Pictured are: TAFE Group (l-r): Cash Brown, Jessica Williams, Andrea Becerra, Jennifer Mora, Miranda Burson, Rachel Fernandez

Mount Pleasant High School Junior Andrea Becerra earned First Place in Children’s Literature Kindergarten-3rd Grade at the annual Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) Teach Tomorrow Summit at the University of Houston the first of February. She received a scholarship and qualified to compete at the National Conference at Boston University in June.

Junior Jennifer Mora competed in Teacher Created Materials where she received a blue ribbon (scoring 90 or better) and placed fifth in Lesson Plan and Delivery STEM.

Mora and Senior Miranda Burson also took the ELF test or Educational Leadership Fundamentals Test.  Mora scored well enough to receive a Silver certificate and Burson received a Bronze certificate for her efforts on the test. Burson also earned a blue ribbon (scoring 90 or better) for her efforts along with Senior Rachel Fernandez in the Bulletin Board Competition. Seniors Cash Brown and Jessica Williams competed in Job Interview

“I could not be prouder of these ladies,” said TAFE sponsor Aimee Sweeden. “This was the first time in MPHS history that we had TAFE students compete at the state level. To have one of our own advance to Nationals on our first try is fantastic.”

Since this was the first time MPHS had been to the state TAFE competition, Sweeden says they really didn’t know what to expect. But “in addition to the competition part of each event, our students faced judges who scrutinized and offered constructive feedback to them so they can improve their delivery, presentation, or skill in their event. That part will be very helpful to Andrea when she competes at Nationals.”

 

TAFE1: (l-r) Jennifer Mora and Andrea Becerra