Austin ISD teachers share classroom stories and, after a school closure, one vows to press officials at board meetings

Ashley Marie Fawn, a kindergarten bilingual teacher at Woodane Elementary School, told the gathering that making mistakes is part of learning and that teachers must support each other to create engaging classrooms. “It’s okay to make mistakes,” Fawn said. “Mistakes mean that we’re learning and we support each other.”

Fawn said a recent school closure prompted her to become more active. “With the school closure, I spoke to my husband, sat him down, and I said, I am planning to go to the board meetings. I am planning on speaking at the board meetings. I am planning on going to rallies,” she said. “I’m planning on confronting the people that I feel that are wrong and I’m gonna do everything I can.” Fawn added she is no longer afraid of getting in trouble “as long as I know that what I’m doing and what I’m saying is gonna be better for others.”

Mary Anne Burns, a bilingual early childhood special education teacher at Ortega, described a student with autism who became deeply interested in the alphabet and learned letters in both English and Spanish. Burns said that moment inspired her to write her first bilingual children’s book to raise awareness of the potential of students with disabilities. “He learned all the letters in both English and Spanish,” Burns said, recalling that the student later wrote the alphabet after seeing paper and crayons.

Joelle Donneville, a CTE agriculture teacher at a middle school in Austin ISD, said being nominated for teacher of the year was “the most humbling thing ever.” Donneville described a background in field biology and zoo work and urged new educators to be patient, lean on colleagues and find joy in the classroom. “To the newcomers aspiring to a field of education, be patient with yourself. Rely upon your colleagues. Have fun with your students,” she said.

Ashley Muir, an English teacher and department chair at Crockett High School, recounted supporting a senior whose mother was seriously ill; Muir was one of four educators the student chose to have present for an at‑home graduation. “To get to be able to see him be successful and check off his goals is priceless,” Muir said, describing the personal role teachers play beyond academics.

Speakers framed their remarks around student support, bilingual instruction and the personal costs and rewards of teaching. Several called for continued community and institutional support. No formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript. The remarks concluded with attendees indicating they would continue to participate in future meetings and events.