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What started off as an ordinary day for Navarro Middle School teacher Ana Maria Steen on Tuesday morning turned into a surprise of a lifetime when Area Superintendent Geovanny Ponce interrupted class to announce Steen as the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for February.
“Why Mrs. Steen? Because she is the best,” Ponce said. “She not only puts her students’ educational needs first, but those of the entire campus, which shows in their academic achievements.”
Steen, an eighth-grade math teacher, was recognized for her track record of high math performance scores. Her students hold a 100 percent passing rate, and a 30 percent mastery increase in Math.
Steen joined Navarro Middle School in 2017, and in that short period of time she has made a lasting impression. Steen is known as a true advocate for her students and her school.
“My students drive me as a teacher,” Steen said. “I do whatever is needed to make sure they get what they need to learn, not only in the classroom but also in life.”
When Steen and her students learned she would be driving a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate, courtesy of Sterling McCall Hyundai, it was a battle on who would ride first as the students surrounded the vehicle.
Steen has become a favorite amongst leadership and her colleagues, which is why she was recently asked to become a model teacher for her campus. She is known for making herself readily available to support campus teachers and has held different leadership roles during her time at Navarro.
“We are very proud to have Ms. Steen recognized today for her relentless pursuit for student achievement inside the classroom,” said Principal Kelly L. Vaughn. “Teachers are not recognized enough, and for Sterling McCall to take an interest and do something like this for our teachers is wonderful.”
As part of the Teacher of the Month program, HISD will surprise a teacher along with a rep from Sterling McCall VIP Services. Each month, the teacher will be presented with an award, a gift basket of promotional items, a $150 gift card, and a luxury loaner vehicle.
Each of the seven HISD Area Superintendents are responsible for selecting a teacher from their region to be honored from October 2018 to May 2019. Principals who would like to nominate a teacher on their campus should contact their school support officer or area superintendent directly.