Michelle Alexander is a fourth grade teacher at Las Lomas Elementary. Many years ago Mrs. Alexander read Stephen Covey’s best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and enthusiastically implemented the habits into her own life. She states that the 7 Habits training was one of the best trainings she has attended in her 17 years in education. The activites, discussions, and videos in the 7 Habits training had her deeply reflecting on herself personally and her relationships with others. The training has re-shaped her thinking! Mrs. Alexander feels privileged to be a part of this wonderful community and to be teaching the 7 Habits using The Leader in Me program. In just the short amount of time she has been at Las Lomas, she already notices a difference among faculty, students, and parents through the use of a common language and believing every child is capable leader. Furthermore, she states how The Leader in Me is not an event; it's ever-present leadership development. She has seen how educators use an integrated approach and make leadership training part of everything they do. She is motivated to learn more aboutThe Leader in Me and create success for all children. She can be contacted at [email protected]
Sherri Bozer is a Special Education teacher at Las Lomas Elementary. She joined the faculty to be a part of the creation of the foundation of this new school. Sherri is a 7 Habits Trainer and served as Chairperson for the Las Lomas Lighthouse Team from 2012-2014. She had the opportunity to participate in a Covey Training video. She exposes her students to a higher state of learning and opportunities where she instills the belief in all of her students that they able and capable of achieving greatness. Sherri has learned that the best way to achieve success is to motivate and empower students and staff. She resides with her husband of 30 years and their dogs Halas, Peyton and Gigi. Sherri is very proud of both of her grown sons. In addition to teaching, Sherri creates jewelry and is an enthusiastic football and baseball fan. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Melody Burge is a kindergarten teacher at Las Lomas Elementary. She loves being a part of the Las Lomas family and enjoys teaching and implementing the 7 Habits. She has read the “Leader In Me” book and has attended the 7 Habits training. She uses the Leader In Me language in the classroom with her students and at home with her son. She is thrilled that the 7 Habits help the students become more responsible and respectful. She can tell a difference in the student’s behavior compared with schools that aren’t Leader In Me. She is excited to be working at a Lighthouse school and can’t wait to learn more and apply it in the classroom. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Monica Laughlin is the teacher for the Las Lomas Gifted and Talented Program and is Chair of the Las Lomas Lighthouse Team. She taught Second Grade for 8 years and loved it. In the Fall of 2007, she made a change and began teaching students in the NEISD Gifted and Talented Program. An unexpected literary moment came her way during the winter break in 2011, she read The Leader in Me by Stephen R. Covey, a gift from a friend. She was so intrigued by the wonderful ideas Dr. Covey outlined in his book. Mrs. Laughlin loved the concepts of empowering students to become leaders of their own lives and futures. Though she had not been on a Leader in Me campus prior to Las Lomas, she felt strongly about the guiding principles and was delighted to be offered the opportunity to teach the GT Program at this new elementary school. Serving on the Lighthouse Committee has been a wonderful experience full of learning and great ideas that she has been able to impart to her students. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Barbara Leas is a First Grade teacher at Las Lomas Elementary in San Antonio, Texas. This is her thirtieth year teaching and fifth year in Leader in Me. Her experience in teaching is First through Fifth Grade and High School Special Ed. She graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a B.A. in Education and Special Education certification. She is excited to be a team member of a school that earned the Lighthouse Status.
B.A. Education 1st - 8th ESL Certified Pre K - 12th Special Ed. Certified K-12th 29 years NEISD Eight years teaching ESL including Somali Bantu Refugee Newcomers’ Class ESL Facilitator for NEISD- three years Board of Advisors for Somali Bantu Refugee Youth Sports in America She can be contacted at [email protected] |
Laura Majors is a third grade teacher at Las Lomas Elementary. She feels honored to be a part of the Las Lomas family and enjoys teaching on a Leader in Me campus. She has read the Covey books and has attended the 7 Habits training. Mrs. Majors uses the main principles of The Leader in Me - both in her classroom with her students and also with her daughters and family at home. She enjoys seeing her students empowered and feels blessed to experience the positive changes with student behavior. Mrs. Majors feel that these numerous leadership opportunities provide all students with responsibility and ownership of their learning in education. Laura Majors firmly believes that this philosophy should be shared and taught to everyone to ensure a better society and a brighter future! She can be contacted at [email protected].
Anna Pina is a fifth grade teacher at Las Lomas Elementary. Though not new to district, Anna is one of the newest staff members of this Leader in Me school and is very excited to be part of a school community practicing the habits every day. After graduating from St. Mary’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Ms. Pina started her career in corporate America where she experienced every day the importance of having good work ethic and professionalism. She went through the ranks and quickly became a marketing and event manager for a local movie theater chain. Five years ago, Ms. Anna Pina felt a calling to education. She saw a need to help children develop into successful, well-rounded adults that use their individual skills and strengths to contribute to the world around them. While living in Houston, she earned her certification in early childhood-6th grade and English as a Second language. After working as a long term sub and library assistant in Tomball ISD, she moved back to San Antonio for her first teaching position at Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering. During her time there, she was a first and second grade teacher, lead teacher, campus leadership team member, robotics sponsor, and technology sponsor. During the 2013-2014 school year, Ms. Pina transitioned to her new home-NEISD. She was hired as a kindergarten teacher at Jackson Keller Elementary. Ms. Pina felt so honored to be an important component in laying the foundation for some of the community’s smallest members. It wasn’t until Ms. Anna transferred to Las Lomas Elementary to be a fifth grade teacher that she began to see her vision come full circle. Making such a huge leap from early childhood to upper elementary, she was able to see how setting up children with the tools needed to be successful at an early age is crucial to the development of accomplished individuals. Implemented and practiced regularly, the 7 Habits can lead to highly effective people, no matter how old or young they are. Although unfamiliar with the Seven Habits back then, Ms. Pina now recognizes how much practicing these habits unofficially came into play with the successes of her career. Now as a Lighthouse Committee Member in addition to being a Las Lomas Lion, she can continue to train in the seven habits and help develop these qualities in her students. She can be contacted at [email protected].