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UIL Academics Program

Writer's picture: J WatersJ Waters

UIL Academics - this is my baby. My biggest CISD accomplishment - helping to coach and expand close to 400 young minds across multiple Coppell elementary schools through academics. What is UIL? This is the same state wide organization that runs football, basketball, band and more. They also have an academic arm, which is what I have created in Coppell ISD for elementary students. UIL Academics had laid dormant for many years in Coppell, until I came along.


I was a product of UIL Academics during my childhood. UIL Academics encompasses a vast array of competitions in subjects like public speaking, mental math, writing, art, music, spelling and more. I started competing in UIL Academics in the second grade and excelled at public speaking. I distinctly remember winning my first ribbon. That was a defining moment. I realized that I liked to compete and I liked to win. I wasn't particularly athletic as a child (but that would change in adulthood) but here was a competition that I could work hard at and win. And so it began...I spent the rest of my early education competing in public speaking, math events, and UIL One Act Play. In high school, I competed and won at the state level, which earned me UIL Academic scholarships. It was so much fun and prepared me for college on many levels.


So imagine my chagrin, when I discovered that CISD did not have active UIL Academics program at the elementary level. My gut instinct is always to take initiative and start something new when I see a gap. I started small. I created the UIL Academics program at Pinkerton first. During the first year, we only had one event, chess puzzle, and we only competed in house. The following year, we invited other schools to join us in chess puzzle. The third year we add a bunch more events like writing, mental math, spelling, and public speaking. The schools that competed including Mockingbird, Cottonwood Creek and Pinkerton.


This year is the fourth year of UIL Academics in Coppell ISD, and we continue to grow. Canyon Ranch Elementary has joined the competition alongside Mockingbird, Cottonwood Creek and Pinkerton. We now have 9 events that students can compete in. I currently spend four days a week coaching UIL kids in oral reading, storytelling, spelling and art. I assist my husband while he coaches UIL chess puzzle, number sense and art.


If you would be interested in starting the UIL Academics program at your elementary school, please reach out to me at j.le.waters (at) gmail.com. There is currently UIL Academics in middle school and high school.




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