Mr. Simmons' Academic Workshop/Reading by Design Class

I am thrilled to start the 2024-25 school year as a reading interventionist and dyslexia teacher at Burnet Middle School. My focus as a teacher this year is to help students become better readers every day we enter the classroom. Reading and writing are two essential skills in life that will help you in everything you do. The feeling of accomplishment our students feel when they look back at the progress they've made in reading from August to May inspires me to do what I do daily.

This is my fifth year at BMS and seventh year in education. I've taught Academic Workshop for four years and am entering my second year in Reading by Design. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism and I absolutely love words and writing. I spent a couple of years as a sportswriter for newspapers after college and continue to freelance for newspapers and magazines from time to time. 

My wife Cheryl and I have four children. I am a huge Houston sports fan -- I grew up following the Astros, Rockets and Texans and spend way too much of my time looking at standings, schedules, stats and records. My children are all active in sports and other extracurricular activities and our family is ALWAYS on the go. I like fishing and playing slow-pitch softball in my free time as well. I've also developed an interest in baseball card collecting over the past couple of years with my sons.

I am looking forward to a great year.

The best way to contact me is via email at [email protected]. 

My daily schedule is below. 

8-8:52 p.m. First Period -- Academic Workshop

8:57-9:49 a.m. Second Period -- Academic Workshop

9:54-10:24 a.m. Bulldog Leadership

10:29-11:21 a.m. Third Period -- Reading by Design

11:26 a.m.-12:18 Fourth Period -- Reading by Design

12:18-12:48 p.m. Lunch

12:53-1:45 p.m. Conference

1:50-2:42 p.m. Sixth Period -- Academic Workshop

2:47-3:40 p.m. Seventh Period -- Academic Workshop