Kim Chapa

Wife. Mom. Army Veteran. SHSU Bearkat. Education Specialist. Children’s Advocate

[Damon West @damonwest7]

Being a Coffee Bean is all about changing your surroundings for the better. Don’t let someone else be the dial on your your thermostat.

Order yours TODAY!
https://t.co/HDCEtlMNZc

#BeACoffeeBean #motivation @jongordon11

[Kim Chapa @KimChapa1]

You have to read this. One positive adult relationship can make a tremendous difference in the life of a child. You may never know the impact it could make to stop and show you care, no matter how busy you are. PS, it’s true for adults too.

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

I met Albert before the school year started. I was moving some things into my office and I saw him shooting hoops by himself on our playground. He approached me and asked if I was the new assistant principal. I introduced myself and shook his hand. He then asked if I would play HORSE. I thought about the long list of things I had to get done and how far behind I was already, but I quickly decided that HORSE with a student trumped everything on that list.

While playing basketball, he asked me several questions and literally spoke for 20 minutes straight without taking a breath. He was funny, interesting, and seemed very intelligent. When we finished playing, he thanked me for spending the time with him and he walked home. I went back in the building and started to tackle the many items that were on my long list of things to do.

A few weeks later we had some back to school IEP meetings. One of them was for a student named Albert. I pulled the file so that I would be prepared for the meeting. To my surprise, this was the same Albert that I played basketball with a few weeks prior. He had a list of a dozen school suspensions, at least six DSM diagnosis listed, and was assigned to the self-contained classroom for 85% of the day. Something did not add up.

The parents did not show up for the meeting but gave permission to conduct the meeting in their absence. This was the first IEP that I had ever attended where there was not one positive word spoken about this student. Even when they asked for any strengths, nobody around the table could share any. I spoke up and said that based on my 20 minute encounter with him I felt he had several strengths: a good outside jump shot, excellent communication skills, an inquisitive nature, and a big smile. I looked around the table and everyone stared at me like I was either crazy or talking about another student.

The school year started with a bang. Albert became upset in class and ran down the hall and straight out of the building towards his home. I managed to catch-up to him before he crossed a major street and I convinced him to walk back to the school and into my office. Albert was crying and obviously frustrated. He said that everyone in the school was mean to him and that they all thought he was a bad kid. In my head, I thought that he was exactly right—certainly based on the IEP meeting participants. We had a nice talk and Albert seemed to calm down. I asked if he would like to join me outside for a game of HORSE. He gave me a strange look, but then said, “Are you sure?” I told him definitely and he enthusiastically agreed to play. Once we were outside, Albert asked if he was going to be suspended. I told him that we would forget about this one, but that if there was a next one, he would be sent home. We discussed some better choices for next time, as running out of the room and building was a real safety issue. I stressed that I wanted him to be safe, because I liked him, cared about him, and did not want anything to happen to the school’s best basketball player. He smiled at me and asked if it would be okay if he could come to my office when he got upset, instead of running out of the building. I told him that was a great idea.

We played basketball for a bit and decided that it was time to go back inside to prepare for lunch. Albert turned his head, looked me in the eyes and said that this was the nicest thing that anyone at school had ever done for him.

Albert kept to his word. There were several other times that he got upset and frustrated, but instead of running out of the building, he ran to my office, sat in a corner, and cooled off. Each time it would take a few minutes before he was ready to talk and process what happened.

Albert never got suspended that year and staff regularly shared some positives about him. Amazing what one small act of kindness can do to help a student be successful.

Join us at the “Maslow Before Bloom” Facebook group; https://t.co/015cLKjJ1m

[Brad Weinstein @WeinsteinEdu]

Important reminder! 🙌

[Inspirational Quotes @SeffSaid]

Be kind

[Texas Agriculture @TexasDeptofAg]

Even the toughest people ask for help sometimes. For free and confidential help, call the AgriStress Helpline at 833-897-2474. Find resources for stress at https://t.co/vgwukqqBcz. #agmentalhealth #seasonschangeyouremain #agstrong Texas Department of Agriculture SW Ag Center

[Amanda Puckett @amanda_puckett1]

See you in Duncanville! Let’s Go Lions! @LakeCreekHoops @Lions_6th_Man @ScottyP1972 @CodyPuckett25 @caden_puckett @bigsloan32 @RcsSports

[Kim Chapa @KimChapa1]

So proud of how far our boys have come! @lisameador93 @palmersmith_ @Thomas_Bell25 @GabeChapa2 @Lions_6th_Man @LakeCreekHoops @Tyroneballin33 @SSonderleiter @scott62094378

[Michael Timmins @mtimminshoops]

Big time ball movement by @BigBasketballA2

A staple in their program is paid off with the And 1 & The Win. #GASOARR23

[Miguel Castillo, MS Ed, BS 🍎🍊🍓 @miguelmigrant]

Leadership Tip 101: how can we reduce disciplinary issues? Make students feel they belong. The feeling of belonging is instrumental for the developing child but specially for students of color. ¡Aquí estoy con Isaac arre 🤠! #edchat #InclusionMatters #inclusion #LeadershipMatters

[Sherri Treadway @sherritreadway6]

Exited to share this with school counselors!!

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

What would happen if we looked at a student’s off-task behavior through a different lens? How would our response differ if we focused on the emotion that is driving the behavior instead of just the presenting behavior?

#MaslowBeforeBloom

#WhateverItTakesForKids

[TeacherGoals @teachergoals]

Important! 🙌
🌐 https://t.co/leSsDUnQAd

[Kim Chapa @KimChapa1]

@LisaFolker @NicholasFerroni What a lot of people don’t know is the year round school is not more days or more hours of school per year. It’s just more spread out with many 4 days weekends and week long breaks throughout all the season.

[Mike Mattos @mikemattos65]

Can you predict students—right now—who are going to need extra time and support when school starts next year? Absolutely! Planning targeted help now can provide students the supports they need from Day 1 next year. The best intervention is prevention.

[Ms. Benison- @BenisonMrs]

A teacher friend asked me if I could recommend an effective reading program for children with Down Syndrome.

I was not able to help…does any one have any suggestions?

I want to at least point her in the right direction. Thx

[Damon West @damonwest7]

You can nominate a ☕️🫘 to be featured in my newsletter! Teacher, community leader, student, business owner, I want to shout-out whoever is making a positive change using The Coffee Bean message.

Sign up & learn how you can nominate a Coffee Bean today! https://t.co/Y06xLwwOcB

[Principal Kafele @PrincipalKafele]

Countless children are living some of the most difficult, challenging lives imaginable, yet in far too many cases they are expected to walk into that classroom intrinsically motivated.