Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Stars in the Classroom Award for Wilchester’s Anne Daily from SBISD on Vimeo.

If you had to name the educator on the Wilchester Elementary School campus to win recognition from the Houston Texans, health fitness teacher and football fan Anne Daily would likely be your first choice.

On Tuesday morning, Sept. 18, Texans linebacker and special team member Brian Peters surprised Daily inside the school gym with a Stars in the Classroom Award, given out to 10 nominated area teachers by First Community Credit Union.

Daily’s surprise award included a commemorative custom game ball, two tickets to an upcoming Texans home game with parking and sideline passes, a $200 gift card to Palais Royal, and a $500 donation in honor of Daily to SBISD. 

“I’m here today because you have a great teacher,” linebacker Peters told a gym filled with clapping and cheering elementary students who shared in Daily’s huge thrill.

“School had a great impact on me,” said the tall linebacker, who grew up in Ohio and later played college football at Northwestern University in suburban Chicago. Peters has also spent time in the Canadian Football League, and he played on the Minnesota Vikings team before arriving in Houston several years ago.

“I learned how to study in school, and I learned how to do well in gym class. Pay attention to all your teachers, and do really well,” he told Wilchester students.

Daily was nominated for a Stars in the Classroom award by fourth-grader Mitchell Walton, the son of art teacher Stephanie Walton.

“Mrs. Daily is a rock star coach and teacher! She encourages students to do their very best every day, in and out of the gym and classroom,” reads her nomination. 

One example of Daily’s impact on students occurs every year when Stratford High seniors who are about to graduate return to their elementary school and “ stop to give [Daily] a high five or a huge hug in the hallway.”

“It takes a special teacher in the lives of a student to get that sort of recognition well past the time students leave elementary school,” the nomination notes.

The award winner is described by many as an “ultimate” Texans fan, decked out in Texans logo gear from head to toe on game days.

Daily, who grew up and graduated here, has served 35 years in SBISD, including 23 years as an elementary health fitness instructor. 

After some years as a Westchester and Stratford high school business teacher and coach, she remains happiest with helping form and shape younger students.

“Best thing that ever happened to me,” Daily says of elementary health fitness. “The elementary kids are so loving. They really want to be here each and every day. It’s great fun to be here.”

It was great fun to be standing inside Anne Daily’s gym on Tuesday morning. 

“I had no clue whatsoever,” Daily said of her surprise award minutes after it was given to her by linebacker Peters. “I’m beyond shocked and excited.”