I co-teach middle school Math in Northside ISD in San Antonio, TX, and have a passion for diverse learners. Let’s get together and solve some problems!
It’s a *Toy* Story 🤠
You knew it! My new original song “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Disney and @Pixar’s @toystory 5 will be yours on June 5th. I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a 5 year old kid watching the first Toy Story movie. I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?
You can pre-order now exclusively at https://t.co/NoneI6kxdH and catch Toy Story 5 in theaters June 19th ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️
Just a reminder. If you have not already done so and you want your student to ride the school bus next year, please complete the registration form at https://t.co/L8i7yNSfnK
It was a Monday in early August 2023. The exhausted truck drivers of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour thought they were heading to a routine production meeting before the Los Angeles shows.
They had no idea what was coming.
Scott Swift walked in. Taylor's father didn't say much—he just began handing out envelopes. When the drivers finally peeked inside, some thought the check said $1,000. Others read $10,000. The third driver stared at his and said out loud: "This has to be a joke."
It wasn't.
$100,000.
Each driver. Nearly 50 of them. The industry standard bonus from the biggest stars? $5,000 to $10,000. Taylor had given them more than ten times that.
But here's what made it matter most: these drivers weren't wealthy. They lived in truck cabs. They hadn't seen their families in 24 weeks. They were people who would never own homes—until now. Until that envelope.
That moment of shock and tears? It was just the beginning.
Across the entire Eras Tour, Taylor quietly handed out $197 million in bonuses. The dancers. The band. The riggers. The lighting and sound technicians. The caterers. Every single person who built the show—they got bonuses, handwritten notes, and wax-sealed letters. When dancers opened theirs on camera in her docuseries, they broke down crying. Some couldn't believe she was real.
"If the tour grosses more, they get more," she explained simply. These people work hard. They deserve it.
But the crew bonuses weren't the only quiet revolution happening.
Starting in March 2023, in every city where the tour touched down, a call came to local food banks. Taylor wanted to donate. No press conference. No announcement. No photo op. One donation fed 75,000 meals. Another provided hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh produce. Across the tour, the total reached millions of meals—possibly more—all delivered in silence.
She never posted about a single one.
And it wasn't new for her.
In March 2020, when the pandemic locked down the world, Taylor scrolled through social media posts from fans who were breaking. A photographer about to lose everything. A person staring down eviction. She sent direct messages with rent money—$3,000 here, $13,000 there. Some fans got enough for months of bills. She read the Washington Post. She noticed the names. She helped.
She never announced it.
Years later, in October 2025, a two-year-old named Lilah—fighting a cancer so rare that only 58 families in America had ever known it—was filmed by her mother dancing to a Taylor Swift song. Lilah called Taylor her friend. A few days later, the GoFundMe received a $100,000 donation.
The note said: "Sending the biggest hug to my friend, Lilah! Love, Taylor."
Mike Scherkenbach has worked with the wealthiest people in music. He's seen the bonuses. He's seen the behavior. He's watched billionaires guard their money jealously.
What he saw with Taylor was different.
The biggest tour in history grossed $2 billion. The artist behind it became a billionaire from her own songwriting. And then she signed her name onto hundreds of envelopes by hand and sent enough money back to the people who built her dream that they cried opening their letters.
That isn't strategy. That isn't a publicity stunt.
That's what happens when someone, somewhere along the way, remembered what matters.
Honestly can’t think of a better way to celebrate my (almost) birthday than to relive the Eras Tour with you! This time we’re going backstage. "The End of an Era", a 6-episode behind-the-scenes docuseries, streams on @DisneyPlus beginning Dec 12 🫶
If your Social Studies Teachers had walk up songs every morning as they entered the building…@EarlRudderMS@nisdmsss
Please welcome the BEST Social Studies teachers of the 25-26 school year!
Celebrating @EarlRudderMS EOY @BrandySheltonN1 and 1st year EOY Mr Rodriguez!
Mrs Shelton is our 8th US History lead and my right hand woman! She never says no to crazy ideas and is always down for fun! I am NOT surprised you are our EOY! Way to represent! @nisdmsss We ❤️ You!!
This week was filled with nothing but smiles! Performances, surprise guest, games, and presents. We couldn't have asked for anything more. My Ranger heart is full. 💙❤️#RangersLead#lovewhatIdo
Celebrating Mr. Eddie and his 39 years of service in Northside. He started his career right here at Rudder in 1985. He worked at Zachary MS and Braun Station ES before returning to Rudder as our Head Custodian. We are thankful for his hard work and service to our community. #nisd
🧠 "Mindfulness is paying attention to the here and now with kindness and curiosity, and then choosing your behavior." - Amy Saltzman
Ideas via Amy Saltzman
Sketchnote via @kwiens62