Home is Where the Growth Is

Our First Home in Wylie
It was a scorching day in July 2011 when Cristy and the kids pulled up to what would soon become our new home. The house was nearly empty, waiting for the moving van to arrive from our old place near San Antonio. The Vinson kids were still a month away from starting third and fourth grade at Smith Elementary, and that night, they experienced something memorable—a simple Taco Bell dinner on a mattress on the floor, in what they would come to know as “home.”

Fast forward to today, Kate and Cal are now seniors in college, preparing for their next exciting adventures. After 13 years of joy, laughter, and milestones in this house, it’s time for a new chapter. We’re downsizing to a smaller space, but don’t worry—we’re only moving a couple of miles down the road! We’re taking with us all the amazing memories that have made this home such a special part of our lives.

This house has been the backdrop to countless milestones—from first days of school to football games and tennis matches, from navigating the pandemic to celebrating life’s big moments. We are deeply grateful for the time spent here, the lessons learned, the love shared, and the growth we’ve experienced as a family. 

One of my favorite reminders of this is the door frame in our laundry room, where we marked the kids’ heights as they grew from elementary students to soon-to-be college graduates. Soon, that door will be painted over, ready for another family to create their own memories, but those moments will stay with us forever.

Tracking Student Growth with the Achievement Profile
Since those marks will disappear one day, I snapped a photo of the frame and sent it to our kids. It brought to mind another way we’ve tracked their growth over the years—through the Wylie ISD “Achievement Profile.” Just like those marks on the door frame, the Achievement Profile captures the personal growth of our students—their character, dreams, and the relationships that shape them. Our Wylie ISD kids recently completed their first entries of the year, crafting their personal mission statements, a tradition that mirrors the growth we’ve marked here at home, both physically and personally. 

Skyward is our student information system that we use to track students’ academic progress, but the Achievement Profile goes deeper as it allows students to reflect on their nonacademic side. Students in grades 3-12 can log in and update their Achievement Profiles with personal insights, and as they get older, more sections are added. We also provide students with the opportunity to update their profiles throughout the year on Wylie Way Days. The Achievement Profile is research-based, and only students themselves can edit the information, ensuring it truly reflects their personal growth.

If you’re curious, here is a sample of an Achievement Profile for a high school student. 

Students can log in at web.wylieisd.net/dashboard using their district username and password.  If you would like to see your child’s profile, have them log in and take a look together!

Several profile pieces are surveys created by positive psychology researchers, and we highly encourage parents to take the surveys as well. You can compare your results with your child’s and have some great conversations. Here are the key surveys: 

• My Top 5 Strengths – These come from taking the VIA Character Strengths Survey. This is a free survey and you can take it by clicking here. 
• Hope Score – Your Hope Score comes from the total of your responses to the Hope Survey developed by Dr. Charles Snyder, a hope researcher. Scores range from 6 to 36. You can take the survey by clicking here. 
• Happiness Score – The Happiness Score is a self-reflective assessment that measures how you perceive your experiences more often than not. We use the Happiness research from Shawn Achor.
• Grit Score – The Grit Score comes from your answer when taking the Grit Scale created by Grit Researcher Angela Duckworth. Take the Grit Scale by clicking here.

Fostering Understanding and Connection
Just like with our own children, we firmly believe that to educate students effectively, we must understand them as well. Our favorite way to get to know the students is to hear from them. The Achievement Profile is just one of the many ways that Wylie ISD provides opportunities for students to share their thoughts and experiences.

As my family gets ready to move, we’re looking forward to the memories we’ll make in our new home, while holding on to the love and growth we’ve experienced over the years. We’re excited for what’s ahead, right here in Wylie and living the Wylie Way!