TEXANS’ CUSHING AWARDS CY CREEK TEACHERS AS STARS IN THE CLASSROOM

By Hala Khan, Cypress Creek HS

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing honors Cypress Creek High School teacher and coach Erin Bryant, center, as a First Community Credit Union (FCCU) Stars in the Classroom winner on Nov. 10. Bryant was nominated by sophomore student Payton Hughston, right.

Dec. 3, 2015—Cypress Creek High School journalism teacherSamantha Berry and coach Erin Bryant recently won the First Community Credit Union (FCCU) Stars in the Classroom award through a student-nominated competition. As part of the award, each teacher won an autographed jersey from Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing, who made a surprise visit to the campus on Nov. 10.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing recognized Cypress Creek journalism teacher Samantha Berry, center, as a FCCU Stars in the Classroom winner on Nov. 10. Berry was nominated for the award by senior student Chloe Trejo, left. 

The teachers, who were nominated for the honor by senior Chloe Trejo (Berry) and sophomore Payton Hughston (Bryant), also won a pair of tickets to the Dec. 13 Texans vs. Patriots football game, including sideline passes as Cushing’s guest.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing presents Cypress Creek teacher Samantha Berry with his No. 56 jersey during the surprise visit for Stars in the Classroom on Nov. 10. Berry also won tickets and sideline passes to the Texans-Patriots game at NRG Stadium on Dec. 13.

For nominating their teachers, both Trejo and Hughston met Cushing alongside their teachers and received an autographed football. Administrators pulled Hughston out of the Aspire Test to receive the news and meet Cushing in the front office.

The award meant a lot to Hughston, who said it showed Bryant that he is a great teacher and he inspires his students.

Brian Cushing congratulates Cypress Creek teacher and coach Erin Bryant as a FCCU Stars in the Classroom winner on Nov. 10.

“[The best part was] just getting to see Coach Bryant’s reaction because he had no clue it was coming; he really enjoyed it,” Hughston said.

Bryant said he found out he had won in front of his students.

“I honestly thought it was an award for one of my students, so I was really just excited for one of my students,” he said. “When they said it was to honor your teacher, that’s when I realized it was for me.”

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is greeted by the Cypress Creek drum line during his FCCU-sponsored visit to the campus on Nov. 10 for Stars in the Classroom.

Bryant said he’s thankful to the Houston Texans, Brian Cushing and FCCU for selecting him as a Stars in the Classroom recipient.

“I would also like to thank my students who help me every day to become a better teacher,” he said. “Most importantly I have to thank Payton Hughston for nominating me for this distinguished award. Payton represents what is great about our student body here at Cy Creek, and I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to affect students’ lives in a positive way.”

Berry, a third-year teacher at Cypress Creek and the 2015 Spotlight Teacher, said the experience put her outside of her comfort zone.

“[I was] overwhelmed,” Berry said. “It was all so fast, I didn’t have time to emotionally prepare for what was happening.”

Trejo said she enjoyed the award for Berry.

“I think the best part was that ultimately Ms. Berry got the award and it was kind of cool that we got praised by Brian,” she said. “[Ms. Berry is] always trying to make us do our best and she actually wants to see us succeed in the future.”

Berry said even though she enjoyed meeting Cushing and winning the tickets, she most appreciated the nomination letter from Trejo.

“Reading the letter that Chloe wrote me, that was the best part, because even though the football, jersey and of course the sideline passes and tickets are cool, knowing that a student appreciates what you do and appreciates you as a person is why teachers do what they do,” she said.