Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Hernandez.
Gabby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Mexico City and arrived in Houston in 1989. I started working with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) in 1992 in the Multilingual Department. I transitioned from the Accounting Department, Strategic Partnerships, the Early Childhood Department, School Support Services-Parent Engagement, and Family and Community Engagement. Later, I joined Stand for Children as Assistant Director. These various roles and positions, especially the current one with HISD Elementary Curriculum and Development as Manager of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), have shaped my passion for improving all families’ educational opportunities. I had the chance to attend Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, majored in Broadcasting and Communications /Social Sciences, and obtained a BS in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Houston Downtown, Houston, TX.
Two of my biggest accomplishments during my career are the recognition from the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) with Hanah G. Solomon, the highest honor for making a difference in the community, I am the only Latina receiving this award from this organization. The second award is from HIPPY USA with the Avima Lombard National Administrator of the Year for innovation, vision, and getting things done in my community. I have been working with HISD for 29 years. I started my career very young, with no English and High School diploma from my country. I learned English on my own by reading and watching TV. I decided to go back to school and accomplish a professional career after 20 years with four children and five grandchildren.
The HIPPY program has brought so many accomplishments in my life and satisfaction, by managing this program I have the opportunity to develop my broadcasting skills by participating in TV interviews, Local radio station, I write articles in Spanish in Familias Latinas Magazine, and I conducted several interviews for our HISD TV channel.
I love to empower our Home Instructors (the part-time employees working in HIPPY) to continue their higher education and serve as role models for their children. I have implemented several programs for parents in our school district and when I volunteer at my church. Currently, I am serving in several local and national committees to improve educational programs.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Even though I came to this country with a legal visitor passport, I am an emigrant and some of the challenges were the language, the mixed cultures, and the fear to face all this in a new country. I met my husband at the border, and we get married in Houston when I was 18 years old. He is from Houston, TX with Mexican parents who emigrated a long time ago, so my customs and culture were different, even the music and the way I dress up, I had to learn many things and speak another language. My husband did not want me to work, which was frustrating for me, I needed to continue feeling productive, educated, and progressing in my life. When I started working in this country, I felt very disappointed myself and I did not want to sell clothes in a store, I wanted to work in an office as my dad and help others to progress. This frustration challenged me to learn English and eventually go back to school to do what I wanted to do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a very passionate Manager for the HIPPY program in HISD. I supervise 40 Parent Tutors/part-time employees, 4-6 Coordinators/professionals, and five support staff. Our program serves approximately 700 families per year. I have been in this position for 18 years and every year I feel the need to innovate something for our families. I am constantly looking for business partners to come and serve our parents, donors, and speakers. Also, I contribute to writing grants to continue supporting our program and open more opportunities for employment. At the State Level, I serve on several committees, such as the advisory board, and planning for the program kick-off and coordinator retreats. National Level, I am a trainer for the HIPPY program and also serve on planning and improving committees. I assisted in writing the curriculum for parents of two years old kids.
I was serving on the National Committee to redirect the program during COVID-19. I am so proud to be very well known as a woman who makes a difference and helps families in my city and contributes to other cities with my knowledge and passion to serve other cultures and backgrounds.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me is to innovate, create new avenues for others and help them reach their goals with satisfaction. My success is defined by seeing others find their purposes in life and proceed with happiness and fulfillment.
I am continuously saying to all the people “it doesn’t matter what you do in life, you must be happy and enjoy what you do”.
I always say: I don’t like my job… I LOVE MY JOB!! I LOVE WHAT I DO!! and I say this with emotion, and passion and people say that just talking to me is contagious because they feel what I want to transmit.
