A good leader has a way of making the people around them feel special. Canyon Ridge Elementary School principal Nicole Reich is one of those leaders. A parent in her orbit recently shared a Staff Shout Out recognizing Reich’s ability to make everyone on campus feel like they belong.

“Mrs. Reich is an amazing principal! She is so great with all the students, staff, parents and the PTA. She is so accommodating and encouraging to all! Her smile and joy are infectious. I love working with her as a PTA member and parent. She is so natural with the students and makes each of them feel special. She works hard every day and with a smile and joy in her work that can be felt by all.”

October is National Principals’ Month! It is a time to celebrate the administrators who work tirelessly to run our schools and support our students, staff and families. 

If you want to thank your principal, we’ve made it easy. Give them a Staff Shout Out, and they will be notified how much they mean to you.

Teachers live for those “lightbulb moments” when students finally grasp a concept they’ve been working on. 

One of those lightbulb moments recently happened in Denise Alvarado’s fifth-grade classroom at Longs Creek Elementary School. And it was a lightbulb moment the student’s parents were very thankful to see.

So, they sent Mrs. Alvarado a Staff Shout Out to make sure she knew just how big of a deal this was to them and their daughter.

“I just wanted to take a second to pass along a HUGE THANK YOU! Our daughter has always struggled in math (and thus not liked the subject), and this year, I feel like she is really making connections and starting to understand the concepts being taught. She shared with me that she loves your class because you allow them to come to your table if they get stuck or need help. This is huge for her and building her math self-esteem. Knowing she can go to you for reassurance or guidance is HUGE for her. So, thank you, thank you, thank you for helping her find her math path! You are AMAZING and so very appreciated. KUDOS!!! I can’t wait to see how she will flourish this year with your guidance.”

Has an NEISD made an impact on you or your student? Let them know.

You can send any NEISD educator a Staff Shout Out at neisd.net/shoutouts.

It takes a village to care for our community. As a family specialist, Melissa Castillo-Cerda is leading the way in the Legacy of Educational Excellence (LEE) High School community. 

Melissa leads by example. In her role, she takes charge of organizing food bank drives, volunteering at the PTSA Clothes Closet and doing anything she can to help support the students, staff and families in the LEE community. 

Her hard work and dedication earned her the following Staff Shout Out: 

“Melissa Castillo-Cerda is LEE High School's outstanding Family Specialist. In the short time that I've known her, I've seen her ever present smile and outgoing nature at LEE's after-school activities, weekend school events and even volunteering at the NEISD Clothes Closet, giving her time and talents to all of the NEISD community. She is a light-force on the LEE campus and the LEE Cluster. The families and students at LEE are fortunate to have her as a resource and champion. Thank you, Melissa, for everything you do for our community. NEISD is lucky to have you on our team.” 

Way to go, Melissa! 

A little kindness goes a long way. Visit neisd.net/shoutouts to let an NEISD educator or staff member know how much they mean to you!