Dear Innovators,

We are excited to launch our first Young Innovators newsletter of the year and celebrate the strong start already underway across Alief ISD!

Our August Alignment Meeting set the foundation for another successful year of Young Innovators. This year, we are adding additional layers of support for teachers, including office hours and planning sessions prior to campus walks, giving teachers more opportunities to ask questions, strengthen implementation, and receive targeted support.

Our first two rounds of campus walks have already been completed, and feedback has been shared with campuses. As we continue throughout the year, our focus remains on maintaining strong implementation while providing teachers with the support they need to bring the Young Innovators experience to life for students.

YISA continues to grow! This year, we welcomed 15 new YISA teachers to our team of 29 teachers, meaning more than half of our teachers are new to the program. Their energy, creativity, and willingness to learn have already been evident, and we are excited to continue building their capacity alongside our returning teachers.

We also reached an exciting milestone this summer by expanding YISA to include rising sixth-grade students for the first time. With another successful summer behind us, we are already looking ahead and preparing for Year 4 of the Young Innovators Summer Academy.

A special thank-you goes to our two outstanding YISA Coordinators, Ms. Adams and Ms. Pineda, whose leadership, planning, and commitment continue to move this work forward. As YISA grows, so does our opportunity to create meaningful, innovative learning experiences for Alief students.

Thank you to our teachers, coordinators, campus leaders, and everyone who continues to support Young Innovators. The program is growing, the work is getting stronger, and Year 4 is already on the horizon!

 Ms. Harris & Mr. Hare