SAN ANTONIO – The theme for the 2016-2017 academic school year for Northside Independent School District faculty and students is "Northside Strong", which doesn't mean physical strength, but strength in beliefs, character, and integrity.
Northside ISD is not only the largest school district in Bexar County, it's also one of the largest in the state of Texas. This year, it anticipates enrollment to be between 106,000-107,000 students. To keep up with the growing student body, the district has opened two new elementary schools and added 215 new faculty positions.
With each new year comes new goals and expectations, but there are some core values the district said will always remain.
"Student engagement and what we do as a system -- everybody in the system -- works to improve student engagement because we know that improves achievement,” Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods said.
"School is not what it used to be. I think, sometimes, parents think like, 'Hey, we're sitting in rows doing lessons not talking.' That's not what it is at all, especially at Northside. At Jones, we're up, we're interactive, we're using our phones, we're talking, we're having conversations,” said Amber Darden, teacher at Jones Middle School and winner of the 2016 Texas Educator of the Year award, handed out by the Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members.
Darden works with struggling students and says it's all about growing their passion for learning. Like her, many of the other teachers and faculty are pumped school is back in session.
"The first week is always an adjustment. Everyone is trying to get to know each other, but I think after that, our students find that they are very comfortable in their classroom. They are really with very caring people,” Woods said.