RISD Educator’s Corner
RISD 2022-2023 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR RISD celebrated the close of the 2022-2023 school year by naming Mary Altmann and Ernie Huben as Elementary School Teacher of the Year and Middle School Teacher of the Year, respectively. Mary, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Prestonwood Elementary, grew up in Plano and now lives in Addison with her husband, Sean. She has been teaching for eight years. Ernie is an eighth grade algebra teacher at Liberty Junior High School who lives in Richardson with his wife Janet, an instructional coach at Lake Highlands Elementary, and their two children. Ernie has been teaching for twenty-seven years. We asked Mary and Ernie to share a bit of wisdom with us in the form of advice or stories. As you send your own children or grandchildren back to school this year, know that they are in good hands with teachers like Mary and Ernie in the classroom. ERNIE HUBEN The seeds, and revel in the results. Staying in Richardson has allowed me to see the fruits of my labor, the success stories of my former students who come back to visit long after they have graduated. I never judge success by financial gains, but rather by those who do what makes them happy. I have talked to teachers, doctors, lawyers, auto mechanics, veterinarians, and more with one thing in common: they all had me as a teacher. I continually have my “George Bailey moments,” thanks to my students. I am truly blessed to have grown up in Richardson and now make my living in some of the same schools I attended. It is an honor to give back to the community that made me feel safe, valued, loved and excited about learning, all at the same time. In the summer of 1977, my mom moved us to Richardson after my father passed away. I was enrolled in Springridge Elementary in kindergarten and spent all seven years of elementary school there. I then went on to Liberty Junior High and graduated from Berkner High School in 1991. I attended Angelo State University, the longest time I have ever spent away from Richardson. While preparing to take the MCAT, I met a girl who was in the middle of student teaching. Several conversations later, I changed my major and my future. I remember calling my mom and telling her, “I’ve decided to be poor for the rest of my life!” After graduating in December, I received a phone call from my childhood principal asking if I’d want a teacher’s aide position for the remainder of the year…at Springridge, the same elementary school I had attended. At that moment, Richardson became my Bedford Falls, the fictional town that is the setting for George Bailey’s journey in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. I admired the character of George Bailey—the fact that he poured so much into making Bedford Falls a better place to live, with no regard for himself. Ernie teaching at Liberty Junior High I spent seventeen years of my teaching career at Springridge Elementary. To be able to teach beside many of my former teachers was an absolute thrill. To walk down the halls of the building which I had walked so many years before warmed my heart. Throughout my career, I had been in contact with the principal at Liberty Junior High. I finally decided the time was right to make the move to middle school and I have taught ever since at the same place I attended—Liberty Junior High. My classroom is the tiny part of Richardson in which I can emulate George Bailey. While George Bailey was concerned with affordable housing, I concern myself with the futures of those I teach. My classroom is my garden and the environment I create is the soil. I’m able to cultivate the soil, plant Mr. Potter couldn’t convince me to go elsewhere despite his millions. While I do need a new fence and a new car, Richardson is the district where I will remain. I heard a little girl once say, “Every time the bell rings, a teacher gets his or her wings.” Okay…I may have changed the ending a bit, but I believe this to be true. I can pass on those “wings,” which will raise my students to heights they had never imagined. And there is not a better job in the world than that. Ernie and Mary, RISD Teachers of the Year MARY ALTMAN Teachers, administrators, parents, families and the entire RISD community all have one very important thing in common: we each want the best for students. As an educator, I have witnessed hundreds of students experiencing personal and academic growth each year. Parents can help teachers ensure student success with their own actions, which are crucial for a child’s personal and academic growth. In class your students may hear me use the phrase, “I love you, but I’m not going to help you, yet.” When our students say they don’t know, we must remind them that they just don’t know, yet. They need to give themselves a chance: to use their notes, their resources, their strategies. More often than not, they’re able to take a step in the right direction. If students try but fail, part of our job is help them realize that failure is simply a part of the process. We learn from every error and we take that knowledge and move forward. By creating a safe space where taking risks and failing is encouraged and accepted, we empower students. We show them how capable they are and how to take that first step without fear. Mary Atlman on far right Create Experiences A lifelong love of learning is not built from textbooks and routine notes, but rather through experiences that make learning engaging and memorable: singing, dancing, movement, art (yes, even in math!), technology, robotics and so much more. Students in my classroom are exposed to new skills such as coding or
Backpack Bash 2023
Editor’s Note: In each issue of Richardson Life Magazine, we will highlight an individual or organization making a difference in the lives of Richardson Independent School District students. If you would like to nominate an RISD teacher, staff member or organization, email pmotte@hylogroup.com BACKPACK BASH 2023 RISD’S Economically Disadvantaged Students Need Our Help By Patti Otte Within the Richardson Independent School District, 57% of all students are economically disadvantaged, which means that more than 20,000 kids go hungry at least part of every day. 20,000 kids depend on getting a solid meal at school…and in some cases, that school lunch may be the only meal they eat each day. Imagine if every single citizen in Celina or Wylie or Stephenville, TX, went hungry every day. Each town has approximately 20,000 residents. That’s how many kids living in RISD’s borders are hungry. Every. Single. Day. And if meals are being skipped due to financial need, school supplies are an even lower priority. Ask any teacher what happens when one of those 20,000 children comes to school hungry and/or lacking school supplies. Anyone who has ever taught in a Title I school—and 31 of RISD’s 55 schools fall in that category— has a story to tell of a student suffering from hunger or a lack of preparedness due to no fault of the child. Four years ago, members of the Richardson community decided to change the narrative and the Backpack Bash program was born. In the years since, the program has grown to two Backpack Bashes each summer, thanks to the generous support of RISD’s invaluable sponsors. States Dr. Carrie Thomas, Director of Community Engagement, “Our donors’ contributions ensure that every student is ready for the first day of school. The two events connect RISD families to programs and services in a festive back-to-school fair atmosphere.” Backpack Bash 2022 “We have a motto in RISD that we serve every student, every day,” Superintendent Tabitha Branum says. “That means we are going to fill in a gap wherever that gap exists. And if 60% of RISD students qualify for free and reduced lunch, that means about 20,000 students need access to backpacks and school supplies to be ready to learn every day. This is hard work, educating and growing 37,000 kids, but our sponsors make it easier for us to focus on that academic growth.” The annual Backpack Bash provides RISD students with a backpack full of school supplies and gives families access to hygiene kits, haircuts and much more in a fun environment. Last year, the program raised more than $120,000 to help fund the event, at which more than 6,000 backpacks and school supply kits were distributed to RISD families. As successful as the program is, approximately 14,000 RISD students still need help each year. With Richardson citizens’ individual and collective sponsorship, donations and volunteer hours, the program will continue to grow and even more backpacks and supplies will be distributed. To achieve that goal and maximize this event’s impact, Dr. Thomas and her team need community support. They can also accept in-kind donations of goods or services. To learn more about this worthwhile program, visit http://risd.org/backpackbash. If you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting to chat about the best option for your participation, contact RISD Director of Community Engagement Dr. Carrie Thomas at carrie.thomas@risd.org Please note that all funds provided through sponsorship or donation are tax deductible. Backpack joy Happy recipients of school supplies