Ms. Erika Liesman

Howdy! My name is Erika Liesman and this is my first year as a Special Education Teacher at Redland Oaks Elementary School. I grew up in San Antonio - I attended Encino Park Elementary School, Tejeda Middle School, and Reagan High School. I am so grateful to be back among friends and family with the opportunity to help young people from my neighborhood achieve their greatest potential. My daughter, Charlie, is starting the second grade in NEISD and I couldn't be more proud to be raising my family as a part of this amazing community.

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in English. Throughout my first career in marketing, my passion for reading, writing and learning continued to develop into a deep desire to promote literacy and cultivate opportunities for creative self-expression.  After earning certifications in English Language Arts, Special Education, Core Subjects and English as a Second Language, I spent two years teaching middle school Reading and Language Arts for Hays CISD, and I found my calling in Special Education. I love being a Special Education Teacher because I get to help my students succeed on their own terms by facing challenges with curiosity and persistence. It is important to me to build strong relationships with my students and their families so we can work together to understand what helps them grow.

I strive for creative differentiation that matches each child's unique interests and needs, and aim to embed fun and authenticity into their learning experiences. I believe everyone deserves to be supported in a way that helps them identify their strengths and achieve their goals, both inside and outside the classroom. I look forward to getting to know you all, both at school and around the River City - it's great to be home!