Jessica Cain winner of 2023 Award

FERRIS – Jessica Cain, a graduate of Ferris High School, won the 2023 Learning Forward Texas Outstanding Professional Learning Award two weeks ago.

She grew up in Ferris and became a substitute teacher in Ferris, moving into a paraprofessional position.

Cain joined the Ferris ISD family of teachers once she received her teacher’s certification and taught at both the junior high and elementary levels.

Eventually, she moved into a central position as an Instructional Technology Specialist to support purposeful digital learning and device use in the classroom.

She also strongly believes in investing in the teachers at Ferris ISD.

Cain works hard to listen to them when discussing what they need to be successful in the classroom.

Her passion for supporting Ferris ISD teachers led her to explore professional learning opportunities that would benefit them the most.

This led her to connect with Learning Forward Texas.

Learning Forward is a professional learning organization for educators with the vision: “Every educator engages in exemplary professional learning so every student excels.”

Learning Forward Texas is the state-level association supporting the idea of investing in educators’ learning opportunities to help teachers grow to better serve students.

Every year, Learning Forward Texas recognizes individuals or groups dedicated to providing authentic, impactful, and engaging professional learning to teachers.

This year, Cain was selected as a winner based on the success of her Mastermind program.

This program allowed teachers to discover new ways to design instruction through self-paced learning, instructional coaching cycles, and collaborative activities with other teachers in the Mastermind cohort.

During the second year of the Mastermind Program, these same teachers are setting goals for professional growth that include sharing and supporting teachers on their campus as well as highlighting their own instructional successes.

Learning Forward Texas honored her at this year’s Texas Association of School Administrators Midwinter Conference.

In addition to this recognition, Learning Forward Texas will attend the Ferris ISD Board Meeting on March 21 to celebrate Cain and her Mastermind teachers.