Mrs. Leslie Pierce teaches 5th Grade Reading at Quitman Elementary. This is her 18th year in education, and has also taught 4th & 5th grade math as well as 5th grade science/social studies/geography. She has also taught for Mineola ISD. Leslie attended college at Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M Commerce. She is currently enrolled in the UT Tyler Masters Program in Curriculum & Instruction.
Tell us about your family.
"I have been married for 20 years with 2 boys. The oldest is in college working on his degree in respiratory therapy, and the youngest is a senior in high school with plans to become a a heavy duty mechanic."
What aspects of the teaching profession do you find most rewarding and fulfilling?
"Watching students master a difficult concept, building relationships with the students, and participating in field trips that create memorable learning experiences are the most rewarding aspect as an educator."
Could you provide some examples of how you/your team utilizes data to inform and enhance instructional practices?
"In our classrooms, we use various forms of data to guide our instruction. We regularly review formative assessment results to identify areas where students may need additional support or enrichment. We also analyze unit assessment data to adjust our teaching strategies and focus on specific skills that need improvement. Additionally, we track students’ progress through individual learning goals and use this information to tailor our lessons and interventions. This data-driven approach helps us to ensure that each student is receiving the targeted support they need to succeed."
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of the best campus ever. QES staff is the most supportive and collaborative group. Best principals ever!!! I'm just a little partial to my people. :-)"
Chandler teaches 5th Grade Social Studies at Quitman Elementary, and has been a teacher for 4 years. He has also worked for Royce City ISD where he taught 7th Grade Texas History. He attended college at Texas A&M University
Tell us about your family.
"My mother worked for QISD for all my life as a kindergarten teacher. My father is a Dallas Firefighter and my brother, River, is currently working towards becoming a Dallas Firefighter. My sister, Gabby, is a senior at Quitman High School."
What aspects of the teaching profession do you find most rewarding and fulfilling?
"Building relationships with students is the most rewarding part of teaching because it helps create lasting memories. This makes the learning process more meaningful and enjoyable for both the students and myself."
Could you provide some examples of how you/your team utilizes data to inform and enhance instructional practices?
"In my class, I use data to tailor my instruction based on TEKS standards. For example, if a unit test on the Age of Exploration shows that many students struggle with identifying major explorers' routes, I might incorporate additional map activities and interactive games to reinforce this concept in a way that is enjoyable and memorable for the students."
Hannah Farmer teaches 5th Grade Science at Quitman Elementary, and has been a teacher for 6 years. She has also taught Pre-K. Hannah attended Trinity Valley Community College and the University of Texas at Tyler.
Tell us about your family.
"I'm blessed to be the mama of three fabulous young men. Keithyn is my oldest son. He attends UT Tyler and is majoring in Engineering. I am so very proud of his kind and selfless spirit and his drive to reach his goals. Klayton is my middle child and is a junior at QHS. I am so very proud of his caring, yet spunky personality and his work ethic to be great in all his endeavors. Bladyn is the baby of the bunch. He is a 5th grader at QES. I am so very proud of his helper, sometimes take too much charge personality and his desire to protect others. Being their mom is the best job ever!! I have recently been blessed with a couple of really special girls who are added blessings to our family."
What aspects of the teaching profession do you find most rewarding and fulfilling?
"I thoroughly enjoy getting to be apart of our kiddos' lives here at QES. I find it an absolute pleasure getting to know them individually and being able make a positive impact in their world while I teach them science concepts and skills."
Could you provide some examples of how you/your team utilizes data to inform and enhance instructional practices?
"We use our assessment data to enhance instruction by taking the data provided and using it for small group tutoring during flex. Our focus is growth for each and every student so we really try to make sure every student is growing in all their skills throughout the year."
Theresa Mallory has been a teacher for 20 years and teaches 5th Grade Math at Quitman Elementary. She has also taught 3rd and 4th grades, and has taught all subjects. Theresa attended college at Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Tyler. She has worked for QISD for 4 years.
Tell us about your family.
"I have a grown son and daughter, along with two wonderful granddaughters: Lux, who’s in 8th grade, and Lenz, who’s in 6th grade. I’m proud to be a 4th generation teacher and feel truly fortunate to work alongside my daughter Julie, a 5th generation teacher."
What aspects of the teaching profession do you find most rewarding and fulfilling?
"The best parts of teaching are seeing students finally get a tough concept and grow over time. It’s great building strong connections with them and helping them find what they’re passionate about. Knowing you’ve made a real difference in their lives and seeing them succeed later on feels amazing. Plus, working with other teachers and hearing from former students about how your class helped them is incredibly rewarding."
Could you provide some examples of how you/your team utilizes data to inform and enhance instructional practices?
"I use data to improve my teaching by regularly reviewing student performance from quizzes, tests, and digital tools. This allows me to pinpoint where students may be struggling and adjust my lessons or provide extra support where needed. I also collect feedback from students to understand how they’re feeling about the material and make changes to keep them more engaged. By using this data, I can tailor my instruction to better meet their learning needs and refine the curriculum to ensure it’s helping all students succeed."
"QISD is the best place to teach because of the incredible support from both the school and the community, as well as the outstanding students."
