Under Threat of Closure, Eastside Memorial Staff is Confident This is Their Year

There’s a buzz throughout the building. Everyone is walking a bit faster and speaking with an edge in their voice. It’s late March and STAAR testing day is finally here.

Everyone at Eastside Memorial has been preparing for this day since the first day of the school year.

Isabel Corona teaches Pre-AP English I at Eastside Memorial High School, teaching mostly 9th graders.

As the students take their seats they see yellow sticky notes on their desks with words of encouragement from Ms. Corona.

“Take your time,” one reads.

After the students are seated she picks up each note. There can’t be anything on the desks during testing. TEA requires all posters and student work on the walls be covered. Corona’s classroom walls are now covered in pink contact paper - the cheery color contrasts with the tension in the room.