Plummer Middle School History Teacher Kaimiccia Patterson Honored by Kroger, Houston Food Bank and Houston Texans

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To say Kaimiccia Patterson was surprised when she walked out the front door of Plummer Middle School to a cheering crowd of students, officials from Kroger, the Houston Food Bank, and the Houston Texans would be an understatement.

Plummer Middle School History Teacher Kaimiccia, third from left, was honored by Kroger, the Houston Food Bank, and the Houston Texans for her work with the Huddle Against Hunger program she instituted at the Aldine ISD middle school. Pictured with her are (l-r): a Houston Texans cheerleader, Jon Young, Vice President of Operations for Kroger, former Houston Texans offensive lineman Chester Pitts, a Houston Texans cheerleader, Kroger mascot Big K and Texans mascot Toro. Patterson was awarded free groceries for a year from Kroger.

The three organizations, along with Plummer Principal Dr. Andrea Cain, Plummer administrators, fellow teachers, and members of her history class, honored Patterson for her work with the Huddle Against Hunger program at Plummer Middle School.

Former Houston Texans offensive lineman Chester Pitts welcomed Patterson to the surprise event held in her honor, which was also attended two Texans cheerleaders, Texans mascot Toro and Kroger mascot Big K.

“We know you have been a huge champion for the program, and in recognition of that and all of your hard work as a teacher for 20 years – and especially these last six months – we have a special surprise for you,” Pitts said.

And she received that surprise from Jon Young, Vice President of Operations for Kroger when he announced that Patterson would receive a year’s worth of free groceries from Kroger for her work with the volunteer program.

Heather Icenogle of the Houston Food Bank also attended the event and thanked Patterson for her commitment to the Huddle Against Hunger program.

“Ms. Patterson, thank you for all you do to teach students about the challenges faced by those who experience hunger,” Icenogle said. “We are so grateful to Kroger and the Houston Texans for their partnership around the Huddle Against Hunger program. This has been an extremely difficult year in so many ways, but we are grateful to have partners like these who continue to support us.”

Patterson was grateful for the honor she received.

“This is such an honor. I am truly blessed,” Patterson said. “The opportunity to provide food for those in need and teach our students about community service and volunteering makes a huge impact and difference. To me, this means hard work does not go unnoticed and to continue to do what I enjoy the most, which is giving back and helping others.”

Patterson almost didn’t make it to her own celebration.

“I was completely surprised,” she said. “I was helping another teacher and conducting Universal Screening when my colleagues said I was needed in the office. I didn’t want to go, but I told myself it should only take a moment. I was shocked to see all that was going on outside the building. When they advised it was all for me, I was shocked and could not speak, not to mention my heart was pounding from the excitement.”

Patterson has taught in Aldine for 17 years (she has 20 years of teaching experience) and was part of the original teaching staff that opened Plummer during the 2005-06 school year. She began organizing food drives her first year at Plummer and has worked with the Huddle Against Hunger program for the last two years.

The Huddle Against Hunger program teaches students how to tackle hunger in their respective communities.

Patterson said she could have accomplished all she has with the Huddle Against Hunger program without a lot of help from friends and colleagues.

“I would like to give a special shout out to the MAG VII friends group who helps me with everything, all my colleagues at Plummer Middle School and other Aldine campuses. My principal, Dr. Andrea Cain, allows me to coordinate community events, along with Assistant Principal Patricia Muehlebach, program director Debora Johnson (AISD’s Program Director of Middle School and Secondary Social Studies). But most of all, I want to single out my students. They are the real reasons why I do what I do.”

And Patterson’s students also received a surprise as each of them was awarded a $25 gift card from Kroger.