Page 11 - 2024 EOY GPS - English

TRI-umphant Educator

By: Dr. Tommie L. Smith

n unexpected and unintentional
beacon of hope and resilience shines
Abright in the halls of North Shore Senior
High School’s 10 Grade Center (NS10). As the
th
2022-2023 school year drew to a close, LaTisha
Guillory’s feelings were akin to the students
as she, too, delighted in its end because she
was finally able to fully mourn the loss of her
beloved mother, who passed away in March
of 2023. She began questioning whether a 22
nd
year of teaching would even make it to “the
books.” However, with a renewed sense of
purpose–sponsored by her students–Guillory’s
22 year of teaching has turned out to be
nd
Ms. Guillory Receives HAABSE Award
“one for the books!”

“This year just felt different” as Guillory began prepping her English classroom for the 2023-2024
school year. Guillory gained a renewed sense of purpose as her students and peers became
a sanctuary of healing and growth. She quickly reacclimated to her passionate teaching
practices and once again “simply enjoyed what I have always
loved to do.” Before she even realized it, she achieved a
remarkable feat of triple excellence by being named
[Secondary] Teacher of the Year by not one, but three
distinguished organizations: the Houston Area Alliance of
Black School Educators (HAABSE), [her home campus]
NS10, and [her home District] Galena Park ISD (GPISD). This
rare accolade acknowledges Ms. Guillory’s unwavering
commitment to her students, her genuine calling to
teach, and her persistent connection to the educational
community.

As the spotlight shines on Guillory, she is a source of
motivation for educators everywhere, reminding
them of the healing power of education and
excellence that is the result of persistent passion.
The accolades from HAABSE, NS10, and GPISD are
not just awards but a testament to a dedicated
educator’s influence on students, colleagues,
and the wider community. GPISD is proud to be
home to such a TRI-umphant educator!