LFCISD Teachers Welcomed Back With Emotional Rally

A day of rousing student performances and recognitions and a speech by well-known author Todd Whitaker highlighted the Los Fresnos CISD Welcome Back rally Tuesday morning at the Brownsville Events Center.

More than 700 teachers from the district’s 14 campuses were treated to shows and videos from talented students in all grade levels.

Throughout the morning, Superintendent Gonzalo Salazar beamed about the achievements by teachers and students in the district, and Board of Trustees president Sandra Garcia also spoke proudly about her position.

Performing were:

• Los Fresnos High School Rhythm Section playing background music to the LFHS Girls’ Choir, as they sang “Beautiful Day,” a song made famous by the rock group U2.
• LFHS Conjunto Halcon, whose song “Como La Flor” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” made famous by Selena had teachers dancing in the aisles.
• LFHS Stars Dance and Drill team dancing almost 10 minutes to a mashup of more than two dozen dance songs
• Palmer-Laakso Elementary singers and musicians performing “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, in a rousing performance that drew a standing ovation.
• Las Yescas Elementary students performing “La Danza de los Viejitos”

A video about the success of the Resaca Middle School “Hello Navi” team that received national recognition was also shown. The group of six girls created the “Hello Navi” app that won Best in Nation by the Verizon Foundation. They were invited to the White House Science Fair May 27, and have traveled around the country.

The video showed President Obama recognizing the students “from Resaca Middle School in Los Fresnos Texas.” Salazar asked the students seated on the front row to stand, and they received a standing ovation.

Also speaking were Los Fresnos CISD Elementary Teacher of the Year Dr. Susana Saldivar from Lopez-Riggins Elementary School and Secondary Teacher of the Year Diana “Ali” Martinez from Los Fresnos High School.

Maria Jose de Leon, the valedictorian of the 2014 Class of LFHS, also spoke about her experiences with “amazing” teachers in the district.
Presenting academic achievements by campus were Executive Directors for Academics Valarie Londrie and Joseph Villarreal.

The video “Why Should I Hire You,” which featured Las Yescas Elementary principal Oscar de la Rosa asking children questions also drew laughter from the crowd.

Another video “Summer Selfies” included 93 photographs taken by district teachers and staff about their summer vacations and experiences.

Salazar also paid tribute to two staff members who passed away since last year’s event — Laureles Elementary School teacher Jennifer McNabb and Coordinator of Student Health Services Maggie Perez. A moment of silence was observed.

Whitaker capped off the morning with his motivational speech based on his book “What Great Teachers Do Differently,” and described the 14 things that matter most.