Welcome to Special Education!  My name is Barbara Damstra. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching students at various grade levels for about 15 years. I have two adult children and a fifteen-year-old Maltipoo named Rascal.  A little known fact about me is that I am a huge sports fan. I especially enjoy basketball!  I'm a loyal follower of all our Houston sports teams, but especially the Houston Rockets and UH Cougars.  I received my BA from the University of Houston and after working in the business sector for several years, returned to school to answer my special calling to become an educator.  I was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States with my family as a young child.  I have a passion for reading and language arts.  Spanish is actually my first language, and as a former ESL student, I believe that reading and language are learned through active participation and meaningful comprehensive instruction.  This is my seventh year working in Special Education.  I've had the honor of educating students with varying ability levels, becoming their advocate, and most importantly, watching them soar to unimaginable heights despite their limitations.  I am committed to providing all students with the best instruction possible to ensure academic proficiency and success in life!