Fifth-grade teacher praises CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD after award, says she wants students to 'love math'

A fifth-grade teacher at CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD accepted recognition and credited an early mentor for setting her on a path to teach, saying, "I had the best, absolute best first grade teacher." She told attendees she seeks to help students "love to learn" and to finish her year eager for more math and science.

The teacher, who teaches fifth-grade math and science, said fifth grade is a turning point when many students "decide, I love math or I hate math," and that her goal is to have students leave her classroom wanting more. "When they leave my room at the end of the year and they're the ones that are like, no, no, I don't want to go to science yet, I want to keep doing math — that's when I know I've done my job," she said.

She described being surprised by the recognition, with family members and colleagues entering the room to announce the honor. "I feel extremely blessed and extremely grateful," she said, adding that the women who shaped her in the school and district were present. She said representing the district "is something that I will cherish and take with me through my lifetime in my career as a teacher." The speaker also noted she has two children at home and framed her classroom as part of preparing future adults: she wants students to "leave my room ready to enter the world as a good man or woman."

The teacher said she has worked in the district for eight years and would "continue to choose" the district because it "encourages the teachers and the students to go on this path to amazing." The transcript renders the district name in one place as "Scyfare"; this article uses the district's official name, CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD, for clarity.

No formal motions, votes, or policy decisions were recorded during this portion of the meeting; the remarks focused on the educator's background, classroom goals, and response to recognition.