 "Photo: Tiffany Tran")
Anna Davila, class of 2001, won the HEB Excellence in Education Award in the Raising Star Secondary category for her work as a sixth-grade math teacher in the Fort Bend Independent School District.
According to the HEB website, "HEB's Excellence in Education Awards were created to celebrate and recognize the contributions of public school professionals whose leadership and dedication inspire a love of learning in students of all bacgrounds and abilities." The Rising Star Award was for less than 10 years of classroom experience. The secondary category was for middle school teachers.
Davila is a teacher at Sartartia Middle School in Sugarland. She graduated from Texas A&M with a focus on math specialty for education. She taught fourth grade math and science and then moved to a private school where she taught elementary math. After teaching elementary level math, she arrived at Fort Bend.
Davila was nominated for the award by her assistant principal. The application process she completed included five essays and letters of support.
"HEB is an amazing company," Davila said. "They focus on the public."
Davila said she was honored to receive the award.
"There were 1,000 applicants" she said. "So it speaks volumes for the school."
She also attributed her ability and the support she received to the "great people" around her.
Davila said she was successful because she built a relationship with the students at the beginning of the year. She incorporates a style of teaching that allows students to teach themselves. She rarely lectures or uses a book. She said she also planned a lot of hands-on activities.
"I want to make a safe learning environment so the students will feel successful," she said.
Davila said A&M had an influence on her teaching style.
"The other Aggie teachers are a cut above the rest," she said. "A&M stresses the importance of getting kids engaged."
Personality had a lot to do with Davila's success.
"I am caring, mothering and have patience. I teach special education as well and definitely need the patience there," Davila said. "My success was not about me but everyone. The care and support speaks volumes. Now an Aggie is represented and can show how good the program is."
Davila was well prepared by A&M because she was in the classroom for 1 1/2 years before she graduated. She still sees some of her college professors.
"They teach professional development for teachers as well as teach so I run into them," Davila said. "The professors practice what they teach."
Davila's message for students who want to go into teaching is that teaching is challenging but rewarding.
"Those around you contribute to the world, which is the most valuable thing someone can do," Davila said. "We want to be able to compete with other countries, though it is hard for some to look beyond the classroom. The salary is competitive, but that should not be a deterrent. It is about the satisfaction."
Davila was involved with many organizations during her time at A&M. She was a co-founder of MSC FISH, and was involved with MSC Hospitality, Maggies, Aggie Sisters for Christ and Fish Camp, where she was a counselor for two years and served on the board for one year.
Davila said all of her involvement with various organizations helped her with teaching. She said the other teachers who were Fish Camp counselors had their notes from when they were counselors and still use them.
"We [the Fish Camp counselors] are the most energetic teachers and relate well to the students," Davila said.
When not busy with school-work, Davila's time is taken up by her children, ages 2 and 3. She will be starting on her master's degree soon while working. Davila was recently promoted to math instructional specialist.
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