The ECHO, Volume 93, Number 1, February 2021 Page: 3
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The ECHO
3
February 2021
now-
In the shade of the El Camino
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my father still does not speak English; I was acting
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Each month, The ECHO features articles from contributing writers within TDCJ, as well as from those who have
been released and want to send hope and insight back inside. This page features a variety of columnists. Enjoy!
Iliana “Lily” Archuleta — Murray Unit
2020 writing contest non-fiction finalist
as his translator up until the
moment I was sent to prison.
Whenever I close my eyes, I
re-live the beautiful memories
And that’s what real purpose is, my friends.
Purpose is being a decent pe rson—being loving, kind,
Staying positive through change
WSD implements innovative education methods
Jane Callaway, Crain Unit Reporter
women behind bars; I’m trying to be a great example
and fulfill some grand plan in life, but as I attempt that to show it off.
Editor’sNote:WriterAuthorRubenConstante
is a former member of The ECHO. He is now
enjoying Itfe in the freeworld with his family
and serving others through Blueprints for
very prompt, thorough answers from her. Mr.
Gardner also included “brain teasers” in our
lesson packets, which really made me think....
I feel that Windham School District is doing
an outstanding job in less than great circum-
stances. I was glad and felt very fortunate to be
in Ms. Bates’s class.”
• “1 enjoyed my homework, though, I missed
being in class where we have our folders and
notes,” Princess W. said. “I am glad to be
back in class, though, I used the time wisely in
completing my homework, Ms. Bates is a good
teacher — she assists us in class, intermingling
with the students.”
• “The experience helped me bond with other stu-
dents in the dorm to complete the homework. We
bond with the teacher in class, but this offered
us a different way of teaching and learning,
inspiring us to really try to improve ourselves,”
Crystal B. said.
Bates said, at the end of the completely suspended
classes, everyone had come through this situation
transformed. She remains optimistic and expressed
the timely message of “staying positive.” She said the
“new reality” has been hard for all concerned, but
much has been learned.
Students in both classes expressed tremendous
appreciation for their teachers and how they presented
the school assignments when classes could not meet
in person. It is obvious that both teachers have made
a positive impact on their students while dealing with
distance learning and new methods of instruction.
No one knows when the pandemic will end, but, until
then, it is very apparent that WSD’s approach to dis-
tance learning has had a positive influence and effect
on residents. Thanks for all your hard work, WSD! We
may not be able to control our circumstances, but we
can control our attitudes toward them. ★
Recently’, a Distance Mentorship Program (DMP)
participant asked, “How can 1 find my purpose?” My
answer was printed in the “Cross Counsel” section of
September’s issue of our monthly newsletter. Here, I
will share a portion of it. The brother had asked, “How
do I find my purpose?”
“You don’t. See, the problem with ‘finding’ your pur-
pose is it places the emphasis on your own work. It puts expense of being a decent human being,
you in charge of finding something that is assumed to
be lost. (1 mean, only things that are lost can be found,
right?)” I answered.
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could not afford to mess up by misinterpreting what
was said by either my dad or the cotton field owner.
Apparently, my skills as a translator were up to par,
because we secured the contract to clean the cotton
fields of that plantation. I was so happy to see the
smile of triumph on my dad’s face. Although he didn’t
say it to me, I could tell he was proud of me.
among us, we also shared our cotton-pickin’ mishaps,
of the morning’s work. For me, it was how I always
ended up with the dullest hoe which always caused my
family to laugh nonstop. Surrounded by food, family
and laughter, life seemed like a fiesta, one where my
dad had to stay sober. Most of the counties we labored
in were “dry”; buying or selling alcohol was illegal,
which meant my dad, who struggled with alcoholism,’
was sober for five to six months of the year.
I am thankful for this chapter of my life and all
of the good things that it taught me. Those blissful
moments of peace made the sweat and tears worth-
while. They made us seem like a normal family,
like the ones you see on T.V. with tight-knit bonds
between them. And just like a television family, our
peace lasted only for a season. ★
BBi
■r 1
F . J
""T" NTH. FURTHER NOTICE, CIASS
meetings are suspended.”
When these words were
spoken at the beginning
of last year’s pandemic, silence fell on class-
rooms of the Windham School District I
(WSD). COVID-19 changed our lives as resi- I
dents in TDCJ to a great degree. In all of the
adjustments that were implemented, however,
many positive developments became evident.
At the Crain Unit, I saw’ a renewed vigor and ■
dedication in our teachers to conduct remote classes
through handouts and lessons delivered to cells, thereby
enabling students to continue receiving their credits.
J. Brookshire, who teaches WSD’s Changing Habits
and Achieving Newr Goals to Empower Success
(CHAN GES) class at the unit, said that teaching remotely
was a challenge and, ar times, somewhat difficult as
teachers were requi red to work from home and students
were restricted to living quarters. She expressed being
grateful to her students for the outstanding job they
did of communicating on paper and said she missed
the one-on-one interactions and camaraderie with her
students. Brookshire noted the difficulty of teaching a
life skills class without one-on-one approaches to the
required topics. She and her students definitely made
the best of a less-than-desirable situation. Both she and
L. Bates, who teaches Literacy I, II and III and the Cog-
nitive Intervention Program (CIP), said their students
had done “exemplary work.”
Response to the pandemic also brought forth
a stronger collaboration of WSD educators and
TDCJ employees.
P. Dale, the Education & Recreation (E & R) officer
at the unit, was very organized in collecting homework
from the teachers and distributing it to it to students
in a timely manner. The students turned in their work
to her and she made sure the teachers received it. All
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"TT A HAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?”
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of this was made possible by the education officer,
guided by WSD Principal J. Gardner.
Students shared their thoughts and observations
after experiencing these new methods of learning:
• “It felt like more work, but 1 learned a great deal,”
resident Ginger M. said. “I would have rather
been in class, but I made the best of it.”
• “I grew closer to my roommates, because in
CHANGES class, we had to interview other
TDC J residents and ask them very thought-pro-
voking, insightful question. The personal touch
that Ms. Brookshire incorporated in our work
made it extra special,” Jamie D. said.
• “I prefer actual class time, but I was proud
of myself for accomplishing the work without
the teacher present, which really enhanced
my self-image. It also made me appreciate
the class time that we often take for granted,”
Hope B. said.
• Brookshire’s teacher’s aide, resident Alex V.,
observed, “1 felt all the students were really dig-
ging deep. We all missed our regular routines
but maintained positive outlooks. We all missed
interacting with the other students.”
• “I learned how to successfully work alone and
do research,” resident Dari N. said. “I would
send questions to Ms. Bates and would receive
striving is good for discipline and growth, many times wo must also be mindful of how quickly we can forget
That seems to be the most bitter rivalry creates more harm than good. the mission right under our noses. (In my case, it’s an
In this sense, my reason for existing may lose its energetic boy who wants to knock down my printer!)
adays. Whether I’m scrolling true significance, because I’m too busy trying to
through social media, engaged in conversations at accomplish great things which oftentimes are at the
work, or simply raising a 13-year-oId girl, I see how ___________________________________________________
prevalent the purpose talk is. And as a Bible teacher
As we enter the new year, let’s remember that.
Let’s be modest in our quest for transformation.
Let’s be humble in our search for greater things.
Because as I told that DMP participant, “When we
and mentor, I see how profoundly this affects us all. When I Served my time in TDCJ, I equate discovering our gifts and talents with divine
felt for the longest time that I had purpose, then we’ve missed the point of God choosing
to “find” my purpose, as if there " ' " " “J * '
was some grandiose design for
my life that I had somehow lost.
"W*WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS PUT IN
charge of a huge business transaction. You see, of my siblings and I sitting
I had the responsibility of acting as translator under the tailgate of my dad’s
JL. between my dad and the owner of a cotton field grey ei Camino to shield Gur-
in Morton, Texas. This was a business deal that would selves from the scorching hot
potentially feed not only our family but also dozens of summer sun while we enjoyed a lunch of delicious
families. Our family mostly picked cotton, though we chorizo and refried frijoles tacos. The aroma of spices
were fully trained to clean and pick fields that grew and homemade tortillas had the effect of melting away
beets, onions, corn anc watermelons as well. With this the pain of callouses on our feet and sooth the ache of
huge responsibility on my young shoulders, I knew I blisters on our chubby fingers.
My mom always made sure my dad had his chiles tore-
ados. In my young mind, the smell of the chile toreado
was the smell of power. Only a strong man like my father
could eat such a chile and not break a sweat. After our
meal we were always so full that we needed a siesta,
which could never happen as my father was afraid it
would cause us to get fired if we were found us in the
This began a longstanding family practice. As the fields asleep. Instead, making a joke of our painfully full
years progressed, I would translate many more nego- bellies and sleepy eyes, my dad would point at my mother
tiations and secure dozens more contracts. Even now, and tell us to blame her for feeding us so good.
Along with the spicy salsa and avocado we passed
Renew your sense of purpose in 2021
Ruben Constante Jr. — ECHO Contributor, Released
Editors note: When Texas school closures took place in HO2O due to COVID-iq protocols, Windham School District (WSD) correctional educators 1
began innovating new approaches to teaching within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Innovative efforts by TDCJ and WSD kept
students engaged and learning—even while restricted to their dorms and cellblocks. WSD and TDCJ were able to continue supporting students via distance learning
with individualized lessons, library books and a lot of encouragement. When students were able to return to classrooms, whatfollowed next was implementation of
the current hybrid model ofinstruction with small groups of students. Completion ofcourses required by the Board ofPardons and Paroles, assessments associated
with Career and Technical Education (CTE) skills and certifications, literacy level advancements and High School Equivalency (HSE) exams have remained a focus
throughout the pandemic. Writer Jane CaUoivay shared responses to these new learning models at the Crain Unit in Gatesville.
a
the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
God doesn’t want your talent. He wants your obedi-
ence and submission.”
In short, our gifts and talents do not determine our
“purpose.” Our reason for existing is to reflect God’s
image, and many times that simply means loving your
neighbor as yourself. It’s not about special talents,
For example, as I type this article at my desk, my because if we make that the standard of why we’re
19-month-old son is fussing for my attention. He here, then when we can’t exercise those talents (espe-
barges in between my legs and demands my attention, cially as an inmate who has no control over his/her
When I served my time in TDCJ, I felt for the longest I give hi m some snacks and put on his favorite car- environment), and then we’ll be filled with a sense of
time that 1 had to “find” my purpose, as if there was toon to keep him busy so that I can get this piece done, defeat. We’ll feel worthless. When that happens, well
some grandiose design fc-r my life that I had somehow I’m trying to type a great article and inspire men and realize we weren’t truly looking for our purpose,
lost along the way As a result, I began to search. I women behind bars; I’m trying to be a great example We were just infatuated with our skillset and wanted
wanted to find what I had lost. ...
I learned through countless trials and errors that feat, I can easily neglect the greatest ministry I have
my special task isn’t what I do in this world but who I been given: to be a good father for my son.
become. We live in a highly competitive world where
everyone seems to be vy ing for the most prestigious
position or the most powerful role. Regardless of the compassionate, faithful, and present. Sure, we each Living Ministries Inc. The ECHO appreciates
arena, competitiveness is present, and while healthy possess a skill set that can advance great causes, but his continued contributions. ★
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Texas. Department of Criminal Justice. The ECHO, Volume 93, Number 1, February 2021, newspaper, February 2021; Huntsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1364631/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.