervously clean up my mess and told them "How embarrassing" in a silly voice as I tried to cover up my clumsiness, making them all laugh. After that everything seemed to go to my favor and I left feeling good as I got to the parking lot I realized I left a chart behind and ran back inside to get it. As I knocked and told them I left something behind they were happy to see me and when I walked out I heard one of them say "And does she wear those heels while teaching?" I popped my head back in and said "Actually I do" and they all laughed.
In October Mrs. Garza told me that I had to go one Tuesday dress up for a photoshoot with my Special's Team and things were a little suspicious that day as my team kept me in my room (almost hostage) as kinder through 2nd grade were secretly preparing in the auditorium for the big surprise. I will never forget how surreal and emotional it was to see and feel so many little people cheering me onto the stage and my team kindly guiding me onto the stage (also Mrs. Johnson being so supportive in pushing me on stage) I was an emotional mess. Once on stage I saw my best-friends Lauren & Robert, my mom & dad and all my kinder through 2nd grade colleagues and students. On stage was my Art Director Beverly Fletcher, the five person panel and my principal awarding me with the Teaching Chair of Excellence in Visual Award.
The celebration continued in the following months with a special recognition at a School Board Meeting one evening and The Teaching Chair Luncheon at The Fort Worth City Club where all the winner gave a 3 minute speech. It was a lovely and inspirational event that came full circle when I realized that one of the winner's was one of my high school teachers Mrs. Particia Sikes. The last celebration was a wonderful dinner sponsored by Sewell Lexus at Del Frisco's downtown Fort Worth.
A Special Thanks to all those friends and family that supported and believe in me from Mrs. Garza for encouraging me to apply, to Mr. Austin for writing the referral letter, to Lauren & Robert for taking time out of work to all my coworkers for keeping such a big surprise and making it such a memorial event but especially to my students that inspire me day after day to be a better human being.