Our campus offered students the opportunity to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions at the elementary level starting during the 2023-2024 year. Once I learned this was available, I spearheaded the organization of multiple teams on my campus to ensure our students could enhance their learning through participation in this competition. My UIL (www.uiltexas.org/) coaching duties included but were not limited to: organization of teams including auditions and application arrangement, parent communication, procuring all UIL materials and additional assignments for students on multiple teams, and arranging and leading weekly team meetings. Additionally, I was asked to organize many aspects of the district UIL competition including: creating and organizing parent and participant information, assigning duties to coaches and volunteers, Contest Director, and Awards Ceremony Emcee. Students on my UIL teams won multiple first place awards in their respective categories at the district competition. Once I transationed to the Grand Prairie campus, it was important to continue the expansion of UIL for scholars. This campus had never had students participate in UIL. The first year, I led four teams, each category earning disctict placements. During my second year at the campus, I led four more teams, and supported new coaches who started teams. We were successful in expanding UIL, again securing multiple top placements at the district level. As the campus Engagement Coordinator, I worked closely with district leaders to plan, organize, and execute multiple successful UIL competitions, two of which were hosted at my home campus. **Parents of students who participate in UIL competitions are required to sign media release forms. All photos of students are used with parent permission.**
A huge part of what made our UIL practices successful centered around team building activities and fun. Students in different grade levels and classes came together for the competition. Weekly practices were structured and rigorous, but they included brain breaks, downtime, and interactive projects based on the UIL criteria and guidelines. Our teams started practicing months after other schools in my district. We learned about the competition in December, but other campuses started practicing in September. Despite having many more months for practices, our teams took home several first place awards at the district competition. When leading competitions, one of the main components I integrate is an emphasis on teamwork and fun.
In addition to having fun while participating in team building activities, UIL team members had multiple daily and weekly assignments. To ensure competitive teams, students completed work independently and brought their check-in logs to coaches every week. We met on weekends at the library or at the school. Team members competing in different categories came together on weekends to practice performing and presentation activities so students were more confident to compete in front of strangers.