2008 Notices:
"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less." ---Lee Iacocca
It is a privilege to commend the professional educators
of the Windham School District. Thanks to the efforts of teachers and college
instructors on 89 prison sites in Texas, the lives of thousands of offenders
are being changed. Correctional educators open the minds of offenders to
new ideas, knowledge and dreams; they serve as role models for their students;
and they are daily motivators and mentors to men and women who have never
experienced academic accomplishments. Teachers are the foundation of Windham's
success.
Professional educators are being commended this May during Teacher
Appreciation Week (May 4-10), and we would like to say "Thank you!" to our correctional
educators. While training tomorrow's work force, our teachers are also instrumental in
interrupting criminal thinking and building a legacy of literacy for incarcerated adults.
The dedication, enthusiasm, and energy of these instructors are contagious; the value of their
work is unquestionable.
"Having made the choice to educate has afforded me the opportunity
to touch eternity with every right decision my students make for themselves
and their families," WSD Teacher of the Year 2007 Pamela K. Patterson said.
She also stressed the importance of WSD teachers and other employees working
together to fight crime through education: "Today there is absolutely no
way one person can embody and represent the Windham School District because
there are so many people who do so many diverse things for WSD," Patterson
said. "Without team work, without all of us bringing our gifts together,
there's no way we can touch and improve these. . . people's lives."
Last year the National Education Association polled teachers to find out what gift would make them feel most
appreciated. The answer? A simple "thank you," according to nearly half of the respondents. Please be sure
this week to tell our WSD and college teachers "thanks" for the inspiring job they do!
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
---William Arthur Ward
Thank you for all you do!
In the Spring, it is an annual privilege to recognize
the work of the librarians of Windham School District. Operating
within the challenge of the prison system, these men and women play a vital
role in supporting correctional education and improving the quality of life
of offenders in TDCJ.
These trained professionals promote literacy and learning, making school libraries
in TDCJ safe harbors for opportunity, education, self-help and lifelong learning.
Windham librarians positively affect student and general population offenders by
promoting reading and writing contests, encouraging offenders to take advantage
of learning opportunities, and providing a system of support for correctional educators.
Behind the scenes, WSD’s Library Services works to support the daily accomplishments of
this outstanding team of librarians. We appreciate the contributions of the WSD Library team!
Please take a moment this week to tell these valuable employees
that their efforts are appreciated!
Thank you for all you do!
It is our privilege to recognize and celebrate the valuable
work of Windham School District secretaries, administrative assistants,
and other office professionals. These multi-talented employees make a diverse
contribution to the success of WSD throughout the state. They demonstrate
an outstanding amount of dedication, expertise, and willingness to help
educators and students each day.
Thanks to the support of our administrative professionals, Windham can help
"fight crime through education" and change the
lives of offenders in positive and long-lasting ways. We thank our secretaries
and administrative assistants for everything they bring to WSD.
Please take a moment this week to tell these valuable employees
that their efforts are appreciated!
