Abilene ISD -

The relationship between staff and students is part of what gives any campus life and helps it thrive. Trust between teacher and student begins with shared experiences, a listening ear, and learning and believing that someone cares.

The Hartford Student Achievement Program (SAP) staff places trust and relationships at the core of its daily operations. SAP offers vital support to children facing various challenges. The program's collaboration with local community agencies, including teachers, counselors, and administrators, creates a safe environment for students that removes barriers to learning, making a significant difference in their lives.

Part of the program's strategy to remove barriers to learning is to provide students with a space to manage their emotions without disrupting the school day. Eliminating those barriers at Hartford began with the generous support of Global Samaritan Resources, which donated two sets of new patio furniture and other supplies. These areas now serve as safe havens for students at Hartford, located at the former Reagan Elementary School site in West Abilene.

“The patio furniture sets added under our pergolas have given us a place for our kids to go out and reset,” said Rebekah Sellers, assistant director of behavior support. “That's the perfect place for the teacher or paraprofessional to sit down with them and say, ‘Okay, let's talk about what’s happening and figure out what we can do differently next time.’

“These spaces have allowed us to build real relationships,” she said. “Sometimes a student needs to let off some steam, and they always sit on a cushion. Every time. Kids use those areas all day, and it’s the sweetest thing to see them out there where they can reset and then return to class.”

Hartford aide Amanda Jimenez was the driving force behind the donation and the idea of what to do with what Global Samaritan provided to the campus. During the summer, five different SAP programs throughout AISD combined into one centralized spot at Hartford, bringing teachers and staff to the campus to prepare it for the start of the school year.

“I was walking through the buildings and the grounds, and I thought the pergola spaces would be perfect for us to build relationships with those students experiencing difficult times,” she said. “I envisioned feet resting on ottomans and tables as a place to eat lunch outside during the fall.”

That vision is what students are experiencing. As Sellers said, it’s a place where they can reset, talk through their emotions with a teacher or other staff member, or visit with friends while waiting for the bus at the end of the day. The older students have taken it upon themselves to pick up the cushions at the end of each day, store them inside, and then put them out the next morning before classes begin.

The spaces have given everyone on the campus a sense of peace and calm, precisely what Jimenez was looking for when she envisioned what those areas needed.

“These kids want love and attention and someone to understand them, and that's what we do well at Hartford,” Jimenez said. “Those patio sets give us the space to love on them, build relationships, and give them the time and attention they need if they're having a hard day. We don’t know what’s happening at home, but we can provide them the space to breathe and feel normal, making those special spaces.”

Now that the patio furniture sets are up and functioning as intended, Jimenez is working on another project: hammocks.

“I've seen some reading space hammocks for outside that would be great (at Hartford),” she said. “We need wood posts and hammocks. I haven't started on that road yet, but I have a vision.”

Sounds familiar.