Amy Calvet will never forget the way she felt in Steven McCarthy’s third grade class at Redland Oaks Elementary School. She and her family had just moved from California. Everything was new but his class, it felt like home.
“It was things like what he did in class to help build relationships with us. We had calls and responses that were just natural. He had funny nicknames for everyone. He got to know us personally and made us feel welcome and comfortable every day. It’s what I hope to be for kids now.”
Calvet took McCarthy’s inspiration with her while attending Driscoll Middle School. When she graduated from MacArthur High School in 2006 she had her sights set on teaching at North East ISD. She’s now living that dream as an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher at Driscoll.
“I remember doing sixth grade science in these classes and it's just nostalgia. Everything feels familiar, comfortable. I see girls in class now—little momma bears—that remind me of me when I was their age. They help their friends-- always looking out. I was just like them.”
Calvet found her passion in NEISD classrooms and now that’s a big part of her day—helping current students find their passion. AVID is a college-readiness program, but it’s more than that for Calvet. She teaches students how to take notes, make agendas and research things they are interested in. Last year, middle schoolers created resumes and attended a job fair with potential employers. It helps them know what to expect when it’s really time to start looking at colleges or careers.
“It was amazing. Helping them see their potential and what they can become is great. That my ability to share my passion with kids and to teach them something new or to teach them in a way that makes them spark an interest, there's no words for how incredible that feels. It's heartwarming. And it keeps me going every day to come back to school.”
Calvet has been at Driscoll for 11 years now. In that time, she has seen her students graduate and go on to bigger and better and come back to tell her about it. She’s even had the chance to learn a little more from her third-grade teacher. McCarthy is now an Assistant Principal at Castle Hills Elementary School. At the height of the COVID Pandemic, he hosted a Zoom meeting with NEISD teachers to share with them best practices from Castle Hills. Once again, when Calvet’s world was turned upside down and full of unknowns, Mr. McCarthy was there.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was like, ‘Do you remember me? I am here now. I am right next door to where I met you.’”
As is so often the case with Calvet, it all comes back to relationships. Creating those long-lasting relationships with students is her favorite part of her job. And when you watch her interact with students in class… it looks like it’s their favorite part too.
Amy Calvet is making connections #theNEISDway
