Brett Howard and Jasinia Frausto were recognized with state-wide awards during fall break. These awards highlight the work that these two teachers have done to support and encourage their students.
Howard was awarded the Rising Star Award through the Texas Speech and Communication Association [TSCA]. This award is for people who are newer to the organization and have exhibited leadership and coaching in communication and speech.
“Speaking and communication is my passion in life,” Howard said. “[To teach speaking] it is less teaching that prepared me for this, but my love of speech and debate.”
Public speaking is the number one fear in the world, and Howard said he recognizes this as he helps students grow in their communication skills.
“I help my student overcome that fear first, then we look at a debate topic from a perspective they are interested in,” Howard said. “We all have different perspectives, views, and reasons we believe something, and that allows kids to be more engaged with the debate topic.”
During his time at Canyon, Howard has grown the program from 15 students to 60 students, with 35-40 of them competing.
“Mr. Howard has a lot of empathy and patience that other teachers do not have,” junior Alycia Bice said. “It makes us more prone to be connected to him and try a little bit harder for him.”
Frausto was recognized with the Pathfinder Award from the Texas Association of Journalism Education [TAJE]. This award highlights teachers who have taught for less than seven years in the journalism field, and have made improvements to and helped other journalism educators.
“I was really excited to receive the news that I’d won this award,” Frasuto said. “I had some really tough competition and worked really hard, so I wasn’t sure that I would actually be recognized for the award at this time in my career. Being nominated with the others was an honor already.”
Frausto became the regional representative for TAJE in 2022. In this position, she has worked to grow journalism in the Texas Panhandle.
“When I became the regional rep it was my goal to get more people to join the organization because we had few members compared to other parts of the state,” Frausto said. “I think journalism is something that anybody can get involved in, you just have to find their talent and meet them where they are at.”
Frausto said teaching journalism in the Panhandle is different from other parts of the state. Oftentimes, you do not have another teacher to turn to when you need help with something journalism-specific.
“It’s a very challenging position to have, and sometimes you wonder if you’re doing all the right things if all the effort and the extra hours are worth it,” Frausto said. “You wonder if you’re getting through to kids, and if you’re impacting their lives, not just in the classroom, but on a bigger scale. To be recognized with some of the other great educators that have won the same award, felt good because I have people that I look up to.”
