Humble ISD AVID and IB Coordinator Christie Huseman is one of five education professionals selected as recipients of the Tackling The Education Gap Award presented by Changing Our Perspective, a non-profit organization founded by former NFL player and coach Mike Singletary.
The award was created to “recognize educators making a difference in their students’ lives by addressing the connection between mental health and academics.
Huseman was selected for the award and attended a banquet in Phoenix, Arizona, at the headquarters of Shmoop, an EdTech company that partners with Changing Our Perspective, to receive it.
“It is always an honor to be recognized for the work you are doing, but no success we have in education is because of a single individual,” Huseman said. “Although I was the person recognized and given the opportunity to go to Phoenix, there are campus administrators and classroom teachers who have come together to brainstorm and create the systems and environment for students to thrive. This is a recognition for everyone who has walked with me to center equity and access for all students.”
The Tackling The Gap in Education Award is recognition for utilizing a whole-child focus to improve student outcomes for excellence.
Shmoop’s mission is to provide engaging digital classroom tools and solutions aimed at easing the stress of the learning environment. Humble ISD has partnered with Shmoop for the last three years to bring personalized test-prep resources to Humble ISD high school AVID students. According to Huseman, the partnership has been so successful that access to Shmoop has been expanded to all high school-level students in Humble ISD.
Shmoop CEO Andy Rahden reached out to their Shmoop team managers and requested nominations for the Tackling the Education Gap Award based on the district leaders they work with from around the country. Once nominations were made, the Shmoop leadership team and Changing Our Perspective worked together to identify the 5 educators who would receive the award.
Huseman joined Pasadena ISD Assistant Superintendent Julianne Reynoso, Garland ISD CCMR Coordinator Denay Taylor, Ysleta ISD Director of High School Academics Richard Couder and Putman County School System (PCSSTN) Supervisor of Personalized Learning Sam Brooks as award winners.
“One of my biggest takeaways from this experience is the power of collective educator agency,” Huseman said. “When we create environments where educators can come together and take intentional actions based on shared beliefs and trust that we can increase opportunity and measurable success for students and each other, anything is possible.”
Photo caption: Humble ISD AVID and IB Coordinator Christie Huseman received her award from Mike Singletary at an awards ceremony in Phoenix in February.