HOUSTON – The University of St. Thomas is expanding its “Healing Our Heroes” initiative by offering free mental health counseling services to teachers. Long term impact of pandemic stress believed to be significantMental health experts believe the long term impact of pandemic stress and fatigue on teachers could be significant. Free sessions available for K-12 teachersThe sessions begin Jan. 11 and are offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during UST’s spring academic semester, which ends in early May 2021. Mental health counseling benefits for teachersDr. Sasse said teachers are so busy helping others, their own needs go unmet. UST’s mental health counseling will give them the support they need.

HOUSTON – Molly Lashway had to put her teaching career on hold while fighting a rare form of cancer. After months of chemotherapy and surgeries, she finally returned to the classroom, taking a job at Houston Independent School District. On Friday, she was recognized as the district’s “Teacher of the Month.”Drive-By ParadeNot even a pandemic could stop HISD educators from celebrating the district’s Teacher of the Month. Instead of an assembly, they’re surprised Lashway, a 5th-grade teacher at Walnut Bend Elementary, with a drive-by parade outside the school. While they were living in D.C., Lashway was diagnosed with and battled a rare form of cancer that sidelined her teaching career for a year.

HOUSTON – Remote Learning in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic has put the issue of digital inequality in the spotlight. For students learning remotely, being able to connect to the internet without having issues is so important. Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia recognized the need and responded by creating study zones with free WiFi access to help bridge the gap that exists for so many families. North Shore Rotary Pavilion and Clear Lake Park, Landolt PavilionStudents and families interested in using either of the two locations must first register with Harris County Precinct 2. A mobile library, part of the Harris County Public Library System is on-site with free books, Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at North Shore and Thursday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Clear Lake

HOUSTON – Houston Independent School District students have been learning online for three days now and some students still don’t have the technology they need to learn from home. However, the district is considering Thursday whether to expand the virtual learning period because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 200,000 students will be learning online until at least October 19, when some are scheduled to return to in-person instruction. The administration may ask for a four-week extension to its online learning period. Parents, students and teachers should be aware that the start date is subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions.