Brooke Flowers is an Academic Enrichment Specialist II at Ginnings Elementary in Denton, TX. Brooke works with 3rd and 4th graders in the 21st Century Community Learning Center after school program. She has been with us since October 2011 and has done an amazing job with the kids. Her class has come a long way from the beginning of the year. She rarely has behavior issues and her students give her the respect and attention she deserves. Every time I pop into their room the students are always on task. During homework time the room is silent and every student is on task. When they are working on MindWorks activities, each student is engaged and actively participating in the academic enrichment activity that day. Ms. Brooke's class has earned the privilege on a few occasions of picking their enrichment activity first for the day because of their amazing behavior, following directions, and staying on task. Ms. Brooke has worked very hard with her class to get to where they are now; she has gained the respect and trust of all of her students, and it truly shows.

Recently we had a parent event where the students presented what they had learned during their MindWorks activity that week. MindWorks is the academic curriculum we use in 21st Century, and every six weeks we have a new place to learn about. All of the students had been studying Australia and each class would present to the other students and parents what they learned that week. Ms. Brooke's class seemed very excited all week to get on stage and show us what they had learned. When it came time for her class to present, they quietly lined up and made their way to the stage. After everyone was in place and they had the attention of the audience, they began. It truly was the one presentation that stood out to me. They were so prepared and had great stage presence. Ms. Brooke spent a lot of their free time that week preparing for the parent event and it definitely showed. Her students were mature and respectful when they were in the audience and when they were on stage. Each student was able to answer a question or tell us something they learned that week. They even went above and beyond my expectations and created a song and dance about cuttlefish, which was an animal they learned about that week. I am so proud of the 3rd and 4th graders in Ms. Brooke's class. They showed all the other students how important it is to be prepared for a presentation and the appropriate way to act when they are in the audience and on stage.

Ms. Brooke has made a huge impact on these students. She is not only there to help them with their homework, but she is also preparing them for their future in school and in the real world. She has reiterated to the students how important manners are and I always hear her students saying "yes ma'am," "please," and "thank you." I have also seen her students holding the doors for one another and offering to help each other on their homework and other assignments. She truly has taught them the meaning of teamwork and it's wonderful to see them helping one another. Ms. Brooke is a strong person and an asset to the 21st Century program.

In addition to helping with Holiday Assistance, Emma has been mentoring several kindergarten students. One particular student she mentors really needed additional academic help. The school was concerned about her performance socially and academically.

After working with the student, Emma and I both noticed that she had challenges, both physically and mentally. The student did not communicate with Emma, even in her native language of Chin, and hardly communicated with other students in the class. After 2 months of school she barely started saying "hi" and "bye" to her teacher.

Emma continued to work with her even though the student did not speak to her. After three meetings with the student, I asked Emma if she could go on a home visit with me so we could meet the parents and find out more about the student's background. After two home visits, we were finally successful in getting the parents to agree to allow me to set up a doctor's appointment to have her examined for her mental and physical abilities. The family did not want to acknowledge that their child had something wrong with her and Emma and I worked together to help the family understand that she needed to be seen by a doctor.

Emma agreed to go to the doctor's appointment with the family and myself so she could translate. She was very excited that the family finally agreed to take their daughter to the doctors and did not want to miss this great opportunity to get the child help. Emma did a great job communicating with the family and helping them understand the doctor's preliminary diagnosis of their child. The child was diagnosed with MR and a referral was made to have a neurologist examine her for further testing and diagnostics. The doctor also referred the student to Scottish Rite Hospital so she could get shoes fitted that will be made especially for her leg problem.

After we left the appointment, Emma informed me she would love to attend the other appointments because she is so glad to see that the student is getting the help she needs and knows this will positively affect the student. With her assistance, I was able to communicate the importance of their daughter seeing a doctor and how their daughter will be affected by the outcomes. Also, because of the doctor's referral, the school is able to have the diagnostician evaluate her for Special Education placement. The outcomes of this situation have really excited everyone including Emma.

After three months, the student is actually saying "hi" and "bye" and holding Emma's hand. She even played a board game with Emma, which is a huge improvement. Without Emma's translation assistance and her going the extra mile, we would not have been able to get this student the help she needed as quickly as we were able to. She has been such an angel in helping me help this student and her family. I'm truly grateful to have volunteers like Emma Thlaui at Hedrick Elementary!