Administrator Leadership Award: Paula Ann Treviño

Meet Paula Ann Treviño

Receiving an award after being nominated by my peers is the greatest honor. It is an honor to serve the staff and students at Helix Charter High School and the fact that they appreciate and recognize the strong partnership between administration and teaching to serve the needs of students is the goal. Serving our staff, which in turn serves our students is the goal. Working together to create an awesome environment only happens when we all are vulnerable and willing to keep the main thing, “the main thing”.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned that you’d share with others? What advice would you give to someone just starting out in science education?
I believe that one of the most important aspects of being a high school administrator is to remember “where” we come from. It is important for me to acknowledge that the challenges and obstacles of teachers today is far greater than when I was a teacher. Our teachers are asked to do “more” with “less” and administrators who recognize that and choose to serve teachers as peers will often have more success. I also believe that it is important to serve the champion teachers with a great deal of effort. Champion teachers bring the entire organization to a higher level and administrators would be smart to learn from them and find ways to support them.

What’s next for you? What excites you most about the future of science education?
I’m personally looking forward to retirement in the near future and continuing some part-time work in helping small districts and charter schools navigate the CTE (Career Technical Education) landscape. Helix has been fortunate to embrace CTE in the Sciences and the opportunities for other educational institutions to do the same can really be transformative to an organization and the students they serve.

What is your favorite book/podcast right now?
Mel Robbins Podcast - Mel Robbins book Let Them was something I read earlier this year and got hooked on the Podcast. Podcast is funny, research based and has worthy advice.
What is the word that best describes you and why? One word is a hard thing for me to come up with.
I would probably say that my colleagues would call me reliable, but I feel that I am a professional “helper”. I do my best to be resourceful, purposeful and find ways to make things happen to support those I serve.

Do you have a hidden talent? Tell us about it!
I would say that there my greatest talent it being “G-MAsaurus” to my 4 grandchildren! Nothing better than spending time with them, learning with them and laughing alongside them.