Below is a letter that I wrote to the superintendent of Humble ISD and the board of trustees as well as our principle here at AHS several months ago. Following this letter I conversed with Guy Sconzo, Dan Huberty, and attended the rally in austin.
Hello All,
My name is Karly Lewison, and I am a junior at Atascocita High. I am a National Honor Society officer, and I play varsity tennis. At the end of every day, I look forward to a productive and enjoyable practice. Now I have left practices before in tears from losing matches, or from physical pain. But today I left our team meeting in tears for a reason that I had never before encountered.
As my team and I all settled down in our conference room, the head coach, Ruben Canales, explained to us that our assistant coach, Taylor McClain was not there because he was in a meeting with the school board regarding the budget cut his employment at AHS for next year. Immediately the room felt uneasy and heavy and I felt the need to express to you all, exactly why this situation brought upon such overwhelming feelings for all of us.
The tennis team took a huge hit at the beginning of the school year when our previous assistant coach, Tim Hurlbert, told us that he would no longer be coaching. We were losing a great coach and we knew this. I personally resented our replacement coach, before I even knew him. I felt like no one could replace Hurlbert, and I wouldn't allow myself to like the new guy. But I was soon proven wrong. I have never felt before that a teacher or coach was so personally invested in my well-being, and I speak on behalf of my whole team.
Coach McClain is so much more than just a tennis coach. He takes the time to learn my strengths and weaknesses as a tennis player, and as a person. He has stayed after our after-school-practices multiple times to practice with me and other teammates, even when I'm sure that he's exhausted from a long day's work. When playing a match and I feel like I've already lost, McClain is the one on the sidelines cheering me on and encouraging me, giving me the push I need to keep going. He bakes us cakes and brings us donuts, just because(and always makes us run it off afterwards!). McClain has given me advice with social issues, and calmed me down when school became overwhelming. He helps me to deal with the stress that consumes my junior year. Coach McClain gives me books to take home and read, we discuss politics, education, movies, and music. We share an interest in writing, and he suggests pieces for me to find, and also encourages me to send him my own work to give me critiques and guidance. I have endowed the trust in him to discuss my hopes for college and a career. When I come to the tennis office every day, I feel like it is one of few places that I can lay my burdens down and express myself, because he is always there to listen to me. Coach McClain is so unbelievably caring, selfless and wise. He is fun, but disciplinary and holds so much of our respect.
Before McClain came to AHS, he was a golf pro. He told me that he has always wanted to be an english teacher, and it wasn't until now that he has decided to pursue that. He didn't come here in search of an easy salary and summers off. He came to AHS because he loves to teach. He tells me every day how much he loves his job. It should be our honor to have teachers like him! Coach McClain's students walk by the tennis courts every day, and yell out "Hey Mr. McClain!" and I see the big smile on his face as he waves back at them. As a student, I care about my time and my learning. There are countless teachers here in Humble ISD who I feel have little credibility, terrible teaching styles, and some who don't even know my name by the 5th six weeks marking period, but yet are guaranteed a job next year. So presumably, you can detect why this hit home for me. Teachers who love their job make better teachers and I urge you to take it from a student's perspective.
So I ask you, how can you expect your students at Atascocita High School to "learn for life through Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships" if we don't have proper guidance? Especially if our administration is willing to cut one of the most qualified teachers in our school, because it is their first year here and I assume this applies to several others as well. Hopefully you will reconsider your decisions, I would be more than happy to meet with you all personally and I know the same applies for many of my teammates and our parents. I've always believed that is it best to lead by example, and that's how students are successfully impacted, by having someone to look up to. I definitely look up to Taylor McClain. Not even a budget cut can take away the experiences we have shared as a team this year, and hopefully it won't take away the best thing this team has had, Coach McClain.
"My goal is not to turn you all into great tennis players, it's to turn you into great people." -Taylor McClain
Thank you so much for your time and consideration,
Karly Lewison
