February 9-13, 2026
Brave of the Week - Jessica Helfers - February 9-13
Nomination from Mrs. Karen Jones, Roderick Elementary Educator:
"I am nominating Mrs. Helfers for her dedication to the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) plan she helped create so our teachers can be recognized. She took on a huge task, and her passion to provide our teachers this validation is huge.
It reflects her role in Community ISD's commitment to strengthen instructional excellence and support educators. With this achievement due to Mrs. Helfers' hard work and the work of others in the Curriculum & Instruction department, we are now a fully approved TIA District."
Don’t forget to nominate a Brave for next week's honors! We reveal our winner on the Community ISD Facebook page and here on our website every Thursday at 8 a.m.
Other Brags Submitted This Week
Mallory Cummings
Nominator
Maygan Wall
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Generous
Why are you nominating this person?
Mrs. Cummings goes above and beyond for teachers. She never waits until someone asks for help, before you know it, things are already taken care of. She anticipates needs, problem-solves with grace, and consistently follows through. As an incredible instructional coach, she provides thoughtful feedback, models best practices, and supports teachers in ways that build both confidence and capacity.
She truly has a heart for McClendon staff, students, and families. Her positivity is contagious, and she approaches every situation with compassion, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented mindset. Mrs. Cummings makes everyone feel valued and supported, and her dedication has a lasting impact on our entire school community. McClendon is stronger because of her leadership, commitment, and unwavering care.
Margarita Solis
Nominator
Maygan Wall
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Wise
Why are you nominating this person?
Mrs. Solis is an integral part of McClendon. She goes above and beyond for students and families, always leading with compassion, integrity, and a servant’s heart. We truly are blessed to have such an incredible administrator on our campus.
When the ice storm set things back a little with testing, she handled the situation beautifully. She remained calm, organized, and solution-focused, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Her ability to pivot quickly, communicate clearly with staff, and keep everyone encouraged made all the difference. What could have been a stressful situation felt manageable because of her steady leadership.
As an assistant principal, she is truly one of the greatest. Serving alongside her as a fellow assistant principal is both a privilege and a blessing. Her teamwork, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to McClendon inspire me daily. Our campus is stronger because of her dedication, and I am grateful to partner with such an exceptional leader.
Perla Piedra
Nominator
Maygan Wall
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Wherever she is needed speaks volumes about her character and commitment to McClendon. She leads with flexibility, grace, and a positive attitude, embracing challenges as opportunities to make a difference.
She is a remarkable teacher who truly wants to see students at McClendon thrive, academically, socially, and emotionally. Mrs. Piedra builds meaningful relationships with her students, creates a supportive and engaging classroom environment, and holds high expectations while providing the encouragement they need to succeed.
We are so fortunate to have her serve on our campus. Her dedication, teamwork, and heart for students make a lasting impact on our school community, and McClendon is better because of her commitment and care.
Other Brags Submitted This Week
Veronica Ruiz
Nominator
Maygan Wall
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Mrs. Ruiz is such a kind and caring human. She consistently leads with compassion and always puts students and families first. She is a strong advocate for all students, ensuring that every child feels seen, supported, and valued.
When she sees a need, she steps in without hesitation. Whether it’s helping a student, supporting a colleague, or assisting a family, she is always willing to go the extra mile. When information is sent out to families, she quickly translates it into Spanish and shares it so that everyone has equal access. Her commitment to clear communication and inclusion makes a tremendous difference in building trust with our families.
She is such a great teacher, and we are truly lucky to have her at McClendon. Her heart, dedication, and servant leadership positively impact our entire school community.
Hannah Freeman
Nominator
Maygan Wall
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Mrs. Freeman and Ms. Kibbe go above and beyond to meet all the needs in their classroom. From the moment students walk in each morning until the very end of the day, they create a positive, structured, and nurturing environment where everyone feels welcome and supported.
They approach each day with patience, encouragement, and unwavering dedication. Their positivity sets the tone for their classroom, and their teamwork ensures that every student receives the attention and support they need to be successful.
Their students know how much they are cared for. They feel truly loved, valued, and understood, and their individual needs; academic, social, and emotional, are consistently met. Mrs. Freeman and Ms. Kibbe make a meaningful difference in the lives of their students, and our campus is better because of their commitment and heart.
Mateo Neave
Nominator
Maygan Wall
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Mrs. Freeman and Ms. Kibbe go above and beyond to meet all the needs in their classroom. From the moment students walk in each morning until the very end of the day, they create a positive, structured, and nurturing environment where everyone feels welcome and supported.
They approach each day with patience, encouragement, and unwavering dedication. Their positivity sets the tone for their classroom, and their teamwork ensures that every student receives the attention and support they need to be successful.
Their students know how much they are cared for. They feel truly loved, valued, and understood, and their individual needs; academic, social, and emotional, are consistently met. Mrs. Freeman and Ms. Kibbe make a meaningful difference in the lives of their students, and our campus is better because of their commitment and heart.
Other Brags Submitted This Week
CISD Campus Testing Coordinators
Nominator
Margarita Solis
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Generous
Why are you nominating this person?
I would like to nominate the Campus Testing Coordinators from EVERY campus: Meagan Heath, Casey Willaby, Kendi Womack, Shannon McMahan, Brooke Cook, and Christin Brott. Even under the stress of benchmarks and state testing, you are ROCKSTARS! Does that make me one too...maybe..hehe.
Seriously though, I truly appreciate your willingness to share your creations, resources, and ideas, which have saved us a significant amount of time and supported consistency across campuses. Your collaboration and problem-solving have made a meaningful difference during a season when our lives are especially full with testing preparation, planning, and some increased stress. I know you are all just one phone call away if I ever need anything!
Y'all rock!
Ellyette Franklin
Nominator
Audrey Burns
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Generous
Why are you nominating this person?
I saw Ellyette on the playground and asked someone to come over and play with her and her friends.
Mateo Neave
Nominator
Anel Saucedo
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
When I say he is passionate with heart in coming and wanting to learn more each and everyday. Him wanting to read books do math practice I'm surprised on how much he has learned . His teachers are the best I know that because his growth .
Other Brags Submitted This Week
Luis Gonzalez
Nominator
Kristen Christensen
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Luis was defeated previously trying the jump rope. He came in today full of courage and positivity. He never gave up and did a great job putting forth all his effort towards jump roping with a positive attitude.
Evelyn Adamcik
Nominator
Peter Zacherl
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Evelyn showed bravery and initiative playing loudly and confidently, improvising for the whole class playing her xylophone. She played improved melodies on her xylophone using the pentatonic scale which inspired her class!
Saul Grimaldo
Nominator
Kristen Christensen
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
He learned a new skill yesterday and came in today and was determined to improve and had a great attitude. He did amazing.
Other Brags Submitted This Week
Zander Cragle
Nominator
Ander Dingus
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Generous
Why are you nominating this person?
He bought me food during lunch when I had no money. It was a good act of kindness.
Reagan Stewart
Nominator
Eugene Henderson
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
I am nominating this 7th grade student for Brave of the Week because they showed real courage and passion by standing up for what was right. When others were uncomfortable speaking up, they didn’t stay silent. They helped a classmate who was being treated unfairly and made sure no one felt alone.
Elaina Jones
Nominator
Harper Nalls
Which Trait was this person exhibiting?
Passionate
Why are you nominating this person?
Elaina is an amazing friend. She always strives to do her best, she never gives up, and that's what makes her an amazing person, she is kind, funny, and very brave.
She is one of the most talented people I know, she is a real triple threat. She is not afraid to speak her mind or do what she thinks is right. She really deserves this award so much, and I really hope she gets it! Go Braves!