Summit Celebration: Houston Extra Yard for Teachers Summit was the best one yet
By Reeves Eddins
On Saturday, January 6, over 1,400 Houston-area teachers flocked to Wortham Theatre Center in Downtown Houston for the College Football Playoff Foundation’s annual Extra Yard for Teachers Summit. Thousands of teachers from across the country virtually enjoyed the sold-out program centered around the Houston Loves Teachers campaign, as high-energy speakers who recognize the hard work of those working with kids in PK-12 schools shared inspirational words of wisdom and affirmation.
Upon arrival, teachers joined the single-file, check-in line of the country’s finest educators stretched across the plaza. Luckily, the Milby High School Marching Thunder Band was suited up and ready to supply a wide-array of its finest melodies to keep all entertained. Once seated, the entertainment spotlight remained on Milby High School students, as its Cadets performed a 15-minute rendition on stage in the jam-packed theater. If the summit agenda had not been widely circulated, they could easily have been mistaken for the Rangerettes.
The program began with a donation announcement of 500 devices to the students and families of Milby High School on behalf of AT&T and Compudopt. Soon after, Houston Sports Authority VP Chris Massey, Good Reason Houston CEO Cary Wright, and Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3 practitioner Tom Ramsey welcomed all in attendance and thanked them for their selfless commitments and servitude. Slam poet and emcee Joaquín Zihuatanejo then took the reins of the event and kicked off the heartwarming afternoon of motivation.
Ramsey reminded the crowd that, "There's not a player in Washington or in Michigan that didn't benefit from a great teacher growing up.”
Before the first speaker took the stage, Media Personality, Attorney and Author Rachel Lindsay surprised Bill and Nicki Hancock with the inaugural “Bill and Nicki Hancock Excellence in Teaching Award.” After a few tears by the College Football Playoff Executive Director, he quickly passed the honor to his wife, a former teacher herself. The “Excellence in College Counseling” award was next presented to Westbury High School College Access Coordinator Laura Dew by Reach Higher.
The more than three-hour event was filled with captivating speakers, ranging from Olympian Carl Lewis and Keynote Speaker and Author Damon West to LA Teacher of the Year Brittany Bonnaffons, and musical performances by Country Singer and Songwriter Alli Walker, DJ Riddler, and more were sprinkled throughout.
"I'm always looking for ways to enhance my classroom,” said Valerie Pauling, an 11th-grade English teacher at Ridge Point High School. “It was a lot of fun."
The uplifting program was also filled with giveaways. Hundreds of DonorsChoose gift cards were dispersed to a wide range of teachers who were in possession of lucky raffle tickets to fund classroom projects and enhancements. On top of that, five VR headsets were given away by Inspirit, a set of tickets to the CFP National Championship at NRG Stadium and the Taste of the Championship at Minute Maid Park were awarded to two of Houston’s finest teachers.
All in all, the 2024 Extra Yard for Teachers Summit provided an uplifting and unforgettable afternoon for those in Houston who are often under-appreciated and taken for granted. It reinforced Houston’s love for its teachers and reminded everybody that the CFP Foundation exists to work in conjunction with, empower, and elevate the exact people who attended the record-breaking afternoon.
“You're the true heroes of our community, and we couldn't do what we're doing right here without you,” said Vice President of Harris County Houston's Sports Authority Chris Massey to the impressive group of educators. “We're privileged to be hosting the College Football Playoff National Championship in our hometown and we’re happy you are part of it."