SAN ANTONIO — It was like any other school morning for Elizabeth Malin when KENS 5 Anchor Sarah Forgany and partner Credit Human walked into Malin's DATA classroom, with a $2,000 check.
She was nominated by NEISD for the KENS 5 EXCEL Award for excellence in education. As a teacher for the last 13 years, Malin has had great influence on educating kids on important technology while giving them life long lessons.
In Elizabeth Malin's Technology Applications class, there are plenty of creations. "I'm creating my own flower," said one 8th grader as she showcased her project for Hispanic Heritage Month. "This one kind of represents the life of all Hispanics together."
Each key or brushstroke teaches Malin's students invaluable skills that she says will set them apart in a crowd and make them marketable in their job searches.
"It'll give them the edge that I know how to do this. I can create my own marketing campaign. I can design my own website."
By the time they leave middle school, Malin says they'll know how to create and design 3D models, graphics, and video games. They'll learn to code and build websites.
"They're only 13 years old. I tell them, you know what, you guys are learning what we paid thousands of dollars to learn in college."
Malin is their technology applications teacher at DATA which stands for Design and Technology Academy. It's a magnet school at Ed White Middle, basically a school within a school.
For as long as she can remember, she says she has loved all sorts of art. "When I was younger, I wanted to be a filmmaker."
And although these days she's not showcasing her creative side in film. "I feel that this is where my place is."
Malin's creativity still shines through meaningful initiatives that have lasting impact. For example, the campus-wide anti-bullying campaign where she teams up with students across DATA and Ed White Middle. Her classroom is ground zero.
"People in this age group love to gossip, " one student said adding Malin does not allow it in her class. "If she hears you, she'll say hey no gossip! And it's just kind of become a rule that we're all used to and now we don't do it anymore."
The student went on to say the rule has fostered a strong positive culture in the classroom, and brought out the best version of themselves. "It makes me feel like a good person," she said.
For Malin, it's personal. She remembers what it felt like as a child.
"I had a lot of the stigma growing up. And I felt different and I felt treated differently even by my own teachers and my peers," Malin recalled. "And that hurt. that hurt."
Now she works to make sure no student feels left out. "I am not afraid to hold them accountable."
Along with her zero-tolerance policy on bullying and gossip, she welcomes an open door communication style.
"If I'm wrong, please, you know, let's approach it. And you you have a right to approach me and say, Miss, I didn't get in trouble. Can we talk it out? you got after me by mistake."
Her approach has helped shape over the years, not only great art but great minds too.
"When kids are strong in who they are, when they're strong in knowing the people who are around them, they can feel confident.
It can transcend into the academics that can transcend into productivity," Malin said. "If we can connect here and here, then we're ready to serve."