Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and there’s just a little bit of class left before everyone takes off for the holidays. In this week’s KSAT Kids’ teacher spotlight, we highlight Adrian Reyna, a teacher of nine years at Longfellow Middle School, who was recognized recently for his exceptional leadership in the educational field. Adrian Reyna, Longfellow Middle School History teacher with SAISD. (KSAT)Do you know a classroom or school that is doing amazing work and deserves to be featured in KSAT Kids? KSAT Kids Home Science: Coffee Filter TurkeysDisney on Ice is coming to the Alamodome todayWatch Moana and the whole Disney crew ice skate to your favorite Disney songs at the Alamodome Thursday through Sunday.

SAN ANTONIO – A middle school history teacher in the San Antonio Independent School District has been selected as a recipient of the 2020 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Award, a press release said. Adrian Reyna, a teacher of nine years at Longfellow Middle School, was recognized for his exceptional leadership in the educational field. “Humanities Texas is pleased to recognize the achievements of Adrian Reyna and Longfellow Middle School,” said Humanities Texas Executive Director Eric Lupfer. Each winning teacher receives $5,000 and an additional $1,000 for his or her school to purchase humanities-based instructional materials, the press release said. Reyna creates opportunities and provides encouragement for students to tell their stories and advocate for themselves,” stated Texas State Senator José Menéndez.

The San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel rallied on Monday, asking district leaders to use their flexibility by keeping campuses closed until its safe. Were going to do whats right.The San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel is asking administrators to commit to virtual-only instruction for at least the first nine weeks of school. Teachers will be providing virtual learning from their classrooms, with all the resources they need and without distractions. While teachers conduct virtual learning in their classrooms, we will offer their school-age children supervision conveniently on the parents campus, using large spaces for social distancing such as libraries. This way each students learning continues seamlessly both for the teachers students and for their own children.

SAN ANTONIO Editors note: This content was created exclusively for KSAT Explains, a new, weekly streaming show that dives deep into the biggest issues facing San Antonio and South Texas. Teachers across San Antonio are asking themselves whether returning to in-person learning is worth the risk while the spread of COVID-19 remains uncontrolled. Reyna has been a teacher with San Antonio Independent School District for 10 years. He is also the vice president of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel. According to a survey of 600 teachers, the San Antonio Alliance found that about 70% either take care of a child, an elderly person or someone that is immunocompromised.

SAN ANTONIO Educators in Bexar County want to have a say in the safety plan that districts are formulating as students return to the classroom this fall. Bexar County school districts had already announced their plans to return to a face-to-face and remote classroom setting. The SA Alliance has brought together a coalition of educators, parents and medical experts to help districts in Bexar County with the safety plan. SAISD and NEISD school districts said theyre waiting on the safety directives from the TEA to announce their back to school plan. MORE: Teacher associations in Texas say hell no to education officials plans to reopen campuses in fall