Celebrate Successes Regardless of How Small (my weight loss) or BIG (health grant)!

I did it!!!! I finished three weeks of intense-up-every-morning-at-5 am-being-physically-active boot camp! In addition, I learned a lot about myself in the two weeks of PRE boot camp prep work and during the three weeks of boot camp. To recap my goals: I wanted to lose 1-2 lbs per week, get more sleep, manage stress better, and making healthier food choices. I am very proud to say I did two of the three very well (manage stress and make healthier food choices) and the other two not as well (didn't lose 1-2 lbs per week and didn't get more sleep). I will say that I do feel better overall. Today I am celebrating that I have more energy despite not getting more sleep. All in all, I lost one pound but everyone says I look better, more toned....oh well.


Speaking of celebrating ... AISD, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood of Central Texas and LifeWorks, has been awarded a $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Adolescent Health, for the prevention of teenage pregnancy. This five-year grant will focus on middle and high school students through the implementation of evidence-based curriculum, a focus on positive youth development strategies, including parent involvement activities, service learning projects, and individual mentoring for students in need of additional support.

This weekend I will plan out my next plan of attack for continuing my efforts to get healthier. I don't think I'll do another boot camp, though.

Outstanding Teaching (and Teacher) at Austin High School!

I was honored this morning to join the presentation of the Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award to Austin High teacher Melanie Schulze.

This statewide award is sponsored by Humanities Texas which is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Humanities Texas conducts and supports public programs in history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities disciplines. The award recognizes exemplary K–12 Humanities teachers and honorees receive a cash award, as do their respective schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.

Humanities Texas Executive Director Michael Gillette, joined by Texas State Senator Kirk Watson, presented the award to Ms. Schulze in her classroom this morning.

At Austin High, she teaches World and U.S. History, Sociology, Asian Studies, and Geography. Principal Lucio Calzada said that she is also very active in curriculum planning and design. To make her curriculum more enriching for students, Ms. Schulze also incorporates items from her world travels into her lesson plans. She makes available photos, art, music, literature, food, and artifacts from her travels, to bring her classes alive for her students.

I am so proud of her, and I feel fortunate to have her among our staff of dedicated and recognized educators. Congratulations, Ms. Schulze and Austin High School!

While I was at Austin High, Principal Calzada showed me the new science wing that will open to students next week. These classrooms are necessary because of the new state science requirement that all students earn four science credits and four math credits toward graduation. The rooms are beautiful and surely will inspire quality teaching and learning in the years ahead.

Construction of the new wing at AHS — and similar science classroom construction at ALL our high schools — was funded by The Apple At Work Bond Program. Thank you, Austin voters!