Talya Robertson

Memorial Drive Elementary

Second-Grade Teacher/Team Leader

Education: University of Houston, Master’s in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, 2000, University of St. Thomas, Region IV Alternative Certification, 1999, Texas A&M University, Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education, 1993

Teaching History: Memorial Drive Elementary School, Second-Grade Teacher/Team Leader, 2011-Present, Woodview Elementary School, Math/Science School Improvement Specialist (4 years); Summer School Site Coordinator (1 year); and Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Teacher (2 years), 2005-2011, Panda Path School for Early Learning, Summer School Site Coordinator, 2009, Audrey Judy Bush Elementary, Alief ISD, Third-Grade Teacher (2 years); Team Leader (1 year); First-Grade Teacher (1 year), 2002-2005, Windsor Village Elementary, Houston ISD, First- and Third-Grade Teacher, 1998-2001, North Harris Community College, Houston, TX, Adjunct Faculty Member, 1996-1997

In her own words: “My students and I have fun coming up with jingles that help us with learning. For example, I’ll say ‘It’s problem-solving time,’ and one of the children will immediately respond, ‘Put your brains on the paper, and make me smile!’ This mnemonic device reminds them that I want to see all their thinking, whether correct or incorrect, with appropriate justifications.”

“I often stress to my students that we can all learn from each other and that they are my teachers as well. I encourage them to be just as respectful at home as they are at school. I remind them that building strong and healthy relationships with their family members and friends are important to their lives. I encourage them to read something every day.”

In the words of others: “Mrs. Robertson has helped my daughter who struggles with reading become a much more fluent and confident reader….I credit Mrs. Robertson’s encouragement for much of the change in my daughter’s attitude toward reading.” Jennifer Gottschalk, Parent

“One of the most outstanding things I recognize about Mrs. Robertson and her teaching is the manner in which she directs her classroom. There is a mutual respect between her and the students, and it is genuinely mutual. She not only hears her students, she listens to what they say. And in turn, they listen to her.”

Dinah Huthnance, Parent

Selected Honors, Awards & Activities:

Co-Presenter, Evernote software training, SBISD techBYTES, 2013

Teacher of the Year, Woodview Elementary, 2006-2007

Team of the Year, Audrey Bush Elementary, 2003-2004