HOUSTON, Texas – A system designed to raise standards in Houston ISD is still facing pushback from community members.
KPRC2 is embedded at Fleming Middle School for a second year to document the impact of the new education system.
In this week’s Focus on Fleming, KPRC 2 anchor Candace Burns checked in with Mrs. Lyndsy Mason, a sixth-grade math teacher we interviewed last year, who is taking on these challenges head-on, determined to see her students thrive.
Mason walks into class every morning with one purpose -- to see her students succeed.
The sounds of a bustling classroom fill the air, students shuffling papers as Mason greets them. This is her second year at Fleming under the New Education System, teaching sixth-grade math again.
Last year, she had hoped to move up to seventh grade with her students, but a shortage of staff forced her to stay put.
“We didn’t have enough teachers,” Mason explained.
Lower student enrollment led to district allocations that forced Fleming to cut staff, and this year, she made the difficult choice to remain in sixth grade.
“I just decided, you know, it was best for me,” Mason said.
Now, with fewer teachers, her workload has doubled as she manages her classroom with an increased intensity. She navigates this higher demand as her planning time has been cut more than in half, making her day a constant, high-paced effort with little breathing room.
Still, she’s seeing her students grow, with progress checks every three weeks revealing progress.
But it’s not just academic growth; Mason also sees their confidence blossom.
“I let them cheer; it builds their confidence,” she says, observing how they look around proudly, realizing they can understand the material.
In the fast-paced world of the NES, Mason said she remains committed to supporting her students and reinforcing her belief in their potential.