ALL IN: DISTRICT WIDE INVOLVEMENT
School Involvement
When the CISD school board voted to shut down my children's school, Pinkerton Elementary, I didn't realize how painful the reality of my school closing would be. I was actually shocked by how much it hurt. It took me a while to realize why Pinkerton closing impacted me so much.
Pinkerton had become a part of my DNA, in the sense that when my oldest started kindergarten, I was all in. That first year, I volunteered in the library, school garden and was a room mom. I helped planned class parties. If there was an opportunity to be at the school, I was there.
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As my other two children started at Pinkerton, I continued to get more involved. I started the UIL Academics program, which is a competition covering mental math, public speaking, chess, art and more. Over the last four years, I grew UIL Academics from just Pinkerton to now including four elementary schools and reaching hundreds of kids. Currently, I spend four days a week coaching UIL Pinkerton kids and managing the chess club.
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Because I am so involved in my children's school and know so many of the kids, the closing of Pinkerton felt like losing a family member. I had to grieve. Now, that I am on the other side, I think the closing of Pinkerton will actually make me a better school board member. I do not have allegiance to any school; in fact, I do not know which CISD school my children will attend in the fall. With the closing of Pinkerton, I can focus on all schools, not on just my children's school.
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Besides UIL Academics, my other district level participation includes completing CISD's iLead training, substitute teaching at nine CISD campuses from high school to elementary school, and serving on CISD's Strategic Planning Committee Action Team.​