Class Acts: The Dallas Cowboys and Reliant Surprise two Dallas ISD teachers with $4,000 grants

This year in celebration of National Read Across America Day, the Dallas Cowboys and Reliant teamed up on Wednesday, March 2, to support the importance of reading education, cultivate a love for literacy and highlight educators in the DFW area transforming their schools and communities.

Class Acts Program Powered by Reliant

Reliant and the Dallas Cowboys wrapped up the 2021-2022 Cowboys Class Acts program by surprising two Dallas ISD teachers each with $4,000 grants to use toward enriching the lives of their school and community. The presentation featured Cowboys Legend George Teague, Andrea Russell, Vice President of Reliant, Mascot Rowdy, Reliant Mascot Hugo and more. Cowboys Class Acts honors teachers that constantly encourage, lead and strive for excellence in the classroom. Once a month from October to February, the Cowboys and Reliant recognized a total of six teachers in the DFW area for their phenomenal work empowering our youth.

Class Acts Teachers

Christine Rodriguez | F.P. Caillet Elementary (Dallas ISD) | January Honoree

Christine Rodriguez has served in the Dallas ISD for 22 years, with the majority of her tenure teaching students with the most severe and profound disabilities. After completing her teaching certification, she took the position of Activities of Daily Living Teacher at Caillet Elementary where she has remained for the past sixteen years. She supports her students with exceptional compassion and dedication and brings her experience from her varied experiences and passions to her classroom, ensuring her students and optimal educational programs and their families the knowledge and security of their children are safe, secure, and well cared for in Ms. Rodriguez’ capable hands.

Patricia Cortez | Casa View Elementary (Dallas ISD) | February Honoree

Patricia Cortez is not just a wonderful teacher; she is also highly respected in the Dallas community. She was a scholar at Casa View Elementary from 1995 to 2003 and few years later and many years of study, she returned to Casa View as a teacher. Because of this, parents and students see her as an important role model and a great inspiration to their neighborhood. Students love her because she is kind, loving, fun, and cares about them. She is especially gifted at working with Emergent Bilingual students on Math concepts and she constantly and patiently develops number fluency, vocabulary and problem solving skills in her class. Additionally, she is always available to support other teachers with technology, math, class coverage, classroom management, etc. She constantly demonstrates leadership, teamwork and comradery with all teachers in our campus.