Teachers were welcomed back to DISD in full force Tuesday, Aug. 1 with the district’s annual Welcome Back Breakfast and Convocation.
Businesses with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce made the educators feel extra welcome as nine businesses were on site and seven more donated a variety of coupons and gave away goodies.
“We appreciate all of our businesses being here to support our teachers and we so appreciate our Chamber of Commerce,” Dublin Superintendent Melissa Summers said. “We just want to remind you guys to shop local.”
School board member and pastor Ryan Mitchell opened the event with a prayer of protection and for a good school year.
A delicious breakfast was prepared by the Dublin ISD cafeteria staff and teachers for each campus were introduced with the “Rocky” theme, getting them ready for the new year.
Preliminary Lion Heart awards were given for those teachers whose students received 90% or higher on End Of Course exams and STAAR tests. As of the teacher’s breakfast, only EOC exam scores were in. Christopher Duke was awarded for 91% passing for English I, Lisa Leatherwood and Kaylene Vanbebber were awarded for 100% passing for Algebra I, Tyler Sattler was awarded for 97% passing for Biology and Shawn Bradford was awarded for 100% passing in U.S. History.
Other Lion Heart awards will be presented at the Aug. 28 DISD school board meeting.
A variety of prizes were awarded to teachers based on sharing positive moments aloud and being drawn through a raffle.
Superintendent Summers encouraged teachers to find their ‘why’ through a video and short speech towards the end of the event.
“You need a why,” the video stated. “Why do you need a why? Because when you want to give up and quit, that why is going to give you that edge you need. That energy you need, the lift you need. You’re looking for someone to save you and you’re already a superhero.”
Summers said the why is so important because it’s what drives educators.
“There are days when you feel tired or you don’t feel the best and you have to think of your why,” she said. “That why may be a student’s name, or someone’s name that told you that you couldn’t do it, that you would never be a teacher or coach. That why may be to prove someone wrong.”
It could also be, she said, someone from an educator’s past that was impacted by getting an education and they simply say “I’m doing it for them.”
Summers challenged all of the educators to write down their ‘why’ and keep it with them to help them through the tough days.
“Put it somewhere that you will see it every day and be reminded why you do what you do. Because this job is hard. As you know, more and more people are leaving the profession. It’s not for the weak. It’s not for the lightweights, you have to be tough. So I challenge you, let that why be your focus and your mission to do what you do every day because you have dedicated your lives to our kids,” Summers said.
As the convocation wrapped up, all teachers were given a $100 giftcard by the district to go shopping at Walmart for classroom supplies.
Eager teachers carpooled over to the Stephenville Walmart descending on the store to prepare for the upcoming school year.