Hassell focusing on leading by example

Jan. 11—Servant leadership is the driving force for Jessica Hassell, Director of State and Federal Programs for Huntsville Independent School District.

Hassell is a Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2002, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree and teaching certificate. She went on to earn her Master of Education in Educational Administration.

"My first teaching experience was in private education in Bryan," Hassell said. "I then taught and coached in both Navasota ISD and Anderson-Shiro CISD. I have spent the last nine years at Region 6 Education Service Center where I gained a wealth of knowledge in supporting public schools."

Hassell has been a part of the Hornet Family since July 2023.

"I am married to Cody Hassell, Head Volleyball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director for HISD," said Hassell proudly. "We have four children, Addison and Dillon are 25 and both ER Nurses at Baylor Scott & White in Temple; Natalie is 19, a Huntsville High School graduate and current student at Texas A&M University-Galveston; and Emma is a 6th grader at Huntsville Intermediate School."

She was asked what inspired her to become an educator.

"I was blessed with several dedicated educators in my life that shared their passion and love of learning with me," Hassell said. "That passion inspired me to want to be that life experience for others. Watching my former students grow into wonderful adults fuels my drive to continue to improve the educational experience for all students."

When she isn't hard at work, Hassell enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, cooking and the great outdoors.

"As a family we do all things volleyball," Hassell said. "We also enjoy family game nights and just hanging out together."

As the Director of State and Federal Programs, no day ever looks the same for Hassell.

"My primary role is to oversee the State and Federal Grants that HISD receives from the Texas Education Agency. I support campuses in utilizing the funds we receive to best impact student academic achievement through budgeting, purchasing and compliance," Hassell said.

She added that there are lots of rules that come with money given by the State.

"It is my job to make sure the funds are used appropriately and cost effectively," Hassell said. "In addition to State and Federal Programs, I also serve as the TIA (Teacher Incentive Allotment) Lead for the district."

Hassell explained that TIA is an exciting program created by the Texas Legislature that allows for districts to designate and reward top-performing teachers. Teachers can earn one of three levels of designation — Recognized, Exemplary, or Master.

Districts receive an annual allotment for each eligible designated teacher they employ and may use TIA funds to incentivize effective teachers to remain in the classroom and prioritize high-needs campuses.

"HISD has met initial approval for our TIA Plan and are currently waiting on final approval of our first round of data submission," Hassell said. "Once our data is approved by TEA, we will be able to begin designating our top-performing teachers and reward them with additional pay. Next steps for our district is to expand our current TIA Plan to include more eligible teaching categories so that we can designate even more of our amazing educators."

Hassell technically is a department of one — but she works very closely with the Teaching & Learning team, the Business Department, Human Resources, and each campus within the district.

"My two fundamental principles of leadership are to be a servant leader and to lead by example. I believe that the only way to inspire others is through action," Hassell said. "As leaders, we must be willing to get in the mud and do the hard work with our teams. Great leaders build up those around them to improve the overall effectiveness of the team as a whole.

Hassell was asked what goals she has set for herself.

"I have two primary goals set for next school year. The first is to improve processes within the State and Federal Programs for our campuses, specifically Parent & Family Engagement. The second goal is to grow our Teacher Incentive Allotment program by including more teaching categories," Hassell said. "I feel both of these goals, if met, will greatly improve the culture of our district and in turn improve student achievement."

The main goal of Hassell's department is to improve student academic achievement through the use of state and federal funds on supplemental educational programs. Think of the regular education each student receives as the cake and the programs offered through State and Federal Programs as the icing on the cake.

The goal of State and Federal Programs is to best align resources to campus and district needs in order to provide an effective and quality educational experience for all students.

"State and Federal Programs serve as a source of supplemental resources to ensure that every student's educational needs are met," Hassell said. "Being new to this role and HISD, I am proud to work with a team of educators that are dedicated to the success of every student. Huntsville ISD is a district worth being proud of and I am honored to be a part of the team striving to Build Champions."

Contact Brenda Poe at editor@itemonline.com