Two organizations within Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) were recent recipients of dozens of donated Girl Scout cookies from Girl Scout Troop 124021, whose members attend Valley Oaks Elementary (VOE): Special Education teachers and SBISD police officers.

The troop of fourth-graders voted to award several cases of cookies to teachers in the district’s Special Education department to show appreciation for the care and hard work of educators across the district. During a cookie presentation at Valley Oaks, leaders from the district’s Special Education team and teachers from the school happily received the treats.

Collective Greatness in Action

The donation was made possible by the money the troop, along with its sister Brownie Troop 124183, earned or received during the recent Girl Scout cookie sales campaign. By combining their earnings, the two troops maximized the impact of their appreciation for the Special Education teachers.

Career Insights

The VOE Special Education teaching team gave a presentation to the troop about their careers and daily responsibilities. The teachers then challenged the Girl Scouts in attendance to a scavenger hunt to find stations and equipment in the Special Education classrooms used to assist students who receive Special Education services at the school. Each girl also received a “Future Teacher Award” from the teachers, hopefully sparking interest in some to become Special Education teachers in 16 to 18 years.

Maribel Chen, the troop’s cookie sales manager, organized the donation to the Special Education department and was thrilled that the girls could hear firsthand about the rewards of the teaching profession. “I wanted them to have a career spotlight opportunity,” Chen said.

Elizabeth Williams, assistant director of Special Education in SBISD, was on hand at VOE to gratefully receive the cookies. She planned to distribute them to Special Education teachers from across the district at a future appreciation luncheon.

“It will mean so much to these teachers to receive the cookies from the Valley Oaks Girl Scouts,” Williams said. “This donation really supports our mission to show our Special Education teachers appreciation. Maribel and the troop have really helped with that. Our teachers really needed this at this time of year.”

Cookies for Police Officers, Too

In a program called "Cookies for Heroes," the Girl Scout council donates cases of cookies to troops whose members sold 30 boxes of cookies and/or received donations during the spring selling campaign. These cookies are specifically provided to be donated to first responders or medical professionals. This year, the VOE troop decided to honor SBISD police officers with the cookie donation.

The troop brought several cases of cookies to the SBISD Police Department during a recent after-school outing. Officer Nancy Avila welcomed the girls and received the cookies on behalf of fellow officers who were out on duty at the time.

Avila, the campus officer assigned to Spring Branch Middle School, where most of the girls in the troop will eventually attend, took the opportunity to introduce herself and ask the girls their names to get a jumpstart on relationship-building.

Females in Law Enforcement

Avila spoke to the VOE fourth-grade scouts about her job responsibilities and her path to becoming a police officer. She also answered several "great" questions, including:

• Q: Does the police department have a jail cell?
  A: They have holding cells, but they’re not used very often.

• Q: Why do you have to wear that vest and so much equipment?
  A: For protection and to be prepared for any incidents.

• Q: Do you have any police dogs?
  A: The department has three canine “officers.”

• Q: Do you just patrol in SBISD schools?
  A: The main focus is to keep the district safe, but as a Texas-licensed peace officer, Avila and fellow officers are required to respond to emergency situations, even if they are not in the district.

• Q: Does a student get in trouble if they make a false call?
  A: Yes! We don’t know if it’s a true emergency or not, so we have to respond immediately. It’s not okay to make false police reports because it wastes time and resources.

The "Cookies for Heroes" donations were truly appreciated by Officer Avila and her coworkers.

“We feel honored and feel the love. It’s really hard for us to do our jobs sometimes, so when we get appreciation like this, it makes us feel so good,” said Officer Avila. “It helps us know we’re doing the right things here in the department.”

Avila also gave the troop a behind-the-scenes tour of the police station, showing them the workout room, the chaplain’s office, the holding cells, the evidence lockers, the officers’ locker rooms, and the dispatch center.

“In the state of Texas, if you’re at least 10 years old, you can face serious consequences for making bad choices,” Avila said. “So always do the right thing, even when no one is looking.”

New Fans

During the tour, many of the girls asked for autographs from the dispatcher, Avila, and other officers in the building.

“That’s a first,” said an officer passing by. “I’ve never been asked for my autograph before!”

The autograph requests from the young fans not only made the officers feel like important celebrities, but the treats brought by the troop were the “cookie on top” that demonstrated their appreciation for the work of SBISD police officers.

Character Development

The philanthropy of Troop 124021 supports the Core Characteristic of a T-2-4 Graduate: becoming and being ethical and service-minded. The Core Characteristics were identified by the Spring Branch community as essential for future success after graduation.

Thank you, Troop 124021, for your generous support of our SBISD Special Education teachers and police department employees. 

We are #SBISDProud of your kindness and good character.