DALLAS — When you walk into a classroom at Jimmie Tyler Brashear Elementary, the learning is obvious. With a double take, you can see the relationships building. “Brashear is a school that is filled with love. Often people say that they can feel that love when they enter into the building,” said Dr. Stephanie Smith, Brashear Elementary Kindergarten Teacher.
Dr. Smith has felt that love for the past 30 years as Brashear Elementary is a Dallas ISD legacy school. They offer tradition and innovation for generations of families. “I'm teaching some of my former students from the old year. I'm teaching their children, or those who have been here before are even now working along with me,” said Dr. Smith.
“I think it’s probably the culture,” said Kimberly McClendon, Brashear Math and Science Teacher. She has taught at the school for 19 years.
“When students feel the belonging, they want, hey, I can't wait to get us to come to school,” said McClendon.
That is the case for the Valladares brothers. The four brothers are in their second day of 5th grade, 4th grade, 1st grade and kindergarten at the school. “I like to be like in a family,” said Eldwin Valladares.
“I wanted to go to school really bad. Yeah, because it was boring at home and then I love math,” said Angel Valladares.
Like many families, Brashear prides itself on being welcoming. They even let WFAA inside to take over students’ lunch. The WFAA family brought in DJ LC to provide the music. Talent such as Main Anchor Chris Lawrence and Investigative Reporter Morgan Young spoke with students about their goals for the year. It was the station’s way of helping students adjust to the first week of school and keep the excitement going.
“We know this is just a second day of school. We just got started but getting them motivated and setting their goals in order to make them achieve,” said McClendon.
“Families know that when they bring their children here, that they're going to be nurtured,” said Dr. Smith. “They know we are now their family, and we have bonded.”
WFAA also took over lunch at Frisco ISD and Plano ISD this week.
