HOUSTON – It’s a big year for Poe Elementary first-grade teacher Tracy Hilton.
She’s retiring after 30 years of teaching, 20 of which were spent in Houston.
When approached by parents and other faculty members on how they could help her celebrate this milestone, she had a very selfless answer.
She asked that they support the family of a child in her class who had to undergo extensive medical treatments this year due to a black mold infestation in their home.
“One day I found a water spot in one of our closets and called in maintenance," said father Jacob Rodriguez. "That prompted a quick conversation that opened air vents and opened some spaces. Next thing you know, there’s mold everywhere.”
The Rodriguez family was told they needed to vacate their home immediately and leave everything behind.
They were treated for black mold poisoning in Dallas and will need to continue treatments in Houston to heal their organs.
The parents in Mrs. Hilton’s class immediately got to work to do something for the family.
On Friday, Houston Life was able to surprise both the Rodriguez family and Mrs. Hilton live on-air with what the Poe Elementary parents were able to put together.
We also had a little help from our friend, Astros player Carlos Correa. You can watch the video above to see the heartwarming reveal.
“I would like to thank the Poe PTO for always being so supportive of the teachers, children, and families. The Poe PTO does amazing things to make our school a better place. Thank you to all the parents who helped the Rodriguez family get back on their feet and for making my 20 years at Poe an awesome experience. Sincerely, Tracy HIlton”