Today our very own Brenda C. was selected as one of only 250 high school students from across the USA - there were a total of only FOUR in Dallas - to be an Amazon Future Engineer Scholar. The award brings more than prestige: a scholarship, a laptop, and a guaranteed job after college. well done, Brenda! Pictured with me and Brenda are our principal Ms. Lusk, and our executive director Dr. Bernardino.

Sunday, June 9th marks the graduation ceremonies for Winfree Academy. All six campuses will laud their graduates at the Irving Convention Center.

As we reflect upon the year, I take stock in the fact that this was the first year Winfree Academy had a campus in Grand Prairie; we had to create everything. Thinking back I realize that I personally ran well over 600 students through orientation this year. I created computer logins and created student ID cards for them; I attended nearly every ARD held at the campus. I laid the ground work for a campus branch of Skills USA, and have several students striving to become MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) certified.

I put together a wildly successful College & Career faire which hosted several dozen exhibitors representing Fashion & Merchandising, Hospitality, Tattoo Artistry, Public Safety, and numerous offerings for continuing education.

Today awards were presented to students for outstanding effort, achievement, Leadership, and more. Students also presented awards to the staff, and I was presented with the "Best Dressed Teacher" award. 

Today we took 42 students to the Grand Prairie Office of Environmental Quality on Church Street, where each student earned a Food Handler's Permit card. Now they can get jobs in restaurant kitchens all over the city for the next few years.

Today we brought a bus load of students interested in Auto Mechanics to the Open House at the Universal Technical Institute in Dallas. We got a tour of their State-of-the-Art facilities which house tools worth millions of dollars. Students were also able to get autographs from the driver of the monster truck Grave Digger, eat unlimited hotdogs, enter a hot wings eating contest, and more.

One catch: UTI doesn't accept G.E.D.s. If you want to get this high-tech, hands-on training and industry-leading education, you will need to be on track to earn a high school diploma or they won't even talk to you. So, stay in school.

I was voted November's Teacher of the month by the faculty and staff at Winfree Academy's Grand Prairie campus.