Ana Weissling brings the "world" to Fabra Elementary students in Boerne ISD

Ana Weissling teaches her students about the world around them and brings the excitement of far-away places into her first and second grade classrooms. Students this year are getting a special treat. Mrs. Weissling's husband is part of an expedition to Antarctica. The students are following his journey and talking to him weekly.

As the English as a Second Language (ESL) specialist at Fabra, she teaches in two languages - English and Spanish - and fosters the appreciation of other cultures in all students. Weissling developed the curriculum and supported the implementation of the first Bilingual Program at Fabra and in the school district.

Weissling has translated BISD documentation into Spanish and championed the program to fellow educators. She also has fostered multi-cultural educational experiences for the entire school, including her Teepee Project in 2006, which brought Native American teepees and a special guest to present and facilitate extracurricular activities about Native American culture.

She was a presenter for the 2006 Fabra Storytelling Festival and facilitated the "Endangered Species" exhibit for all bilingual students. The third grade has now adopted the exhibit as a part of their annual science curriculum and activities.

In addition, she has created community outreach through "Noche the Familias" evening meetings. These events encourage students, their parents, family members and community members to participate in English classes.