Parents had the opportunity to meet with the administration team at Abbett to learn about what is happening at our campus. If you missed the meeting, but would like to stay informed, please read the notes below.
Coffee with the Principal August 18th, 2025
Welcome and Introductions
- Principal- Stefani Blackman
- Assistant Principal- Jill Hatfield
- Assistant Principal Intern- Sussan Abraham
Together our mission at Abbett Elementary is to create a superior elementary education experience for diverse students and families because foundational learning paves the way for a bright future. Our vision is here at Abbett Elementary we are activating academic excellence one student at a time.
Abbett TIA teachers- Cynthia Brown, Shannon Friesen, Natalie Buckner, Carolina Calderon, Lisa Rowan, Heather Adams, Kim Howard, Cortney Tillett, Jennie Chamizo, Jodie Hernandez
These numbers show that we have a very high quality staff and that we are putting the best in the classroom with your kids. Our teachers really strive to get the best out of the students and have very high expectations.
Garland ISD accountability ratings were released by TEA, we scored an 84 as a district which is an increase of 3 points overall. Abbett earned an A rating for this past year. We had tremendous growth here at Abbett and we are very proud of the hard work our students, teachers, and families put forth to make this happen. The involvement of parents at home is a critical part of student success, every Abbett student has homework, and part of this is a spiral review that helps keep them learning and retaining information.
TELPAS is another test that students who are learning English or speak another language at home take each year to demonstrate English language proficiency. One area we are really pushing this year is the speaking domain. We want to make sure all students have the opportunity to share their thinking using complete sentences and build their confidence in speaking. We have taught students to track the speaker, this pertains to teachers, staff, and students. When someone else is speaking, Abbett students demonstrate respect with eye contact and listening.
Student involvement opportunities this year will include;
- Honor choir with Mr. Fernandez
- Art club with Ms. Puga
- New this year- UIL competition teams. Students try out for what they are interested in and then work together as teams to build skills
- Flag Brigade with Ms. Lo
- Morning Announcement Crew with Ms. Sheeter and Ms. Clark
- Yearbook team with Mrs. Tanguy
Our Fun Run Fundraiser will be coming up soon. We will be working to earn money to get a book vending machine at Abbett. This helps spotlight literacy and gives students choice. We also want to continue to fund our Abbett tutors that work with students throughout the year in reading, math, and science.
PBIS- Positive behavior Intervention and Supports
This is a campus wide plan that encourages positive behavior by making expectations and core values very clear to all, so students know what to expect. We are also incorporating Glow Like an All-Star and students earn points for their color groups by exhibiting positive behaviors that align with our character traits.
Tier 2 Vocabulary- NEW this year. We are working on increasing student academic vocabulary words by intentionally teaching words each week. Mastering these words will increase reading comprehension and help our students grow as readers. These words are posted around the school and you will see them each week in the family newsletter. Pre K-2nd focuses on one word a week and 3rd-5th grade students have 8-9 words a week. We encourage students to utilize these words while speaking and in their writing to really develop their understanding of the word.
Our theme this year is Glow Like an All-Star. We want students to stand out and really build on their strengths.
Prop A is also coming up in the election this November, this funding will help fund support positions in GISD, student programs, and safety and security. If you want to learn more, visit the Prop A page on the district website. https://garlandisd.net/about/prop-2025
Parent Comments:
If you are interested in Scouts- we have groups that meet near Abbett. Last weekend we had a bicycle safety course at Abbett where students were able to complete a bicycle safety course and spoke with a police officer about important bike safety regulations.
PTA is looking for parents to help especially with Fall and Spring Planting days and room reps
