Awaiting attendance to be called, a student, proud to be a member of the LGBTQA+ community, hears their legal name called by the teacher. As thoughts of the version of themselves that does not resemble their true identity circle their brain, the student approaches the teacher asking for it to be corrected, but later finds out that a parent or guardian had to have filled out a form allowing for another name to be called.

These scenarios are all too real for Warriors. Following a slew of legislation the summer prior, most notably Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), and House Bill 1481, the lives of students and staff at public schools in Texas have been irreversibly affected. The Texas legislature has directly violated the First Amendment rights of LGBTQA+ students across the state. It is no secret that the provisions of SB 12 that ban teachers from calling students by their chosen name are a result of the negative sentiments that Texas lawmakers have towards the LGBTQA+ community. The bill’s harsh standards mean that for teachers, not addressing a student by their legal name can result in multiple repercussions, creating a hostile environment where being identified or addressed properly is impossible.

However, these recent bills are not the first time Texas lawmakers have attempted to enact oppressive policies. For example, in 2021, lawmakers passed a bill that required that K-12 students only participate in sports based on the gender listed on a legal birth certificate. More recently, a ban was implemented on gender identity clubs. These policies show that recent bills are not one-off events, but rather part of a broader agenda.

In Westwood alone, we have witnessed the government become increasingly more oppressive. In the 2023-2024 school year,  phone usage was left up to teachers. The next year, it was mandatory for teachers to have students put away their phones. However, students were able to use their phones in passing periods, flex, lunch, and if a school project required the use of a cellular device. This year marks the official start of the government-mandated phone ban. From bell to bell, all cellular phones and Bluetooth-connecting devices must be inside students backpacks or up in a caddy. Students now live in an environment of terror, where every day, they pass by administration holding ziploc bags with the possibility of their phones being disposed of.

The host of laws passed this summer show that the state government has begun to prioritize an agenda of oppression and encroachment, leaving students and staff frightened, and worried about what is next to come. As more and more laws are passed each legislative session, classrooms shift from places of learning to places of fear.

The internal debate about what path of life to follow is arguably a universal experience. For Ms. Hall’s discovery it started during her late 20s, shortly after her travels working as a nanny.

“I took some time off to travel, and then I’ve always worked with kids, but in my late 20s, I was a nanny for a family in Aspen, Colorado,” Ms. Hall said. “I discovered that I just really had a passion for working with kids, and it just seemed like an easy thing to do.”

Entering the third week of school, Ms. Hall now spectates students who are facing the same dilemma caused by the difficulty of finding a calling among the seemingly endless options. Despite their struggles, Ms. Hall is confident that students will use the resources provided by the school to assist them in their journey, and is cheering them on from afar.

“It’s fun to see kids exploring and shining in different areas and be so self-sufficient,” Ms. Hall said. “Whether it be in theater or sports or dance or even orchestra and band, it’s incredible to see.”

Boasting a background of 25 years in education, Ms. Hall has exercised her passion for engaging with children specifically in the elementary school setting. Venturing into the high school atmosphere, however, Ms. Hall finds that as an educator, you need to be able to both teach a curriculum and carry the emotional literacy to pass on life lessons that will eventually guide students through life.

“I hope that we can create a community where people respect and admire one another and also learn from each other,” Ms. Hall said. “It’s not only the curriculum that we’re learning, but also how to work in our society. I think in education, our number one goal is to help people become good citizens.”

As a brand new Warrior, Ms. Hall hopes to commence the beginning of her Westwood career on a high note. Prior to this year, Ms. Hall’s plans consisted of settling down and beginning her retirement. In spite of the roadblocks in teaching, though, Ms. Hall felt that she still had more to offer as an educator. This year, she desires to meet those expectations.

“My expectations are that all of my students learn and that they will choose to grow, [and] that I am able to help them navigate these next steps in their life,” Ms. Hall said.