At Hillcrest High School, art students gather around tables as colorful Lotería cards are shuffled and dealt. Laughter and chatter fill the classroom as they call out familiar phrases and share memories of playing the game with their families.  Afterward, the students move on to sketching and coloring their own Lotería cards, bringing their personal creativity and cultural perspectives to each design. Natalie G., a freshman in Margaret McGaughey’s Studio Art I class, says the project helped her embrace her Hispanic roots and recall memories of playing with her relatives growing up. “This project was really fun because I already…

After Sam Tasby Middle School earned a D from the Texas Education Agency two years ago, Principal Nesha Maston knew something had to change. “We were a little disheartened, but instead of accepting defeat, we pulled ourselves up and did what we had to do,” she said.  Tasby began the 2024-2025 school year with a district goal to climb just one level, but Maston believed her teachers and students could do more. They proved her right. The campus not only earned a B on the STAAR test, but also celebrated the highest Texas Education Agency score in its nearly 20-year…

When Eddy R. brought the idea of a Spanish spelling bee to Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, he wasn’t only thinking about competitions.  He was thinking about pride. “It makes me feel good when I hear people speaking Spanish at school,” Eddy, a fifth grader, said. “It makes us feel like we fit in.” For him, language is more than communication; it’s connection.  When students feel proud of their culture, they are more confident in school and in life, he said. “If they don’t fit in, they’re not going to study, and they’re going to give up. But if they’re supported,…

At Woodrow Wilson High School, school spirit sounds different to every student.  For senior cheerleader Daniela R., she proves every day that Wildcat pride can be expressed in ways beyond words. Daniela was born hard-of-hearing, but she’s never let that stop her. She joined the Woodrow cheerleading team as a freshman, and, before that, participated in other activities like dance and track.  “I really love to encourage people,” signed Daniela. And when it comes to Friday nights on the sideline, there’s not much she doesn’t love. Her face lights up with excitement when describing what a game day feels like…