Ermel Elementary Welcomed Families During Meet the Teacher Event

Posing for a picture are (l-r) Assistant Superintendent Scott Dubberke, Principal Lori Brooks, Texas State Representative Penny Morales Shaw, Assistant Principal Elizabeth Cardozo, Dr. Judith Castillo, and LULAC President Isidro Garza Jr.

Community partners helped Ermel Elementary School kick off the new school year as hundreds of students and families attended the campus’ Meet the Teacher event on July 23.

Approximately 360 of Ermel Elementary’s 461 students and their families attended the event, where they met teachers, visited classrooms, dropped off school supplies, and prepared for the first day of school. Thanks to a partnership with League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice, every Ermel Elementary student received a new backpack. Students from other Aldine ISD campuses who attended with an Ermel sibling also received backpacks, ensuring every child left prepared for the new school year.

The event also welcomed Texas State Representative Penny Morales Shaw, LULAC President Isidro Garza Jr., Aldine ISD Area Superintendent Scott Dubberke, campus leaders, and volunteers from LULAC and the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice. Representative Morales Shaw shared with families that it was an honor to serve the community and to play a role in welcoming students to a new school year.

Meet the Teacher events provide students, families, and educators with an opportunity to build relationships before the first day of school, helping establish a strong foundation for a successful school year.

For Ermel Elementary, the backpack giveaway did more than provide school supplies — it demonstrated what is possible when schools and community organizations work together to support students. This year’s event marked LULAC’s first partnership with the campus and the second consecutive year of support from Representative Morales Shaw, reinforcing a shared commitment to ensuring students begin the school year feeling welcomed, prepared, and ready to learn.

“Meet the Teacher provides a meaningful opportunity for students, families, and staff to connect before the start of the school year,” said Assistant Principal Elizabeth Cardozo Aristizabal. “Building strong relationships with our families from the very beginning helps create a welcoming environment where every student feels supported and ready to learn. We are grateful to LULAC, the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice, and Representative Penny Morales Shaw for their generosity and for helping our students start the school year prepared and excited.”