Who’s showing up for Houston teachers?

I’ve always believed teaching is more than a profession; it is a calling. It’s about showing up for students in ways that textbooks never could.

I know what it’s like to feel unseen in a school. I moved constantly as a child, attending a different high school every year in different countries. I was bullied and isolated, but one teacher changed everything. She handed me poetry and gave me a voice. That moment shaped my purpose: to make sure young people know they are seen, heard and valued.

That’s what I try to do every day as a high school English teacher in Alief ISD. My “why” is showing up for students. But lately I’ve been asking myself: Who’s showing up for teachers?   

Teaching today is more challenging than ever. In Houston and across the nation, teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers. We’re constantly asked to do more with less—less time, less support, less respect. We carry the weight of students, their families, and our colleagues. No matter how hard we try to leave it at the door, the emotional toll doesn’t end when the bell rings. 

This past school year was one of the hardest I’ve faced. Emotionally and mentally, I was struggling. Then I attended The Holdsworth Center’s Teacher Retreat and felt like a weight had been lifted.  

The Holdsworth retreat wasn’t about checking boxes or adding to our already overflowing plates. It was about restoration. It was about being seen, heard and treated like a professional whose work held value. From the moment I arrived, it was clear they had planned every detail with teachers in mind. The quiet, the fresh air, the time to journal and reflect. It felt unreal.

It was about so much more than relaxation. It was about healing. In one session, Dr. Adam Saenz spoke about the importance of forgiveness in our practice. That hit me hard. I realized how much school emotional baggage I’d been dragging around. That moment helped me release the hurt I had been holding onto and focus on why I do this work. 

Holdsworth gave me what so many teachers are missing: time to process, space to breathe, and a community that cares. The need for community is often overlooked for teachers, and Holdsworth held space for me and other teachers to be heard and listened to without saying anything at all. Their investment in educators isn’t just professional; it’s personal. And it’s exactly what Houston needs right now. 

Our students are facing tough situations. Stress levels are rising, and wellness is suffering. Children struggle to learn when their basic needs aren’t met, and teachers can’t be at their best when their own needs are ignored. 

Every Houstonian can be part of the solution by nominating a teacher from Feb. 20 – March 6, 2026 for the next Holdsworth Teacher Retreat in May.   

Teachers are the heart of education. Nurture them and students will flourish too.