Perez Elementary School opened in 2005 but already has a long list of accomplishments to celebrate in its relatively short history. For one thing, it’s home to AISD’s Principal of the Year David Kauffman. Kauffman, who has 22 years of educational experience, led us on a tour of the school that highlighted its impressive offerings, including being one of nine of the district’s Two-Way Spanish Dual Language immersion programs.
But first, I dropped in on Ms. St. Pierre’s pre-K class. Today is the first day of school for these four pre-k students, because the district staggers pre-K classes so that during the first week of school, four different students attend on each of the first three days. Then, all 12 students attend class together for the rest of the year.
Vamos a la clase de Senoras Ramos’ and Ms. Reeves’ Two-way Dual Language Kindergarten class! Here, I had the chance to brush up on my Spanish with students by reading, “Mi Mundo Mis Colores.”
AISD’s two-way dual language program supports “two language” groups of students to become bilingual, bicultural and biliterate—meaning an equal number of Spanish-speaking and English-speaking students would learn in both languages.
I got to see the program in action again by sitting in on a third-grade dual language class led by Michelle Calzado and Maria Sebastián. It’s only the second day of classes, but already students were engaged in their class activities, working together and participating in the classroom discussion. Que bueno!
The district’s SEL program was launched in 2011, and we have set a goal to implement the program at all AISD schools by the 2015-16 school year. This year, the Akins vertical team, which includes Perez, is implementing the program but the school got an early start with trainings last year. When we visited the fifth grade, Ms. Ruffino and Ms. DePizzo were immersed in an SEL lesson. We joined in.
I talked with a student about empathy, and what their teacher may have felt on her first day of school. In groups of four, students participated in an exercise to agree on a name for their groups, based on their shared interests. How about the Ice Cream Puppies, the Blueberry Hushpuppies, and the milk chocolate puppies?
Next, It was time for a moment of Zen. On to the portable classrooms, which house second and third grades as well as the Communities in Schools classroom. When we stopped by, CIS staff Amara Nithbon and MariCarmen Gonzales were leading a calming group craft activity. Students who need extra support managing their emotions and energy are part of the CIS program to offer relaxation and calm during the school day.
Finally, we had the pleasure of observing Perez Teacher of the Year Marcela Kourkova, a much-loved art teacher. It’s teachers like Marcela who inspire the love of learning and creative expression in our students. Thank you, Marcela, for your passion and commitment!
Before leaving, I got a quick tour of the school’s expansive outdoor nature trail. The trail is part of Principal Kauffman and his staff’s work to develop outdoor educational opportunities for their students—work that was recognized last year with the John F. Ahrns Award for Environmental Education.
The campus is named in honor of Lance Corporal Nicholas S. Perez, who grew up in Austin, attended AISD schools and, ultimately, gave his life in service to our country. Like its namesake, Perez Elementary strives to be a supportive learning community with a focus on service—in addition to providing students with powerful instruction in our district’s core curriculum.
All around, it was a great visit. Thank you Perez Pythons!