Scott Platt brings over two decades of experience in education, serving in roles that include classroom teacher, interventionist, teacher specialist, assistant principal, and principal. His focus has been on strengthening Tier 1 instruction, mentoring educators, and fostering inclusive, high-performing school cultures.

Beyond his work in schools, Mr. Platt is engaged in Houston’s arts community and passionate about the connection between creativity, learning, and leadership. He believes in developing the whole child and in the power of collaboration between teachers, families, and the community to ensure every student succeeds.

Mr. Platt earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Belmont University and a Master of Education in Secondary Education from the University of St. Thomas. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Education at the University of Houston—Clear Lake. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, exploring new restaurants, reading, attending performances by the Houston Ballet and Houston Symphony, working out, and swimming.

“It’s an honor to join the Travis Elementary family. I look forward to working with our dedicated staff and families to continue building the pride and sense of belonging that make Travis special.”

Story by: Nancy Bonds, Director of Communications 

Sixth graders from Cedar Bayou Junior School recently took learning beyond the classroom during a “Bear Takeover” of Galveston, Texas, where they explored the wetlands through a hands-on kayak field experience. This exciting opportunity was made possible through a grant awarded to Artist Boat, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and preservation of coastal and marine environments through science and art.

Through this partnership, the Goose Creek CISD Science Department and Artist Boat provided every sixth-grade student at Cedar Bayou Junior School with a comprehensive learning experience that combined conservation, marine science, and art education. The program included a four-hour kayak field trip on Galveston Bay, along with fifteen hours of interactive workshops and presentations held on campus.

“Artist Boat has provided our students with an incredible opportunity to study and understand science in the field. The students’ understanding of coastal marine conservation will be so much richer through this experience; it is a fantastic opportunity for GCCISD sixth-grade students,” said Emilie Olivier, GCCISD Associate Director of Science and Health.

As representatives of both their school and the Baytown community, students embraced the adventure with enthusiasm, observing wildlife and engaging in meaningful discussions about protecting local ecosystems.

The GCCISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department, through an ExxonMobil grant, also provided support for the buses to facilitate the field trips, making this a collaborative effort that ensures every student can participate in the experience.

The partnership with Artist Boat, the Science Department, and the CTE Department highlights Goose Creek CISD’s commitment to providing unique, hands-on learning experiences that inspire curiosity and environmental responsibility.

Story by: Kami Johnson, CTE Business and Community Partner Facilitator

The Goose Creek CISD (GCCISD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department proudly names Fueling Brains its October CTE Partner of the Month. This recognition highlights the company’s deep commitment to giving students diverse, hands-on experience across numerous CTE programs and guiding the future direction of CTE within the district.

Fueling Brains is a curriculum company that uses a holistic approach to advanced brain development, challenging traditional education with unique, research-backed care. Importantly, its work with GCCISD goes well beyond standard academics, providing students valuable internships in fields of construction, education and business.

Fueling Brains is a vital partner for several key GCCISD programs, ensuring students learn crucial job-ready skills. Students in GCCISD’s Construction programs take on practicum internships focused on CNC machines and up to date technologies used in the industry. Students are able to apply what they learn in the classroom in a hands-on real-world setting.

Interns from the Education and Training Program gain experience building curriculum-based lessons and projects for the company’s right/left brain classrooms. Further, students in the Global Business Academy receive practicum internships on an international stage, letting them examine the operations of global commerce and work with staff members worldwide. Every student participates in a capstone project that is presented at the end of the year to showcase the work they have done and the skills they have learned through their internship experience.

In addition to these opportunities, the company extends its influence by serving on GCCISD CTE Advisory Boards. By sharing their expertise in education, construction, and business, Fueling Brains helps guide the strategic planning and curriculum development for these programs, ensuring they remain relevant to industry needs.

Beyond strategic planning, Fueling Brains frequently hosts teachers for job shadow events, helping educators better prepare their students for jobs by gaining direct industry insight. The company also recently showed its dedication to teacher training by serving on an industry panel for GCCISD’s yearly back-to-school Professional Development Conference, where representatives offered valuable perspectives on various career paths.

GCCISD congratulates and thanks Fueling Brains for its continuous focus on student growth and its excellent work as the October CTE Partner of the Month. For more information on how to partner with GCCISD CTE visit our website, https://schools.gccisd.net/page/cte.SWC

Story by: Nancy Bonds, Director of Communications 

Goose Creek CISD recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at De Zavala Elementary to celebrate the installation of a new sunshade structure designed to enhance outdoor learning and play, while promoting a healthier school environment.

De Zavala Elementary Principal Leah Abbate is joined by students, GCCISD staff members, and representatives from MD Anderson, Be Well™ Baytown, and Healthy Community Schools at the ribbon cutting for the school’s new sunshade.

The new shade structure provides a safer and more comfortable space for students to engage in outdoor activities. It supports the school’s ongoing commitment to sun safety education, which is integrated throughout the academic year through lessons and activities that emphasize the importance of protecting against harmful UV rays.

This project was made possible through the continued collaboration with Be Well™ Baytown, an initiative of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center sponsored by ExxonMobil. Since 2018, Be Well Baytown has supported Goose Creek CISD in expanding access to sun-safe environments and empowering families with knowledge about sun protection and wellness.

During the event, Amanda Kennington, Healthy Community School Coordinator for GCCISD, highlighted De Zavala’s ongoing success in implementing wellness initiatives and promoting healthy habits across the campus.

Principal Leah Abbate expressed gratitude for the support that made the project possible. “I would like to thank Angela Rowland and our staff for putting in the work to earn this shade structure on our campus,” said Abbate. “To MD Anderson, we sincerely appreciate your support of our sun safety efforts and cannot thank you enough for this beautiful sunshade. It’s wonderful to know our students will benefit from this addition for years to come.”

Currently, 94% of elementary schools in Goose Creek CISD have sunshades in their play areas, making them safer and more accessible. This ongoing expansion of sun-safe environments reflects the district’s commitment to student wellness and community collaboration.

The district extends its gratitude to Be Well™ Baytown, MD Anderson, and all partners who contributed to this effort, ensuring students across Goose Creek CISD continue to enjoy healthy, safe, and supportive outdoor spaces.