Three Teachers, One Promise: The Hoffman Middle School Team Turning Readers Into Believers

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Hoffman Middle School eighth-grade reading team members Durriyyah Drummond, Ja’Mielle Franklin and Francesca Lee were named Aldine ISD Bright Spot in Literacy recipients.

Somewhere in the middle of the school year, when eighth grade feels heavy and books feel harder than before, a student whispers something teachers hear more often than people think:

“I’m just not good at reading.”

It is a small sentence.
But it carries years of doubt.
It is also the sentence teachers spend months trying to rewrite.

At Hoffman Middle School, three teachers refuse to let that sentence be the end of the story.

Durriyyah Drummond, Ja’Mielle Franklin and Francesca Lee — the school’s eighth-grade reading team — have been recognized by Aldine ISD as Bright Spot in Literacy recipients, not for one lesson or one moment, but for the steady collaboration that helps students grow into confident readers.

The Bright Spots Initiative

The Bright Spots initiative began with a simple belief inside Aldine ISD: before changing a system, recognize the educators already strengthening it.

Created by the Teaching and Learning Department, the Bright Spot in Literacy Award honors teachers who implement curriculum effectively and support colleagues across their campuses so more students experience strong literacy instruction.

At Hoffman Middle School, Principal Tyam Richard saw that work happening every day.

“This team collaborates intentionally,” Richard said. “They study student work together, plan together and support one another so every student benefits from strong literacy instruction.”

A Team That Works as One

The eighth-grade reading team — Drummond, Franklin and Lee — shares a commitment that goes beyond individual classrooms.

They reflect together on student needs.
They align instruction so students experience consistency.
They share strategies and support one another in reaching learners who need extra encouragement.

Their collaboration is built on trust.

Over time, that trust creates something powerful for students: clarity.

Students know what is expected.
They know their teachers are working together.
They know help is there when reading feels difficult.

Principal Richard has seen the results in the way students approach learning.

“Students are more willing to engage with challenging texts,” she said. “They show more confidence because they know their teachers are there to support them.”

Confidence Before Scores

Literacy growth is often measured in numbers.

But teachers know the first change is quieter.

A student who raises a hand.
A student who tries again after a difficult passage.
A student who begins to believe effort matters.

Across Hoffman Middle School, Richard has watched that confidence grow.

The reading team’s collaboration has helped create stronger discussions, clearer expectations and a shared approach to literacy that benefits students across classrooms.

“They model instructional excellence and teamwork,” Richard said. “Their practices can inspire other campuses.”

Why Bright Spots Matter

Photos from Aldine ISD leaders’ visit to Hoffman Middle School, where they surprised staff members Francesca Lee, Ja’Mielle Franklin and Durriyyah Drummond with the Aldine Literacy Bright Spot Award on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2026.

The Bright Spots initiative honors educators who bring curriculum to life and support colleagues across the district.

But behind every recognition is something simpler:

Teachers choosing to stay a little longer.
Teachers sharing what works instead of keeping it.
Teachers believing that no student is “just not good at reading.”

At Hoffman Middle School, that belief lives in the work of Durriyyah Drummond, Ja’Mielle Franklin and Francesca Lee.

Because of them, students are discovering that difficult texts can be understood, ideas can be expressed and confidence can be rebuilt one sentence at a time.

Sometimes, a student who once whispered, “I’m not good at reading,” looks up from a page and says something new:

“I think I got it.”

That moment — quiet, fragile and full of possibility — is why Aldine ISD calls them a Bright Spot in Literacy.

And why their work will echo far beyond eighth grade.