Fourth Graders Prep for STAAR Test with Prom

The girls had on their prettiest dresses, the boys were dressed to the nines, and it was all in preparation for prom.

But it wasn’t your usual high school prom.

Fourth graders at Annette Perry Elementary School attended DIVAS EXPENSIVE PROM on Friday. The event allows students to have fun before next week’s STAAR writing test while culminating what they’ve been learning throughout the year.

Teacher Brook Campbell and her students dancing at the prom.

DIVAS EXPENSIVE PROM stands for dialogue, idioms, vivid verbs, alliteration, sentence structure, million dollar words, personifications, referents, onomatopoeias, metaphors, and similes.

“It helps the kids remember what they need to include in their writing assignments,” said writing teacher Brook Campbell. “That acronym just came to me one day, and I’ve been using it ever since.”

This is the fourth year the English Language Arts department has hosted DIVAS EXPENSIVE PROM. Campbell said each year, the event gets even more extravagant.

“Our kids have been so excited for this prom. We dance, sing, eat, and review for the test in-between,” said Campbell.

As each child walked into the pink and green decorated classroom, they were in awe.

“I had no clue what to think when I first walked in. I was speechless,” said Omar Piña, fourth grader at Annette Perry.

Fourth grader Raiya Villarreal walking into prom.

Students got their prom picture taken before the inaugural karaoke and dance session began—all with the focus of providing encouragement for the upcoming test.

“I didn’t want to do a test review boot camp; I wanted the kids to relax,” said Campbell.

The fourth graders said they're not worried about taking the STAAR test next week.

“I’m very excited because I’m ready for writing. We’ve practiced all year,” said fourth grader Raiya Villarreal.

And it’s because of the practice that Campbell said she’s certain the students will ace the exam.

“They’ve learned everything they need to know. All they have to do now is show it,” said Campbell.

STAAR testing will be held on March 30, March 31, and April 1. View the District calendar for more details.

Elementary Coach Still Making Big Strides After Heart Surgery

It’s no surprise to see dozens of students running laps at Annette Perry Elementary School after school on Mondays.

When Deidra Zschiesche started Annette Perry’s running club three years ago, she didn’t know what to expect. All she knew is that she loved running, and wanted to spread that love to her elementary school students.

Deidra Zschiesche coaching her running club.

The enthusiasm certainly caught on. The club has nearly 100 students who participate every week. That’s more than 25 percent of the total school population!

The P.E. teacher had been running all of her life, so it came as a big surprise when Zschiesche had a medical episode in 2013 and discovered, on Thanksgiving Day, that she had a tumor attached to her heart.

“It was something that the doctors said I probably had since birth,” said Zschiesche. “The tumor was making my heart work very hard just to breathe.”

A month later, the coach underwent surgery to remove the cardiac tumor. After eight weeks of recovery, Zschiesche laced up her running shoes and continued doing what she loved most. The surgery was so successful that Zschiesche ran the fastest half marathon of her life about nine weeks after her surgery.

Coach Zschiesche talking about her passion for running.

“It felt great,” said Zschiesche. “It was like I had a load off my chest.”

The students in the running club were happy to have their coach back. With her motivation, many of the kids also participate in local races.

“I love her as a coach,” said Mason Foreman, fourth grader at Annette Perry. “She’s helped me through a lot of things.”

“I’ve been running since I was in kindergarten here,” said Brianna Fosnaugh, second grader. “She’s the best P.E. teacher I’ve ever had.”

Zschiesche now has a different take on life and she hopes her story will inspire others to not waste a single second of life.

“Live life to the fullest,” said Zschiesche. “Do things that make you happy because life’s too short.”

AEC Student Goes from Gangs to Student Mentor

Tiffani Miller showing off her contagious smile.

It’s no coincidence that the mascot of Mansfield ISD’s Alternative Education Center is the phoenix.

In Greek mythology, a phoenix was a bird that could be reborn or regenerated. And just like the phoenix, students at AEC are getting a second chance at life—like Tiffani Miller.

The 18 year old was initiated into a gang at the age of nine years old in Detroit, Michigan. She was involved with the gang until the age of 14 when she and her family moved to Texas to focus on her basketball career.

Miller’s transition didn’t go so smoothly, though. She started getting into fights and got transferred to AEC in September 2014. That’s when her life began to take a turn for the better.

“It provided me with a lot of focus,” said Miller. “I thought AEC was going to be a place where you’re rejected by the teachers, but they really do try to help you in the classroom and in the real world with the resources they provide.”

The 11th grader was able to tap into her people skills and help start AEC’s mentorship program. Every Wednesday, she talks to a group of girls to encourage them and remind them that they can still determine their own destiny.

“I know how hard it is when people aren’t there to push you into the right direction. I just want to show them love,” said Miller.

Miller has big plans for her future. She said she is getting basketball scholarships, and wants to enlist into the military’s police division after she graduates. After that, she plans to start her own inner-city youth program.

“For kids in similar situations, I want them to know that life happens; but it’s what you do about it that matters. It’s never too late to change—just put in the work to do it,” said Miller.