Pamela C Howard

I have been an educator and mother for 28 years. I love my job and my family. I serve as principal at Burleson Elementary School in the El Paso (TX) Independent School District (EPISD). The school has a population of more than 450 students. The student population is comprised of 97 percent Hispanic children coming from a low socio-economic background. Ten percent of the students are currently homeless and 32 percent of the students have a family member who is or has been incarcerated. Under her leadership and vision, Mrs. Howard took Burleson Elementary from “Acceptable” TEA rating to “TEA Recognized” in just one year. Before serving as principal Burleson, Mrs. Howard was principal at Frank Macias Elementary School in Clint ISD. During her tenure, the school was recognized as both a “National Distinguished School” and “TEA Exemplary School.” She has been an educator for 28 years. She has served as a principal for nine years, central office administrator for seven years and as a teacher for many years. Mrs. Howard currently serves on the EPISD District Reading Framework Council and has authored the "Rituals and Routines" portion of the District Reading Framework and co-authored the "Cultural Proficiency" portion of the District Reading Framework. She also is a member of the EPISD Superintendent’s Principals Council and District Curriculum Council. She also is a Doctoral Student at the University of Texas at El Paso---Educational Leadership Strand. A frequent speaker, Mrs. Howard has presented at the following conferences and workshops •Texas Association of Special Education Administrators--Response to Intervention--It Does Work! •TEPSA--Summer Principals Conference--Balanced Literacy for ELL and Low Socio Economic Students--It Makes a Difference •BEEMS (Bilingual Educators Emphasizing and Mastering Standards) University of Texas at El Paso •Boston Literacy Presentation on Use of Technology in the Interventions Process--When to Start? •San Diego Literacy Conference Use of Technology in the Intervention Three Tier ProcessMy interest in healthy habits is important it helps drive a paradigm shift for the studnets at my school. Heathly students have healthy minds, can study easier and learn more. Their ability to be good students will allow them to be successful in middle and high school. This success will pave the way to college or other higher education programs. Education is the way to change the cycle of poverty. I believe in healthy bodies ...healthy minds...healthy lives.