Today@Sam Article

SHSU Alumna Named Teacher of the Year

May 8, 2020
SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti

7th-grade science teacher, Rebecca Hiatt, has been recognized by Houston Independent School District leaders with the distinguished title of “HISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.”

Since graduating from SHSU, Hiatt has spent seven years as an educator. She has served the past three years at Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk - a comprehensive health science magnet middle school located in Houston’s East End.

“Mrs. Hiatt is one of our first teachers to help us start our Baylor magnet program. She is scientific decision-making teacher and one of our coaches for beginning teachers,” Rusk principal, Jesse Herrera said.

In a surprise visit from the HISD superintendent outside her home (captured on video), Hiatt learned of the honor for the first time and received several exciting gifts including a $2,500 check.

Hiatt earned her bachelors (’10) and master’s (’12) in chemistry from SHSU. She joined the education field after her former principal offered her a job as a high school chemistry teacher.

“I decided to give it a shot and immediately fell in love with teaching and with helping to bring my love of science to others,” Hiatt said. “The best part is having students start out with skepticism because they haven’t done well or enjoyed science in the past, and then after taking my class become more attracted to science and appreciate it more.”

Hiatt says her time at SHSU and the professors she met along the way played a valuable role in helping her find her passion for teaching.

“I had an absolute blast learning from my professors. I think having such a great college experience prepared me for my career in that it made me want my students to have a positive learning experience too,” Hiatt said. “I learned so much in my time at SHSU and fell in love with learning and today I encourage my students to want the same.”

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