Campus News

Heritage’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year is 5th grade teacher, Terrena Bernal.  One of the things that makes her a favorite teacher is her fun, competitive spirit.  As a former 4th grade teacher, writing was very important since it was a STAAR tested subject.  But Ms. Bernal recognizes the importance of writing and continues to meet the district expectation of writing across the curriculum at all grade levels.  One way she encourages her students is through timely writing contests like her Thanksgiving contest where students wrote from the point of view of a turkey and answered the question, “How can I escape from being Thanksgiving dinner?”  She followed this with a Christmas contest where students wrote stories titled, “My Ultimate Christmas Wish!”  Congratulations Ms. Bernal and congratulations students of your amazing stories and big wins!  We can’t wait to see what innovative things this teacher and her class do next!

In keeping with our monthly team introductions, here is our awesome 3rd Grade Team.  This team consists of five classroom teachers and one special education support teacher.  They range in years of experience and knowledge, but not in enthusiasm and creativity.  The team is led by a former Southside ISD Teacher of the Year, Jessica Delgado; followed by a returning 3rd grade teacher, Christina Traeger; and moving up to 3rd from 1st grade is Karla Montemayor.  The last three teachers are all new to Heritage, two dual language teachers, Michele Iruegas and SanJuana Pena; and the special education teacher, Eric Garcia.  This team diligently works together to plan exciting and motivating lessons for their students.  As STAAR tests approach, they will encourage their students by incorporating fun activities that also ease some of the stress for these first time STAAR test takers.  They also realize the importance of attendance and motivate students to attend school every Friday by having “dance parties” in the hall as students enter the hallway and their classrooms.  Pictured from left to right are Delgado, Traeger, Iruegas, Pena, Garcia.  Pictured separately is Montemayor.