In this episode of Why I Stay, Dr. Casey O'Pry and Dr. Britani Moses talk with Angela Jacquo-Baines about her passion for creating miracles, her journey through her various roles in CCISD, and what keeps her coming back for more year after year. Angela's enthusiasm and positive outlook are contagious and we hope you connect with her story. Enjoy.
00;00;03;25 - 00;00;34;23
Speaker 1
Clear Creek ISD is home to a team of over 5000 educators, administrators and support staff who are committed to helping students achieve, contribute and lead with integrity. And we're going to talk to some of those people about what keeps them inspired and why they stay. Hello and welcome back to CCISD’s Why I Stay. This is Dr. Britani Moses, and I'm joined by my co-host, Dr. Casey O’Pry.
00;00;35;22 - 00;01;01;23
Speaker 2
Thank you, Britani. And hello, Clear Creek ISD family. Today we are joined by Angela Jacquo-Baines. For those who do not know Angela, she began her career with CCISD as a transportation aide and now serves as an alternative academics instructional specialist. Angela, welcome. We're honored to have the opportunity to speak with you. Let's get started by having you share a little bit about yourself and how you found your way to Clear Creek ISD.
00;01;02;09 - 00;01;25;14
Speaker 3
Allrighty Great question. I guess I'll start all the way back in 2005, if that's okay. Surprisingly, November made my 17th anniversary series with the district. Awesome. A couple of years ago, I called H.R. and I was like, Hey, I haven't got my pin. And they were like, Well, you don't get it till the 20th year. So I'm like, Okay, fine.
00;01;25;14 - 00;01;51;06
Speaker 3
I guess I'll hang in there for a few more years. I want my pin. I'm so glad you did. Thank you. Not that that's the reason why. But, you know, those extra perks do make it easier for I have all of my old pins so I want to add another one to my belt. But to give you a little bit about me, I do alternative academics for the elementary sector.
00;01;51;13 - 00;02;03;16
Speaker 3
It's myself and and a partner. And we love it. I love it. I've been doing special education for the entire 17 years, and every day is a new adventure for sure.
00;02;04;05 - 00;02;20;08
Speaker 1
So you said you've been with Clear Creek ISD for 17 years. You've held a wide variety of roles in CCISD worked at multiple campuses. So tell us about the journey through CCISD So starting when you began in transportation?
00;02;20;11 - 00;02;40;02
Speaker 3
Yeah. Yes. So back in 2005, I had a uncle who worked in transportation and I wanted so badly to get into education that I begged him and begged him. And I was like, Hey, I really want to get my foot in the door. Show me what to do. And he was like, Well, why don't you come apply here?
00;02;40;15 - 00;03;05;07
Speaker 3
And I was like, Well, I can't drive a bus, but okay, I'll apply. And so they had a transportation aide position and I was like, Well, that'll get my foot in the door. Sure. I accepted that position and wow, it literally changed my life. I didn't realize the impact of greeting people with a smile until I got that position.
00;03;05;25 - 00;03;32;04
Speaker 3
Seeing the kids each and every day, just their emotions change when they saw me, every day was an absolute highlight. So I wanted to get out there and just see how else I can inspire kids. So as we went from school to school each day, you know, picking up and dropping off students, there was a an employee at the school and she was like, hey, have you ever considered doing something in the school?
00;03;32;04 - 00;03;55;18
Speaker 3
And I was like, Absolutely. That's what I want to do. And so she was like, Well, we have a lunchroom monitor position. Would you like to give that a try? So sure, I did it, and I did that at Green Elementary under the marvelous Stephanie McBride. And while I was there, I saw some of the alternative academics, classrooms and different things like that.
00;03;55;18 - 00;04;24;13
Speaker 3
And so, of course, Stephanie McBride was like, Hey, have you considered doing something maybe in the classroom, like subbing or maybe a paraprofessional? And I had never heard the word paraprofessional before, so I was like, okay, sure, I'll give it a try. And so she really kind of started me on the journey of being in the classroom. So I became a paraprofessional in alternative academics at Stewart Elementary under Dr. Moses.
00;04;24;24 - 00;04;26;07
Speaker 2
So I got to see.
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Speaker 3
Also Dr. Moses. And then from there, of course, I talked to Dr. Moses, and I was like, Hey, I'm ready to do something else. I want to move even further. So after that, I got certified. Well, I was getting ready to get certified as a teacher, but I just became a sub in the meantime. So I did. I became a long term sub, then got certified and I taught alternative academics.
00;04;53;01 - 00;05;03;23
Speaker 3
From there I got to kind of get my feet wet in some other programs and I was like, You know what? Special education is just my jam. You know, I got to be a part of this every single day.
00;05;03;27 - 00;05;04;14
Speaker 2
So awesome.
00;05;04;19 - 00;05;25;04
Speaker 3
For me, it was like creating miracles every day. And, you know, it wasn't so much the academic progress that I was seeking, but I was like, You know what? These are a future citizens. And as I could see them become more and more independent and things like that, I was like, Oh, I want to be a part of this miracle every day.
00;05;25;05 - 00;05;45;23
Speaker 3
And that just kind of became my my juice. I just kept craving more and more of that. I had to continue to be a part of that. And so then I became a team leader and then an instructional specialist. So I pride myself on working just about every position in the district. So I'm like, okay, what's next?
00;05;47;00 - 00;06;18;21
Speaker 2
I love that you're your enthusiasm, your journey through your career so far and made so much a difference. I love that you said that you're creating miracles because any of our Clear Creek ISD family members that are working in any capacity, especially those working with their special needs students, are creating miracles every day. So as you think about those miracles that you're creating in the work that you do for students here in Clear Creek, ISD, what's your favorite part about working here in this school district?
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Speaker 3
I love that question. My favorite part about being in CCISD is allowing the students all the different ways to learn. And just being that, I would say just the person that's steering them towards wanting to learn more. I love that in our district we not just teach students to learn, but we teach them how to get it. You know, I recall when I was a kid, I would always ask my parents questions and they'd be like, Oh, go look it up.
00;06;49;26 - 00;07;07;11
Speaker 3
Because I was that kid that had every encyclopedia, every dictionary and all of that. And I was like, Yeah, I have those tools, but I want you to answer it for me. And that's one of the things that we do in CCISD is as teachers and instructors, we have the answers, but we don't give it to them. We teach them how to go get it themselves in.
00;07;07;18 - 00;07;39;17
Speaker 3
And that's a big piece that I absolutely love about this district. We have so many facets out there that students can use to just go out and learn. Like we have STEM programs and way programs in and even through special education. There's so many different programs that are outlets for students to to crave learning. And that's huge for me because as a teacher, it's not so important for me to teach them, but to teach them to to do things for themselves, to find the answers for themselves, get them excited about learning.
00;07;39;27 - 00;08;01;03
Speaker 1
It's so amazing and it's been so exciting for me to be a small part of your journey, but to see you grow throughout. And you just talked about some of the things that make Clear Creek ISD special for our students and still programs and other opportunities. But when you think about yourself as an employee, what makes our district so special for you?
00;08;02;05 - 00;08;23;21
Speaker 3
I love the collaborative culture. Over the 17 years that I've been here, I have yet to come across an administrator, a teacher, a janitor. Anybody who's unwilling to, hey, can I run this by you or Hey, do you mind sharing that PowerPoint? Do you mind sharing this with me? Or, you know, hey, when I had my evaluation, I didn't quite get the score I wanted.
00;08;23;21 - 00;08;42;20
Speaker 3
Can I run the next idea by you? I've never come across anyone who wasn't willing to, you know, let me run ideas by them or even just let me be at the table. I mean, that for me has been the most empowering thing, you know, and that's huge. As a teacher, you know, you you don't want to feel like a member.
00;08;42;20 - 00;08;47;07
Speaker 3
You want to feel like a person. And that's one thing that Clear Creek has opened the door for me, and I love that.
00;08;47;14 - 00;09;06;06
Speaker 1
I think that collaborative spirit is probably a lot of why you have done what you've done here. Those people have invested in you and clearly we've seen you go from transportation, working busses with students all the way up now to leading teachers. CCISD truly is a special place.
00;09;07;14 - 00;09;17;24
Speaker 2
So, Dr. Moses, thank you for bringing up that. Why, that's the question that I have for you, Angela. What's your why and why are you here and why do you stay here in Clear Creek ISD
00;09;18;04 - 00;09;37;03
Speaker 3
Yes, my why is the however many thousands of students that are here in CCISDevery day I get up thinking the kids need me to be here. They need me to be here. They need me to be present. They need me to be active, attentive. They need me to be reflective. They need me to be all those things.
00;09;37;03 - 00;09;55;27
Speaker 3
And that's my why I get up, you know, each and every day thinking, you know, well, maybe there are some student that, you know, woke up without hot water or I woke up without electricity or something like that. And I can be the sunshine for their day. And that's my why I want to be here. I want to be present again.
00;09;55;27 - 00;10;14;01
Speaker 3
Just going back to that miracle. I want to be that miracle every day, you know, growing up, people always ask, you know, as you get older, they're like, well, who's your favorite teacher? There's a reason why people always reflect back on teacher. They don't ask you, Oh, who's your favorite boss? Or Who's your favorite best friend or your favorite cousin?
00;10;14;01 - 00;10;36;09
Speaker 3
They say, Who's your favorite teacher? Because that's the person that literally sets you on your journey for being a citizen, a thriving, productive citizen. They teach you how to get a job, be a part of that job, be a part of the community and all of those things. So that's my why. The students need me to be right where I am right now.
00;10;36;14 - 00;10;43;20
Speaker 2
Love that. I love your why. Okay, I'll put you on the spot here. Okay. So who's one of your favorite teachers that you had as a student?
00;10;44;21 - 00;11;08;19
Speaker 3
I love that question. Yes, I had a second grade teacher, and every time someone asked me that question, I always referred to her. She was also our neighbor. So that made it kind of weird, but it made it kind of awesome, too, you know, because I could see her outside of the school building and she would always invite me to babysit her dog.
00;11;09;11 - 00;11;30;07
Speaker 3
And she had a schnauzer. So seeing that she was a human just like me, I made her made me want to do more things for her in the classroom. It made me want to be closer to her and all of those good things. And she never once turned my closeness away. She always embraced me. She always accepted me.
00;11;30;07 - 00;11;53;18
Speaker 3
No matter what answer I gave her, it was, Oh, good job, good thinking, you know, different things like that. She never discouraged me. And she also had a lot of fun every single year for Green Eggs and Ham. She would get the local donut shop to make Green Donuts. So she was my reason for wanting to make learning fun.
00;11;54;00 - 00;12;14;13
Speaker 3
So even when I was in the classroom, I would try to think of really cool, creative ways like that to get the kids excited about the next unit or are something like that. And even as an instructional specialist, my team is going to laugh, but I do the same thing with them. Like I go get donuts and tips, treats and and different things to get them excited about what they're doing because I'm so excited about it.
00;12;14;13 - 00;12;20;15
Speaker 3
And she kind of really started just lit a fire under me about what teaching should look like.
00;12;20;25 - 00;12;27;20
Speaker 2
I'm using your words here when I say that. It sounds like she was saying part of the sunshine in your life as a young person.
00;12;27;26 - 00;12;28;27
Speaker 3
Absolutely.
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Speaker 2
Thank you for sharing that.
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Speaker 1
And I was actually thinking about what an inspiration she was, because clearly that's many years ago.
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Speaker 3
Yeah, but.
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Speaker 1
I can see how it's really affected the work that you're doing today. So when you think about your job now and the role that you have, what inspires you?
00;12;47;02 - 00;13;22;07
Speaker 3
Oh gosh, look nice. The list is so long on the things that inspire me, but I would say the biggest thing that inspires me. Oh gosh. Oh goodness. I would say, oh, the students inspire me. The teachers inspire me, especially those that are coming like right out of college. They're so excited. And they have all of these, you know, really creative ideas and they just come in the door just bursting with energy.
00;13;22;07 - 00;13;46;03
Speaker 3
And and I want to keep that momentum going for them, you know, and the same for the students. They come in the door the first day of school with this excitement and momentum. And I want to keep that momentum going. You know, not only just for them, but for me, too, you know, especially getting close to Christmas, I kind of make sure I'm, you know, excited and I'm motivated, too.
00;13;47;04 - 00;14;01;02
Speaker 3
So I would say that that's probably the piece that inspires me the most assistance, you know, knowing the potential of where the kiddos can get to if I keep them excited and keep them motivated and keep pushing them and and all of that good stuff.
00;14;01;08 - 00;14;16;10
Speaker 1
When I hear you say that, I hear such that you have a heart and have a heart for people here in Clear Creek ISD, which includes our students, their families, the teachers that you work with and the other team members in your department. So.
00;14;16;26 - 00;14;35;21
Speaker 2
So just such a good reminder for all of us about the reason that we're here. There's a lot of factors that we think about and why we love working in Clear Creek ISD But the inspiration that the students provide for us in our work every day, we're very fortunate to be a part and working with students, particularly fortunate to work here in Clear Creek ISD.
00;14;35;21 - 00;14;37;01
Speaker 3
So absolutely.
00;14;37;01 - 00;14;59;21
Speaker 2
You know, Dr. Moses and I have been visiting a lot of campuses lately and some of this week. Even so, we're in that fun pocket of time between Thanksgiving and winter break. And I was really surprised these last couple of days shout out to Goforth and Stewart we just visited them and really amazed at just a statement that the teachers had an enthusiasm.
00;14;59;21 - 00;15;16;18
Speaker 2
No one looked all that tired. Yeah, I know. I know. As a former teacher and working on a campus myself, I know that it can be kind of exhausting, especially as we approach the holidays. What advice do you have for others who might need a little extra motivation today?
00;15;16;18 - 00;15;43;28
Speaker 3
Oh goodness. I would tell them, be present, be present. Just like we're tired. The kids are tired, the parents are tired. Everybody's tired So just be present and remember, you know, the student who is going home, you know, to the holidays, to a different kind of house, that may be what we're going home to. So give them something to remember, you know, something to hold on to as they're, you know, sitting at home for Christmas and maybe not getting what they wanted for Christmas.
00;15;43;28 - 00;16;01;14
Speaker 3
But, you know, they've got love, they've got support, they've got all that good stuff, at least, you know, from the school for sure, you know, so hang in there, be present time is counting down. So I would say just be present. Be present for those kiddos.
00;16;01;14 - 00;16;18;03
Speaker 2
That's a good point. And just just a reminder for all of us as educators of the opportunity that we have to be that leader, we use your wording again to be the sunshine or the sunshine for that student. The opportunity that we have during the holidays to make it the very best for them when they might not otherwise have it.
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Speaker 2
Thank you for it. Thank you for sharing that.
00;16;20;07 - 00;16;30;03
Speaker 1
Such a good reminder. So, Angela, you've said a lot of goals in your life and you have been obtaining them. Right. If one right after the other. Yes.
00;16;30;03 - 00;16;31;29
Speaker 2
You quickly I might very.
00;16;31;29 - 00;17;00;24
Speaker 1
Quickly preface this. So after being a parent, you earned your bachelor's degree. Then soon after your master's, you're working on your time where you did under it. Yes. So exciting. Exciting for you. And so clearly you're very passionate. You're dedicated about what you're doing. You're dedicated to being a continued learner. You're here for students. You're present. You talked about earlier that 20 year pin.
00;17;00;26 - 00;17;17;12
Speaker 1
Yeah. And so you're at year 17. Yes. So I'm going to ask you, what is it about Claire Creek ISD that keeps you coming back year after year? So we're 17. You have a goal? Yes, you did. You did a lot of goals. But that 20 year peonage in your future. Absolutely. What keeps you coming back?
00;17;17;18 - 00;17;47;28
Speaker 3
A lot of things keep me coming back. One of the really awesome things that we have here and Clear Creek is called API Day and that's adaptive physical education day where all of this special education kids get to come together for a field day and it is the most amazing day of the year. And every year I go and I see students that I had when they were little and they're like getting ready to graduate and and they come up to me and they still remember me.
00;17;48;05 - 00;18;16;25
Speaker 3
Even the parents get to go to that particular day, and the parents will run up to me and be like they just miss days, you know, all of that. And I'm like, Oh my gosh, maybe I'm that favorite teacher, you know, hour or something like that. And, and that's that keeps me here. I love the idea that, you know, over the 17 years that I've got to touch so many lives, I've got support, so many students, so many families.
00;18;17;11 - 00;18;42;06
Speaker 3
I've been an advocate for that kiddo for so many years, and there's so many more kids that I could be an advocate for, you know? And so that's why I'm here. I'm here because, you know, I want to help those kids. I want to help them achieve that potential. I want them to see that there's so much out there and I can help them get there, you know, just like that wish and want for learning.
00;18;42;10 - 00;18;52;25
Speaker 3
I want them to crave everything that life has to offer and I want to be a part of that. So that this year I was like, That's just a little extra. I did.
00;18;53;12 - 00;18;53;25
Speaker 2
You know, where.
00;18;54;05 - 00;18;55;20
Speaker 3
Trying to get and.
00;18;55;27 - 00;18;56;08
Speaker 2
I'm.
00;18;56;09 - 00;18;57;13
Speaker 3
Sure you put that on my.
00;18;57;13 - 00;19;06;20
Speaker 2
Badge. You you touched so many lives today and you touched so many more lives when you even knew when you passed that 20 year mark. Yeah.
00;19;06;25 - 00;19;32;19
Speaker 3
You're yes I love that that the district promotes learning not just for the kids, but for us as well, you know, and being that going back to it. Dr. Moses said that thirst for knowledge, Clear Creek facilitates that. They totally support promote that any professional development that I've gone to a boss or you know that manager trainer about they've always been like, yes, go.
00;19;32;27 - 00;19;53;08
Speaker 3
I've never been told, no, don't go. No matter how much is cause they've been like absolutely. You want to go? I'm sure you want to ride it. Professional development. Absolutely. You know, I've never been told no. And that same thirst for knowledge that Claire Creek is giving to me, I want to keep passing it on. I love that part about Clear Creek.
00;19;53;14 - 00;19;56;05
Speaker 3
Just it's not just learning for the kids, but it's it's for us.
00;19;56;05 - 00;19;56;14
Speaker 1
To.
00;19;56;21 - 00;20;02;22
Speaker 2
Absolutely clear. Creek ISD is committed to our learning as well as the learning of our students.
00;20;04;19 - 00;20;29;01
Speaker 1
Angela, it's been such a pleasure to speak with you today. Thank you so much for sharing your heart, your story. It just it means so much. And I'm glad that our listeners were able to learn more about you today and learning why you chose to stay here and CCISD your time here solidifies the opportunities that we have right here in Clear Creek.
00;20;29;01 - 00;20;29;23
Speaker 1
ISD
00;20;31;05 - 00;20;53;26
Speaker 2
You know, Britani, you're so right. There's so many opportunities within Clear Creek ISD if you're listening today and have an interest in expanding your capacity here, it's our hope that you've connected with Angela's very inspirational story and that you seek ways on your campuses to tell our departments to take advantage of our professional learning opportunities that are available right here in Clear Creek ISD Guys.
00;20;53;26 - 00;21;21;17
Speaker 1
That's right. So Angela, I was thinking about all the different places that you've been here in Clear Creek ISD You've, you've worked in several elementary campuses. So let's give a shout out to Greene. Yeah, yeah. Hall. Robinson. Bay. Yeah. Armand Bayou and now you get to work with everybody is there I'm.
00;21;21;17 - 00;21;30;11
Speaker 3
Across so yeah the math built family every year and so I go back it's like a little family reunion. I love it.
00;21;30;19 - 00;21;47;12
Speaker 1
Absolutely. Well, we're happy to shout out to all of those campuses who've been an important part of your journey and that concludes our talk together today. So stay tuned for more of why I stay interviews from Clear Creek, ISD Thank you all for listening.