Lori+Grossman


 * About Me:**

I am a second generation native Houstonian and a proud product of the following HISD schools: Foster ES, Parker ES, Johnston MS annd Westbury HS. After high school graduation, I proceeded directly to Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and received both a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Education.While working on my Masters degree, I served as the Asst. Dorm Mother of Kerr Hall (556 young women) and learned many of life's lessons that I, perhaps, never needed to know.

I returned from Nacogdoches in 1976 and had a wonderful year. I met my devoted husband, Alan, (of now 32 years) and began my teaching career at Chatham ES in HISD. With no teaching supplies, no mentor, and parents who just wanted me to "whip their children and make them learn", I spent money that I had not yet earned on supplies needed by my students. I was extremely creative those first years and knew then that if I ever had a chance to work with new teachers, then I would make sure that they knew how to teach with or without the necessities. Perhaps, that was my beginning as a mentor teacher, if not just in my head.

On July 4, 1979 we welcomed our blessing, Cara Michelle Grossman, who has brought joy, love and laughter to whomever she sees. She, too, graduated and received a BSIS and a Masters of Ed. from Stephen F. Austin State University where she served as the Ladyjacks Basketball team manager for 6 years, being afforded the opportunity to travel from coast to coast in the US including a trip to Hawaii. Cara is now serving, in her seventh year of teaching, as the elementary PE coach and the CLM at Red Elementary School in HISD. In addition to teaching, she coached Freshman volleyball at both Westbury High School and Bellaire High School and is now co-sponsor of the cheerleading squad and step squad at Red Elementary.

My yearn to work with children expanded to coaching softball at the Southwest Houston Girls Softball Association where my coaching career spanned 25 years and many wonderful memories. When UIL decided to allow girls' softball into the high schools, I coached 4 years at Westbury High School where I was fortunate to coach my own daughter and other fantastic young ladies. From Westbury HS and the graduation of my daughter, I was called to Bellaire High School where I coached for 11 years and shared in the celebration of many district championships and accolades as a coach and team. This year, as I became a manager in the department, I retired my coaching shoes to concentrate on the work of PDS. If I could not give enough to the girls without neglecting the job that I love, then it was time to retire. While I miss the experience, I attend many of the Bellaire games and have a continued relationship with my former players.

My educational career proceeded from Chatham ES to Shlenker School and back to HISD to teach at TH Rogers ES. I served as the only first grade teacher at TH Rogers ES for 17 straight years and loved every minute of it. During that tenure, I was asked to become, first, the mentor trainer for the Alternative district, and then one of the first District Lead Mentor trainers for PDS. After years of teaching and training combined, I joined the New Teacher Induction and Mentoring team to begin a new venture in my life. As a former Instructional Coordinator and, now a Manager, within this team, I am fulfilling that dream and determination from my early years in teaching......that I would somehow guide highly effective teaching through not only facilitative and reflective learning in new teachers, but, also, in their mentors.