“In the early ‘90s, Central Heights was the type of neighborhood where you would get off the school bus, do your homework, and come to the park to play ball until the street lights came on. It was a tough neighborhood, with rivalries and occasional fights. Not the gun violence you see today. You would fight, take your licks, and get up to play again.

“You built mental toughness out here. It’s where I learned everything. There was a church next door. So those are probably the two biggest foundations for my life: church and the playground.

“There were elements of drug dealing and violence. But overall, this was a good place to grow up: good foundation, good principles, people helping each other.

“I was fortunate to have mentors. My dad exposed me to certain things, like opportunities to play sports. I had coaches and principals who looked out for me. They saw something in me, and gave me an extra push to help me out.

“But as I got into education, I began noticing things that were missing the mark. Things we weren’t teaching students. Like, no one ever sat me down and talked about finances: credit, the difference between rent and mortgage, ownership versus working for someone. No one ever showed me how a job application works. No one taught us etiquette, like how to open doors for someone. Everything I learned about dating was from my fellas, or watching my parents or other relationships. But there were no lessons or classes for it.

“One of my best friends from this neighborhood — talented athlete, smart, funny, good looking — died at a young age. I feel like the big thing missing for some of my friends who died or went to jail were the opportunities, the exposure.

“There are young people today with million dollar minds, but they have a small town mentality. They think they can’t do anything else. But you can. You can travel. You can come back and give back. There are so many opportunities available. But until you know, you don’t know. So I decided to do something about it.”

Heron launched the TIE program — Thomas Institute of Excellence — in 2018 as a way to mentor young men.

Showing them the way

“Everything we do in the TIE program is built on excellence, and a model of service before self. A big component is exposing these young men to all the opportunities available to them. We let them meet business owners, and give them the blueprint for what they can aspire to do with their lives.

“What I try to teach the kids that I didn’t get as a young child is the power of relationships. Everywhere we visit has either a tie to myself or the hometown community. Putting them in front of successful people who ran the same streets, hung out at the same parks, went to the same schools, shows them that, hey, you can do this, too. There’s nothing stopping you.

“We take trips. We do community service. We expose them to all types of experiences, like fine dining. We’ve had dinners at places like Del Frisco, Steak 48 and Taste Bar.

“And then just giving them opportunities to look good. A lot of these kids have never worn a nice shirt and tie. The effect they see when they dress up and walk into a place, the attention that turns on them, is awesome.

“They love pulling up to restaurants and seeing the nice vehicles, and enjoying nice meals. Not saying you have to live that type of lifestyle. I’m good eating off a food truck, but I do like a nice steak sometimes. But I know that if they aspire to be like that, we have to teach them now what it takes. You can’t wait until they’re 25 and struggling and say, you should have done this and that. We have to give them the ‘how’ and ‘why’ at an early age.

“Hopefully, the program will grow, and we’ll be able to be a blessing to more students. That’s really my goal: to be a positive influence for as many kids as possible. That’s all I really care about, giving kids an opportunity. When you know better, you do better.

“I just pray God continues to bless me, so I can continue to bless my community. This is home. This is where the seeds were planted. I consider everyone who comes from here just another branch on that family tree that I can help.”

Taking time to listen

Heron also is principal of the Eagle Positive Intervention Center in Barbers Hill ISD. The student-centered program focuses on academics, discipline and structure. Its mission is to provide an environment where students will recognize they have the ability to learn, add value and have worth.

“I feel like I have the best job on the planet. I just love it. I’m able to reach kids that a lot of people can’t reach. It’s always been my forte. I’m kind of like a child whisperer.

“It’s just being vulnerable and open to provide students an opportunity to be heard. Sometimes as adults, we want to force things on students without ever actually giving them the opportunity to speak. You have to see where they’re coming from. You have to be relatable. And they have to know that you care.

“My biggest thing is, I show up. When my kids need me, I’m there. I don’t care if it’s a sporting event or dance recital. Or it can be difficult situations with parents. I’m just going to show up.

“That’s the most important thing. Kids have to know that you care about them. Once they know I’ll show up in that way, they’ll do anything for you.”

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“My first experiences with sexism were within my own family.

“I’m the only girl. I have five brothers. I had a Christian upbringing. I’m still a Christian. But my father would use the Bible to kind of diminish my voice. He would say, ‘In the Bible it says that women need to be silent.’ Like the woman is the more fragile being. So always kind of ingraining in me that submission in women and the dominance of man.

“Growing up, I also saw domestic violence at home. At an early age, I had to stand up to my dad and really say, ‘What you’re doing isn’t right. I don’t agree with it.’ I think that’s where our relationship stunted.

“As a 9-year-old kind of living in fear of your own father, it hits you hard. But I think it’s when I realized that I didn’t want to see my mom get hurt. So I couldn’t be quiet about it. This isn’t to say that I don’t love my father. I just think that for many years, I did resent him.

“The steps I took in my life to really excel in school and find opportunities for myself came from thinking about the life that we had with my dad. I didn’t want that life for my mom. I didn’t want my little brothers to think that was a normal way to treat women.

“I was always a curious kid. But when I started seeing those things at home, I really started to dive into school. That was my one safe space. That was where I could really prove that I was capable. That I am worthy of having my ideas heard. That I have a lot to offer.

“When I got a full academic and merit-leadership scholarship to college, my dad never said congratulations or anything. I think deep down, there was still that part of me that wanted to prove myself to him. That those things you said about my mom, or about me, or about women in general, they’re not true. Because look at what I’m doing. Look at the things I’m accomplishing.

“I think I did hold it against him, the way he saw me as the weaker one, the one that needed to be quiet, and not to take up too much space. And I was showing him, well, I’m going to do the opposite of that. I’m going to take up as much space as I need.”

— Azalia Sprecher

Azalia was in the first graduating class at IMPACT Early College High School, earning her high school diploma and associate’s degree from Lee College. She received a full scholarship from the Posse Foundation to attend Bryn Mawr College in suburban Philadelphia, and graduated in 2018. She is now a paralegal, and hopes to attend law school.

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“I was really young when I had my boys. I got pregnant at 12, and I was 15 when I had the second one. Basically, I was raising my babies while I was still a baby. I raised them while going to school. It was pretty damn tough. But I think I did a good job.

“We have a whole library at home, and I read every single book to them. We had encyclopedias, and every day I would tell them to learn a new word, that they would probably need to know it one day. I’ve always loved to study and to learn. I tried to teach them that knowledge is the most important thing. It’s something that nobody can ever take away from you. Just read and learn as much as you can, from anybody.

“I’m so proud of my boys. My youngest one is 15 and my oldest is 18. He graduated with honors from Lee High School, in the top 10%, and he’s going to UTI [Universal Technical Institute]. He has big plans. He wants to retire when he’s really young. He says, ‘Mom, I’m going to give you the life that you deserve.’

“While it was really challenging raising my boys on my own, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. It’s so sad to see little kids being taken away from parents or parents giving up their kids. Like, you gave birth to that child. How can you give up so easily?

“I didn’t give up. And look what great young men my boys have turned out to be. I couldn’t be more proud of them. And I’m proud of myself. For being 31, I think I’ve accomplished a lot.”

— Brenda Avila

Related:

• She continues her mother’s life lessons

The post Young mother proud of sons and herself appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I went walking today, and I found this beat-up basketball over there in the grass. I thought, I may as well see if I can still shoot.

“I played sports in high school, basketball and football. It’s been a while, though. I’m 56. I didn’t think I could do it anymore. But I surprised myself. I’m moving parts that haven’t moved in years.

“I’ve got this little knee problem from years ago. I slipped and fell at work. I never did try to file or anything. I figured it would work itself out. But it’s catching up to me in my old age. That’s why I keep moving. That’s why I’m out here exercising. If I stop, it gets stiff. Then I can barely do anything. I’m about 50-50 with it. I could have been 75 and above without it. But I can handle it. I can maintain. It’s just part of life. You’ve got to go with the flow. I have to because I’m still working.

“I work in cooling towers at the plants. It’s definitely hard work. Especially at my age. Everybody asks me, ‘What are you doing still working at this?’ Hey, I need to work. I didn’t go to college. If you don’t go to college, you’ve got to go to work. That’s what I try to preach to my grandkids. Hey, go to school. But they don’t always want to listen. I guess they just have to learn that on their own.”

— Walter Gonzales

The post ‘I’m moving parts that haven’t moved in years’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I have a personality that’s kind of funny. It’s like, I could have everything, and I still wouldn’t be happy about it. I’m always wanting more. I think my worst fear is just being average.

“When I was in elementary school, I was in what they called the resource room. I was in all the special education classes. I barely got out of high school, just because I wasn’t really interested and didn’t feel like I was learning what I wanted to learn. I figured the only thing I could do was military. So I joined the Army. Served four years as part of the 82nd Airborne. Didn’t think I would ever go to college.

“I got married really young, at 21, but it didn’t last. When I got divorced, I went through this deep depression. I felt like a loser. I was embarrassed.

“About that same time, I had a buddy who committed suicide. It was totally out of the blue. One of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He was a cop. Getting married the same month. Just went home and shot himself. That really took a big toll. But ultimately, I think it’s what led me to go to college and put me on this path that I’ve taken. It was kind of like revenge. I said, I’m going to make something of myself.

“When I earned my bachelor’s degree, I got in the honor society. Same with my first master’s degree and the next one. Then I was like, well, I may as well get my Ph.D. I’m just finishing the dissertation now.

“I think it’s the work ethic and the drive that makes the difference. If you really want something, you work your ass off to get it. I learned that through everything I’ve experienced in life.

“I love a challenge, man. If you say I can’t do something, I’ll do it.”

— Zack Field

Zack, 31, is executive director of The Waterford at Baytown. Before moving to Texas with his wife, he held leadership positions with several companies. He also is a fitness/nutrition coach and a champion bodybuilder.

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• Individual aspect of bodybuilding appealing

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“At the beginning of 2020, I was excited to be in the last semester for my doctorate at Houston Baptist University. I was finalizing my dissertation to present in March after spring break, and looking forward to graduating in May. Then, during spring break, COVID-19 hit. Everyone was stopped in their tracks. Our campus closed, and students weren’t allowed to return.

“I was nervous that I would not be graduating after three years of research and writing my dissertation. I could not believe this was happening, and that I had no control over it. Thankfully, my dissertation chair agreed that I should move forward with my defense via Zoom. Thank God for technology. I was the first one in the history of HBU to defend my dissertation virtually. I was elated that my dream of achieving the highest level of education was near. My hope in humanity was restored, and I received my doctor of education degree in May as scheduled.

“With all that said, I encourage everyone who is contemplating pursuing their educational goals to take the first step and register for college. Times are tough out there, and many are being laid off. It’s time to find a career you have always wanted. A degree will open so many more doors of opportunity, and you will feel accomplished. As Marian Wright Edelman said, ‘Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.’

“So do not let COVID-19 deter you from following your dreams. It almost stopped me for a few weeks. But determination and preseverance won out.”

— Chris Trevino

Chris is a humanities professor at Lone Star College-Houston North Greenspoint. She hopes to move into an administrative role in the post-COVID-19 world.

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“About two years ago, I decided to go get my bachelor’s degree in special education. I thought it was a good match for me and where my heart is for these kids. But I wouldn’t have done it if not for my youngest son.

“When he was a baby, he was so hard to deal with. He was so extreme. I was just pulling my hair out. I didn’t know what to do. But I remember reading something that said, these are the ones who are going to go after what they want with the most passion.

“When he was in high school, there were so many things going on in our lives. It was me and my three children on my one income. We were really struggling as a family. So I wasn’t on the ball with trying to get him into all the college stuff. He was doing it under the radar, though. He was applying everywhere, doing everything he needed.

“When I finally realized it, I thought, man, if he can do that at his age with all this happening in our lives, why can’t I go back? I always thought I was too old to go back to college, and that I couldn’t get the financial aid I would need. But he really inspired me. I ended up trying, and I got financial aid. I got scholarships. And I was just overwhelmed.

“I told my son that he’s the one who inspired me. He kind of blew it off like, oh mom. All you had to do was just do it. It was like no big deal to him. But he has no idea how proud I am of him. The same goes for my oldest son and my daughter. They have no idea how proud I am of all of them. If I can do anything in life to make them proud of me, that’s all I want.”

— Darlene Houseman

Darlene, 56, is an inclusion paraprofessional in the special education department at Travis Elementary. She attends Western Governors University online.

Related:

• She has a heart for special education students

The post Son inspires her to pursue college degree appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When I was in college studying to become a teacher, it was more about making lesson plans and basic things like that. We didn’t have our own students that we were measuring for progress and continuously assessing. When you get your own classroom, you find out pretty quickly that there’s a big focus on testing and data and paperwork and more data. You’re looking at all these numbers and scores and tiers, and labeling the kids for different things. That was probably the biggest surprise for me.

“I understand why testing is beneficial. We want to ensure that the kids are learning and progressing. And the only way to really be accountable for that is to assess them. But there’s just so much pressure put on that one test, that one day. It’s hard for the kids, and it’s hard for the teachers and administrators.

“I teach third-grade math. And on our campus, there’s a pretty low socioeconomic status. Some of the kids come to us on a first-grade math level or second-grade reading level. So trying to get all of them to pass the STAAR test can be challenging. It’s just an ongoing process. Some kids can really catch on and some continue to struggle. That could be because of an underlying issue, or they may just struggle for a couple years until they finally get the hang of things. It’s stressful for the teachers because you’re asked, why isn’t so-and-so performing on these tests? It puts us in a challenging spot.

“The families want to help any way they can. We’re constantly meeting with parents and keeping them updated on their child’s progress and what they can do to help. We’re always going to have some form of state testing. There’s probably no way around it. So we all just have to keep working together to make sure the kids are in the best position possible to be successful.”

— Matty DuPree

The post She discovers the realities of being a teacher appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“In the same way that physical education is mandated in schools, I would like to see mental health education become a policy in schools as well. I would love for every single person who steps onto a school campus — students and staff alike — to have some sort of training in mindfulness, meditation and breath work.

“As a wellness counselor and a counselor advocate, I’m only one person. I can impact one to one. But if we had legislation that stated students and staff need to have an authentic experience in managing their stress and negative emotions, that would be a brilliant thing.

“I think it’s starting to take off. I see it more and more where counselors in schools are able to attend to the social and emotional aspects of students. I feel really optimistic that the tide in education is turning, where administrators and educators are starting to see the real need for social and emotional wellness programs in our schools.

“One day, I would love to play a part in implementing meditation as a policy for schools across America. I think it will happen. People are waking up.”

— Marisol Mendez

Related:

• Wellness counselor helps traumatized community

• She’s an advocate for daily ‘mental hygiene’

The post Mental health education needed in schools appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I was a newcomer teacher. I taught high school students who were just coming to this country and learning English. But it was much more than teaching them English. It was creating a community of belongingness for these new Americans, many of whom didn’t have a sense of family here. I felt like it was my duty and my joy to create that for them in the classroom.

“I absolutely loved teaching. But I realized that I could have a greater impact if I could work with more students. That’s why I moved into counseling.

“Most recently, I began working as a wellness counselor serving Santa Fe Junior High. Last year, there was a shooting at Santa Fe High School. As a consequence, funding was allocated for a variety of wrap-around resources for that community. One of those is mental health for the education piece.

“I provide counseling services to the students at the junior high. They may or may not have been impacted directly by the shooting incident. But certainly, the community trauma of that event may still be affecting them.

“Santa Fe is a very small community. It’s a tight-knit community. They really do operate like a family. So while they’re very supportive of each other, there are still times when students may need specialized assistance in dealing with something that’s bothering them. It takes a lot of courage for these kids to come and say, ‘I need help.’ It’s my job to provide that for them.”

— Marisol Mendez

Related:

• She’s an advocate for daily ‘mental hygiene’

• Mental health education needed in schools

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