Taking the STAAR can be daunting for students and North Ridge Elementary wanted to hype up their students as they headed into testing. Paige Pittman, a third-grade teacher at North Ridge, is family friends with Texas Tech Head Football Coach Joey McGuire and asked him to come visit with the students.  

McGuire was a high school teacher and coach for many years. He even served as a testing coordinator for a couple of years. He told the teachers that he understands the stress they are feeling right now. They have done their best to prepare the students and now it’s game time. 

The students listened eagerly to Coach McGuire’s motivational words and walked away more prepared for the test ahead of them.  

Pittman asked her students how they felt after Coach McGuire pumped them up. The students said they felt like they could do anything. They loved it when he said they could stick it out for the long run and that they were prepared by their teachers for this moment.

Of course, Coach McGuire ended his talk with the RAIDER POWER chant that could be heard echoing down the hallways. Afterward students soaked up encouragement from the younger grade levels and past teachers who helped prepare them for this moment.

Pittman believes having a local leader encourage elementary test takers and the staff members who help prepare them was incredibly beneficial for the campus.  

“Not only did he motivate the students, but he also made sure to tell the teachers that they did a great job in the preparation for this moment,” said Pittman. “He made sure that everyone in the room felt encouraged and seen.” 

The students went into their test with their heads in the game knowing they were prepared to tackle the STAAR.