About this session
As our schools are bringing the classroom into the homes of our students, we have a responsibility to look at the broader scope of our students’ world: to the students’ peers, to their parents and families, and to the broader community. Are we being culturally responsive to the educational needs of our special needs students, of our English Language Learners, and of our students in difficult households?
In this discussion, we'll focus on the ways administrators are renewing and strengthening relationships with students, their families, and educators, ensuring that all students benefit from the services and supports for their online learning and well-being. We will host a similar discussion from the teacher's lens. We hope you'll join us at one or both of the events.
Steve Amstutz will lead with participation of principals, Lucy Anderson (Humble ISD) & Jeanette Byrd (Alief ISD) and Marie Moreno (Las Americas, HISD), along with Director of Special Education for Alief ISD, Nicole Roberts.
Steve Amstutz, Director of Measuring What Matters and lecturer with Rice Education
Lucy Anderson, principal of Lakeland Elementary School
Jeanette Byrd, principal of Cummings Elementary
Marie Moreno, principal of Las Americas Newcomer School
Nicole Roberts, director of special education for Alief ISD
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
12:00 PM CT
Live Webinar
Steve Amstutz
Presented By A Panel of Educators
Steve Amstutz began his career serving children in education as a 5th-grade teacher in Houston, Texas. He served as a principal for 20 years at both elementary and secondary schools. During those years, he founded Liberty High School an alternative school designed specifically to meet the challenges faced by older, immigrant students, and DiscoverU, a non-profit providing novel learning experiences beyond the high school classroom that expand students’ aspirations and develop the confidence and skills essential for college success. Since 2013, Steve has worked as Director of Measuring What Matters at the Institute for Research and Reform in Education supporting school improvement initiatives in urban and rural school districts across the country. He is a lecturer in the educational leadership program at Rice University.
Jeanette Byrd currently serves as the Principal of Cummings Elementary in Alief ISD and has been in this position for 8 years. Prior to stepping into her principalship, she served as a Language Arts Specialist, Assistant Principal and a classroom teacher in both North Carolina and Texas. She cherishes her 29 year marriage to her husband, Alexander X. Byrd, her two children, Benjamin (19) and Jenna (16) and her 29 years in education. Her goal is to always be of assistance.
Lucy Anderson has served as an educator for the past 29 years - 24 of those years in the Houston ISD and the last 6 years in Humble ISD. She was the principal of Scarborough High School for 2 years, Stevens Elementary for 9 years, and currently serves as the principal of Lakeland Elementary School. This year Lucy was selected as the Elementary Principal of the Year for Humble ISD. Lucy earned her bachelor's from the University of Minnesota and her Masters from the University of Houston. She has a certificate from the Rice REEP program and is actively involved with Raise Your Hand Texas - mentoring an aspiring educator who is a student at the University of North Texas. Lucy lives in the Houston Heights in a colorful bungalow with her daughter, granddaughter, and her dog, Biscuit.
Marie D. Moreno is an educator that advocates and supports newly arrived immigrant and refugee families from 32 countries speaking 29 languages. She currently serves as the principal of Las Americas Newcomer School (Grades 4-8) for the past 16 years in the Houston Independent School District. This school is designed specifically to acculturate and support children who have gaps in their education and have experienced trauma. Her 26 years of experience in education has fueled her to be passionate for the most at-risk students in Houston. Marie received her Baccalaureate of Science from the University of Houston, her Master’s in Education from Texas Southern University, and is currently working on her Doctorate in Education in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas-Houston.
Nicole Roberts has been in the field of education for over 20 years specializing in Special Education services for students with disabilities. Currently, Nicole serves as the Director of Special Education in Alief ISD. Prior to coming to Alief ISD, she worked in Fort Bend ISD for 19 years as an Assistant Director of Special Education, Special Education Coordinator, Educational Diagnostician and Special Education teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Applied Learning and Development and Master’s Degree from the University of Houston in Educational Psychology/Special Education.