According to Havlak, the writing competition isn’t just something to compete in during high school, “Learning to write is something that helps you out after you graduate. It helps you out your entire life.”
The girls said that their advisor, Connie Adams, helped them out throughout their years competing. She’s an English Honors teacher at Miles High School.
Girls credit Miles ISD response to COVID.
Both young ladies spoke about how the Miles school district responded during the pandemic. Districts across the nation had to adapt to, and overcome, numerous challenges. Schwertner spoke about Miles’ innovation, “The school district handled the whole situation really well. We had online classes, but they made the classes fun. The teachers and staff did a great job.” Havlak said that the district responded positively to the challenges, “Miles is flexible. That made the difference, I think. Everyone worked hard and adjusted.”
Schwertner’s father, Donnie, owner of Top Tier Grain & Feed, spoke highly of the school district staff, “The teachers didn’t leave any kid behind. They kept up their pace and when they returned to school, the kids hit the ground running. They have good leadership and they challenge the kids in a positive way, just like with the million dollar scholarship challenge. The teachers help shape our kids’ lives and that’s why we like our kids to go to Miles ISD.”
Danelle Schwertner, owner of The Depot at Top Tier, also spoke about the teachers making the effort to help the students during the pandemic, “The administration and the teachers are really good at what they do. Special education teachers event went out to homes. A lot of grace was involved in everything. The teachers had a different theme each week when we drove to the school to pick up the assignments. One week it was dinosaurs, another week it was superheroes. The lunch ladies handed out lunch each day to the students. Everyone here is helping to grow children who can go out into the world and be self-sufficient.”
Donnie commented about the unity of this small, close knit town, “The unity in the town helps the kids. They treat each other as neighbors. If one kid is having financial troubles or other problems, the other kids step in to help out. A couple of years ago, one of my customer’s daughters developed cancer. There were 2 high school girls working for me who created a fundraiser, even though the lady didn’t live here in MIles.” The names of the girls who organized that fundraiser are Hannah Pullin and Taylen Book.
As for Havlak and Schwertner, they’ll graduate in a couple of weeks, then head off to college in the fall. Havlak will be attending the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M, while Schwertner will study biology at Angelo State University.
