Fourth-graders at Osborne Elementary School were in the middle of their reading inference lesson Tuesday morning when their teacher, Demetria Washington, learned from Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan she would be the district’s Sterling McCall Teacher of the Month for December.  

“She has been a phenomenal educator this year,” Principal Mikia Barnes said. “She has adapted quickly to the demands of meeting her students’ needs by engaging in after-school planning to learn the new reading standards.” 

The fourth-grade ELAR teacher is always striving to build her capacity, attending all North area trainings and learning to utilize FOCUS comprehension to close literacy gaps for her students.  

“Washington always maintains a positive disposition,” Barnes said. “She truly embraces the learning and implementation of sheltered instruction strategies to best service her growing EL population.” 

A product of HISD and the Acres Homes community, Washington attended Wesley Elementary, Black Middle School and Waltrip High School. In 2005, she began her career at Osborne, with a brief stint at Bonham Elementary School before returning to Osborne in 2017. 

As the district prepares for the upcoming Winter Break, it will be Washington who will have her biggest present in tow on Christmas Day—a 2019 Nissan Murano Platinum, courtesy of Sterling McCall Nissan.  

“I’m in complete disbelief of this honor,” Washington said. “When I saw the camera, I thought it was a classroom observation. However, after earning this recognition, I’m extremely grateful to be recognized across the district by our very own superintendent.” 

As part of the Teacher of the Month program, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan and district leaders, along with a rep from Sterling McCall VIP Services, surprise a teacher. That teacher is 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 2019 to May 2020. Principals who would like to nominate a teacher on their campus should contact their school support officer or area superintendent directly.