It's time to talk with Ashley Burges in this bonus episode of CCISD to the Fullest. In preparation for the podcast series, CCISD to the Fullest, Dava West and Lindsey Hunt spent time with some colleagues to talk about life inside and outside of Clear Creek ISD. In this bonus episode, we get to know Ashley Burges. Ashley is an adapted PE teacher for CCISD, a coach at Brookside Intermediate School, AND lead of the Special Olympics program for the District. She came right out of college to CCISD and here, she combined her three passions—coaching, teaching, and special education—into a single role within the District. Here’s our time spent with Ashley. Enjoy.
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Speaker 1
Hey there. It's Lindsey Hunt with Clear Creek ISD. Our CCISD to the fullest interviews were so great that we wanted to share them along with our full episodes. Let's meet Ashley Burges. She's an adapted P.E. teacher for CCISD, a coach at Brookside Intermediate School and is the lead of the Special Olympics program for the District. She came right out of college to 60, and here she was able to combine her three passions coaching, teaching and special education into a single role within the district.
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Speaker 1
Here's our time spent with Ashley. Enjoy.
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Speaker 2
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Speaker 1
This is Lindsey Hunt with Clear Creek, ISD Communications.
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Speaker 3
Ashley Burges adapted PE.
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Speaker 1
Dava West Counseling and Student Services. Hey, so Ashley, welcome. We're glad to have you.
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Speaker 3
Thank you for having me.
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Speaker 1
And I'm here with Dava West as well. I do that, Hi Lindsay, thanks for joining us. So we are going to get started with just a really simple question.
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Speaker 3
Tell us about yourself. Okay. Well, my name is Ashley Burgess, and I am an adapted teacher for the school district. So I do travel around to several different schools. I also coach at Brookside Intermediate, and I'm over the Special Olympics program for our school district.
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Speaker 1
So you're a coach. What? I know there's a teaching part aspect and then there's the coaching part aspect, which sometimes they seem the same. But what made you want to be a teacher and a coach?
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Speaker 3
Well, I love both, of course, And I come from a sports background. I've always been involved in sports my whole life, and I was very I'm very thankful that I had some very influential people in my life when I was growing up and then also in college. That just influenced me in such a positive way that I wanted to have the same kind of impact on young people.
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Speaker 1
So can you give us an example of one of those influential people?
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Speaker 3
Well, number one, of course, would be my high school soccer coach. She just recently retired, but she was at Katy High School for her entire career. And I always thought that was something that was very special. And she was there from the time she graduated college and just retired last year. And I had a close relationship with her.
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Speaker 3
And, you know, she was just very a very positive influence on my life. And, um.
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Speaker 1
So you were a soccer player? Yes. That was was that your main sport or soccer? A triple threat or double threat or.
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Speaker 3
A soccer and cross-country, those two working together?
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Speaker 1
Well, yeah. Yeah. Awesome. And so what did your journey look like? So you are now the coach and the teacher. And it sounds like we were a high school athlete. So how what was your what did your journey look like from high school athlete to teacher coach?
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Speaker 3
Well, it was really there was really had no doubt going into college that I wanted to be a coach and a teacher. My mom was the one that kind of influenced me going towards a special ed direction. I always she would say, I would always come home talking about how I helped out the kids and special ed, or they would be in and out of our classrooms and stuff, even as an elementary school.
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Speaker 3
And so whenever we were talking about what I would do posts or, you know, my degree playing in college, she was like, she just straight up said, Ashley, you really need to go into special education. That has really been a passion of yours and something that's meant you've been drawn to your whole life. So there's really no doubt that that's the way you should go.
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Speaker 3
And then when I found out adapted PE was an option, putting the together, the physical education side, coaching and with teaching special ed And that was for sure the way.
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Speaker 1
So were you a college athlete?
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Speaker 3
I was not, so.
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Speaker 1
I.
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Speaker 3
Gave it.
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Speaker 1
Sometimes I always.
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Speaker 3
Ask, Yeah, you know, Yeah, it was. I went back and forth trying to figure out what I wanted to do. And, you know, I'm thankful I went just to drop into sports and, you know, join college and say and focus on other things. Gotcha. A positive things.
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Speaker 1
So. So I heard Katy so grew up, I'm guessing, around the Katty area. Yes. So what brought you to CCI?
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Speaker 3
Well, actually, whenever I graduated from A&M, a lot of teachers in the education field weren't getting teaching positions at that time. That was whenever teachers were being let go due to, you know, shortages and all that sort. A lot of friends that didn't actually get a job. I had applied all over the state and I had some friends that had graduated the year before me and they had got me in contact with an adopted PE teacher here.
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Speaker 3
And so I went that route and just stayed in communication and they happened to have two positions here in CCISD. So I jumped on it, interviewed and got the job.
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Speaker 1
So how long have you been in CCISD?
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Speaker 3
This is my 13th year.
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Speaker 1
Oh, wow. Yeah, 13 years. And it sounds like the only district.
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Speaker 3
You've worked for. Yes. Yes. Yes. I've been here since. Since college. Right out of college. So awesome.
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Speaker 1
And I'm guessing adapted. PE is kind of a such a specialty that those jobs were probably not as out there as other positions, maybe within a school district. Is that.
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Speaker 3
Right? Very true. Yeah. We're we're very fortunate here in CCISD to have the adaptive PE program that we do have for our students. And you know, we had there are seven of us right now that cover the whole school district.
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Speaker 1
outstanding. What's your favorite part about being an adapted PE teacher
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Speaker 3
Oh, boy, that's a loaded question. There's so, so many great things that I love about adopted PE. The students, for sure. I have all levels. I go from elementary, intermediate and high school. I've taught all level as far as adaptive is concerned. I think my favorite part would have to be just seeing the students growth. And I've been fortunate to have some elementary school follow them to intermediate school and then had them in high school and now I'm seeing them, of course, graduate high school and move on.
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Speaker 3
And so just the growth they make throughout the years and, you know, celebrating some small steps, you know, we celebrate big for small things. So that's probably my.
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Speaker 1
Favorite like that. Get some great things for celebrating big for small things. That's a great quote. And is what's your favorite part about being that coach at Brookside because And what sports do you coach at Brookside?
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Speaker 3
I coach basketball and golf. I love that side of my job as well. You know, I like being I kind of take pride in being some of these kids first coach their first experience in seventh grade with, you know, a coach outside of their recreational leagues, little leagues and all that. So, you know, it's their first look at what it means to be a student athlete.
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Speaker 3
And I think that's something that is very important, even moving up to the next level in high school and college. And so I try to set that groundwork, you know, when they're in seventh grade to, you know, just for them to understand the importance and to enjoy it and try to, you know, start shaping them and molding them at a young age, that's when it's it's so important.
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Speaker 1
I like the fact that you mentioned that student athlete piece, because that's how they're always referred to as student athlete. That student part always comes first. So I appreciate the fact that you embrace that as a coach. That's really cool because you have those both those standards right? They've got to do well in the classroom for sure as well as that.
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Speaker 1
Growing them on.
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Speaker 3
That. That's number one in the classroom and just building them as people, you know, and how how they we want them to be as adults. You know.
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Speaker 1
There's a lot of lessons, I think, that are learned on a field or on a court. Yeah. That really translate to the rest of your life.
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Speaker 3
And it's important for it to be a positive thing too, because a lot of kids, you know, if they have a negative experience and it's like, forget this, I'm not doing it. So we try our best to make it a positive experience. That way they do want to continue and being a student athlete moving forward.
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Speaker 1
So we've heard some amazing things about the adopted day and I have heard that you are in charge of that day for the district. Is that correct?
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Speaker 3
Not exactly in charge, Yeah. It's definitely a group effort. Okay. It takes all seven of us. It is what we call it, the best day of the year. And the students, I think most of them, especially the special ed students, see it as that as well, and as well as the PALS because we have all the PALs from the school district.
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Speaker 3
And I'm certain that that is.
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Speaker 1
And for those that don't know about PALs go ahead and explain what policies.
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Speaker 3
PALs sends for peer assisted learning. It's an organization at all the high schools for juniors and seniors.
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Speaker 1
It’s actually a class that can actually get school credit for it and its application process. So, yeah, I just want to add if anyone is listening in, they're like, okay, that sounds really great for a student that I know they can actually get credit for it.
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Speaker 3
Yes, it's a wonderful class. And those PALs day, that day, they help us run it. I mean, we have like over a thousand people out of the park and all of the students and the various AA classrooms from the school district, elementary, intermediate, high school and all all the students, all their teachers, all the district's specialist special education specialists.
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Speaker 3
It is just a very it's a very fun day out there for everybody.
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Speaker 1
And I've heard I was told like last year when it was going on, if you just want to smile, if you just need a moment and you just need a pick me up, that you should go out to the park and just observe what is going on. And is that the kind of feedback you generally get from people?
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Speaker 3
Sure, for sure, because those those those PALs take on those kids for the day and love them, you know, just love them and go and have a good time. That's all. That's what it's all about.
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Speaker 1
So just for clarification, when you're saying adaptive P.E, can you just kind of give us an idea of what that exactly means? Like what student population you work with are, are, are why it's called adaptive PE So.
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Speaker 3
We mainly work most of our students are from the alternative academic is special ed classrooms. It's for those students with severe to moderate gross motor deficit, those that are not able to fully function in the general setting. So we pull them. It looks different at different schools for sure, and different students. Of course it looks different, but it is an A it's an appropriate PE class for a lot of students who are unable to get the full PE experience with their gen ed peers.
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Speaker 1
I mean, seeing a lot of people that seems like a I remember when I started it was I was like, Wait, what is that? And I didn't know a lot about it. And so I just think some people might not know that that is something we offer in our district. And they and especially people who aren't educators that are within our district don't know things like that even exist.
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Speaker 1
And I just think it's great for them to hear. And then they would have a better understanding of what that that day might be like for for our our students and our families and everything.
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Speaker 3
So we also serve as students who are in the general population, but maybe have like a physical disability that when regular PE might not be the safest option. So.
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Speaker 1
So what is your favorite part about being an adaptive PE teacher first and a coach? So one for adaptive PE teacher and one for coach because you are kind of unique in the fact I know some adaptive PE teachers, that's what they do. They don't add that coaching part. So you are a dual role person. So I want to know what the best part of each one of them are.
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Speaker 3
Well, just with adapted PE specifically, like I said before, just seeing the students growth, whenever we, you know, even something as simple as just learning how to follow routine or something like that, you know, just seeing that that growth over the years or even we can see that within a few days or months even. But just seeing the growth in my students is probably the best about being an adopted PE as far as a coach and, and just so many great things about that.
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Speaker 3
Also, I love just seeing the kids progress as we go on. You know, I also coach Special Olympics as well. And so it's does seeing the kids develop in their personalities and develop friendships and the friendships that these families start developing as well is pretty special.
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Speaker 1
So it sounds like you're really great at building relationships. Is that a fair statement because you kind of have a saying that you like to see the growth in your student. So I'm thinking that if you weren't building that relationship with them, that growth might not be happening and the growth would be the relationship with your students. So it's a positive experience.
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Speaker 1
Is that something you think surrounding yourself? You would hope so, yes. Well, it sounds like that's what is going on. If you're if this is the part that you like the best, can you tell us a little bit about the Special Olympics?
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Speaker 3
So Special Olympics, I'm the lead over our Special Olympics team and we have one team for our entire school district. So we have athletes from elementary, intermediate and high school as well. We our team is called the Clear Creek ISD Challengers. And so we go and compete at different special Olympic type events throughout the state, actually. And we start in the beginning of August with swimming.
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Speaker 3
And then we we have different sports out the school year that we participate in. So we have practices once a week, usually at various locations on the school district. And the athletes come from all over just together for one evening for practice, and then we travel for competitions.
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Speaker 1
So do you have like a wide arena, wide array of athletes, like runners and you have swimmers or.
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Speaker 3
Yes, Yeah, we like I say, we start with swimming. We had a really cool event last night actually with the Clear Falls swim team. We joined up with them and put on like a swim meet for our special Olympic swimmers and we'll be traveling to College Station next weekend with a group of those athletes. They're going to compete at A&M in a special Olympics swim meet.
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Speaker 3
And then from after swimming, we start bowling. And then in January, in the spring semester, we do basketball track and then we're going to try soccer this year.
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Speaker 1
Nice, right? So in your 13 years, obviously, you've been a part of a lot of students lives. What top three things have you learned from your students.
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Speaker 3
From and that there's so much you could turn into?
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Speaker 1
Yeah.
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Speaker 3
Because I've grown so much just with, you know, starting this job right after college. And I took over Special Olympics right away. And so.
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Speaker 1
All you've ever know, it's.
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Speaker 3
All I've ever known. Yes. And so some of these kids and parents and I mean, Special Olympics, you know, we have these kids sometimes when they're when they're eight years old up until they graduate high school. And so it's we're I'm a huge part of their life and they're a huge part of my life. So I've learned a lot about organizing.
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Speaker 3
I'll tell you that with everything that I have going on, um.
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Speaker 1
Organizing works. Yeah, organizing is good.
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Speaker 3
But there are so many great things that, of course, I have learned throughout the years, like, like you said, building relationships for sure. I think that comes naturally, I guess. I don't know. But I do enjoy that part of it. And I want anything these kids, these families are getting their kids involved in to be like a family thing.
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Speaker 3
And I want them to feel comfortable and I want them to want to be there. Whether it's at Brookside with those kids adopted by Special Olympics. Um, I teach an elective class at some of the high schools. Those kids are just as important too. So.
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Speaker 1
So do you think you're can you think of an example or a situation in which maybe one of your athletes, whether are your students and adaptive PE, have taught you a lesson?
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Speaker 3
Well, the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is just the pure joy, the pure joy in any and everything. It's amazing how some of these kids, no matter what's going on around them in the past, you know, just the pure joy that they have in their hearts and that they, you know, that they bring to the room and they bring to a group of people, you know, just the positivity.
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Speaker 1
Yeah, I think that's a great reminder for all of us.
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Speaker 3
Certainly.
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Speaker 1
To find the joy in what we're doing or our what I find at least a moment of pure joy during the day, right?
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Speaker 3
Yes.
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Speaker 1
That's probably a good lead in to what's going great in your life right now.
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Speaker 3
Most things are great. Everything, I guess. You know, I love my job. I love being a part of Clear Creek ISD and being involved in so many things. That's really most of my life during the school year from August to May is my job and activities and things going on. So that would be, I guess, what is going great.
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Speaker 1
Okay. And I mean, we all have them. So on the tougher days, what are some of the things that help you get through them?
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Speaker 3
Well, like I said before, just trying to find the pure joy, you know, just like the students do, comes naturally to them. So I try to make myself and body the same things, just staying positive. And when things are getting tough, you know, it'll all pass when there's a lot going on and I start to feel stressed out, you know, I know that instead of looking them, looking at them as bad things, it's more of like an opportunity to either grow as a person or to help somebody else grow.
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Speaker 3
But the hard times will pass and you know, it'll all be worth it in the end.
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Speaker 1
It's a wonderful perspective for sure. All right. So when we have those hard times or even on those times where we are working, I'm listening to your schedule and after school practices and Special Olympics and everything, traveling on the weekend, traveling on the weekends. How do you recharge? What do you like to do?
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Speaker 3
I think the number one recharge would be doing nothing or, you know, I'm not really good at that. So just doing kind of whatever I would like to do, I really enjoy, of course, hanging out, being with my family and my friends very close to my family. And so a day with them or some time with them is always a good recharge for me, for sure.
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Speaker 1
And doing nothing is okay.
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Speaker 3
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
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Speaker 1
What I hear. That's one of the main things that you should do to recharge and it's okay to give yourself a break and exactly just to rest good plans. That's not plan.
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Speaker 3
No plan. And I always say you can't take care of somebody else if you can't take if you're not taking care of that.
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Speaker 1
Very good advice.
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Speaker 3
Always keep that in mind that if I want to take care of these kids, take care of these families, and be continue to be a positive influence, then I have to take care of myself also. And a big part of that is, of course, rest, you know, and doing what I need to take care of myself in order to be able to be on my A-game for everybody else.
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Speaker 1
That is very true. That is very true. So if I ask you what your students have taught you, we've kind of asked all that how you recharge and we've asked you about experiences and capacity. Can you think of a time in CCISD where there has been a moment that's left a footprint on your life and you don't have to give like names or anything like that?
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Speaker 1
But it was. Has there been a moment in your career here that has left a lasting footprint that you're like that made a difference for me?
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Speaker 3
Yes. I think a lot of the support that my coworkers and different people I know have provided me in the future. I mean, I'm sorry, in the past when things haven't been going quite right and some, you know, some sad times in my life that I've really had a good support system from my coworkers. And those are things that, of course you can't you can't replace that or take it back.
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Speaker 1
So that is it's your family. Yeah, for.
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Speaker 3
Sure. Yeah, definitely. And being here for so long, you know, I know people have been here longer, but you know, being around the same people for so long, it's it's pretty special.
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Speaker 1
And it kind of sounds like based on what you're saying, you're kind of at different campuses. So you get to meet a lot of different people and kind of expand what that family might look like. And so instead of living in maybe like a little bubble, you're able to reach out and meet new people and and have a pretty, pretty big arms to hold you when you need to.
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Speaker 3
Yes, you're right. Yeah.
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Speaker 1
So, Ashley, this podcast is titled CCISD to the Fullest. So what does living CCISD to the fullest mean to you?
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Speaker 3
I think CCISD or living to the fullest. What's it again?
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Speaker 1
CCISD to the fullest. So what does living CCISD to the fullest mean to you?
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Speaker 3
Yes, living CCISD to the fullest. To me, that means just always being a positive, a positive influence on the kids. You know, it's all about we're all here for the kids. All about the kids. You know, just making sure that and whatever I do is just somehow impacting a life in a positive way because, you know, you don't know how you're going to impact the lives of anybody, adult or student.
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Speaker 3
And so just always trying to be make it a make it a positive thing. And always, you know, doing the right thing, living by our core values, you know, and just just truly being here for the kids. All right.
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Speaker 1
All right, Ashley, let's say you you have 13 years of experience now. Let's say you had a brand new teacher. Ah, maybe someone on our operations side who's new to working in a school district. What advice would you give them to help them know how to live CCISD To the fullest?
00;21;49;29 - 00;22;10;00
Speaker 3
I think the first thing to always remember is that there are people to help you no matter what. You can always lean on your coworkers, and I've never seen that go wrong in so many different schools and with different people. I think we are all here to help and support one another. And when if you need help, you have to ask.
00;22;10;00 - 00;22;24;15
Speaker 3
You know, sometimes people don't know that you need help. So never be afraid to ask your coworkers or those that you work with, because I guarantee you somebody will step up and be willing to help.
00;22;24;15 - 00;22;35;10
Speaker 1
Well, I think that's all the questions that we have for you. You've done amazing. And so we really appreciate you spending some time with us and learning more about you and learning how you live CCISD to the fullest.
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Speaker 3
Well, thank you all for having me.
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Speaker 1
Thank you. Thank you. Bye.