ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update

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1 ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update June 13, 2012 Staff assignments approved During a special called meeting on May 18 of the Aldine ISD Board of Education, Aldine ISD Trustees approved three staff assignments. The three individuals were introduced during the June 12 Board meeting. Juan Santos was named principal of Garcia-Leza EC/Pre-K Center after serving as an assistant principal at Orange Grove Elementary School. Garza received his bachelor s degree in computer information from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2003 and his master s degree in educational administration from the University of St. Thomas in He is certified as a principal. He began his career as a third-grade bilingual teacher at Patterson Literature Magnet Elementary School in Houston ISD in In 2006, he transferred to Barrick Elementary School where he taught third-grade bilingual and served as grade level chair and then became the Title I coordinator at that same campus in He was appointed to his current assignment as an assistant principal at Orange Grove Elementary School in Garza has eight years of experience in the field of education and has spent three of those years with Aldine ISD. Innetta Carter was named principal at Harris Elementary School after serving as an assistant principal at that same school. Carter received her bachelor s degree in elementary education from Texas Southern University in 1991 and her master s degree in counseling from Prairie View A&M University in She also has a master s degree in educational administration, which she received from Prairie View A&M University in She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career at Goodman Elementary School in 1991, where she taught second- and third-grade gifted and talented. She transferred to Gray Elementary School in 1999 and served as a skills specialist, counselor and special programs director before assuming her current position as an assistant principal at Harris Elementary School in Carter has spent all of her 21 years in education with Aldine ISD. Jose Almendarez was named principal at Sammons Elementary School after serving as an assistant principal at Lewis Middle School. Almendarez received his bachelor s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1994 and his master s degree in administration from Sam Houston State University in He is certified as a principal. He began his teaching career as a math teacher and coach in Corrizo Spring ISD in He moved to Aldine ISD in 1999 to teach Algebra I at MacArthur Ninth Grade School, where he was the campus Teacher of the Year in In 2003, he was named an assistant principal at Hambrick Middle School and transferred to Nimitz Ninth Grade School in 2006 to serve as the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction. He was selected by Houston A+ Challenge to serve as a principal intern in its Principal Leadership Academy in His internship was completed at Eisenhower High School and Escamilla Intermediate School. He moved into his present position as an assistant principal at Lewis Middle School in Almendarez has 17

2 years of experience in the field of education and he has spent 13 of those years with Aldine ISD. During the June 12 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved a number of staff assignments and administrative transfers. Veronica White was named principal of Smith Academy after serving as an assistant principal at Rayford Road Intermediate School. White received her bachelor s degree in elementary education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1992 and her master s degree in school administration from that same university in She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career as a pre-kindergarten teacher at Lakewood Elementary School in North Forest ISD in In 1994, she taught fourthgrade at that same school. She joined Aldine ISD in 1998 as a fourth-grade teacher at Gray Elementary School. In 1999, she transferred to Carter Academy where she served as a fourth-grade teacher for one year, reading specialist for a year and skills specialist for six years. During the school year, she was named Carter Academy s Teacher of the Year. She was named an assistant principal at Gray Elementary School in 2008 and transferred into her current position as an assistant principal at Rayford Road Intermediate School in White has 18 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 14 of those years with Aldine ISD. Stephen Heady was named an assistant principal at Aldine High School after serving as a science skills specialist at that same school. Heady received his bachelor s degree in science from Bob Jones University in 1981 and his master s degree in literature from Indiana State University in He meets district requirements for this position. He began his teaching career in 1993 as a science teacher at Grantham Academy. He transferred to Aldine Ninth Grade School in 1998 to teach biology and physical science and served as department chair. He moved into his present position as a science skills specialist at Aldine High School in Heady has spent all of his 19 years in education with Aldine ISD. Francis Nathan was named assistant principal at MacArthur High School after serving as a math teacher at Plummer Middle School. Nathan received his bachelor s degree in political science from Lamar University in 2004 and his master s degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M University in He is certified as a principal. He began his teaching career as a math teacher and football coach at Edison Middle School in Port Arthur ISD in 2004, where he was rookie Teacher of the Year in 2005 and a finalist for the Port Arthur ISD Rookie Teacher of the Year that same year. He joined the staff at Plummer Middle School as an eighth-grade math teacher and coach in Nathan has eight years of experience in the field of education and he has spent six of those years with Aldine ISD. Daniel Blanson was named an assistant principal at Aldine Ninth Grade School after serving as the Plato instructor at Eisenhower High School. Blanson received his bachelor s degree in management information system technology from Prairie View A&M University in 2005 and his master s degree in educational administration from that same university in He meets district requirements for this position. He began his teaching career as a health and wellness instructor at Reed Academy in He transferred to Eisenhower High School in 2008 to teach business education. In 2009, he moved into his current assignment as the school s Plato instructor. Blanson has spent all seven of his years in education with Aldine ISD.

3 Luis Lucio was named assistant principal at Carroll Elementary School after serving as program director of elementary bilingual/esl education. Lucio received his bachelor s degree in academic studies from Sam Houston State University in 2000 and his master s degree in educational administration from that same university in He is certified as a principal. He began his teaching career as a bilingual teacher at Oleson Elementary School in Also in 2004, he became the bilingual skills specialist at that same school. He transferred to MacArthur High School in 2005 as the parent liaison and ninthgrade initiative facilitator. He moved into his present position as program director of elementary bilingual/esl education in Lucio has spent all 12 of his years in education with Aldine ISD. Kory Jessie was named assistant principal at Calvert Elementary School after serving as a math skills specialist at Rayford Road Intermediate School. Jessie received his bachelor s degree in communications from Dillard University in 2001 and his master s degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University in He is certified as a principal. He began his teaching career in Aldine ISD in 2006 as a math teacher at Eckert Intermediate School, where he was the campus Teacher of the Year in He transferred to his present position as the math skills specialist at Rayford Road Intermediate School in Jessie has spent all six of his years in education with Aldine ISD. Katie Afyounizadeh was named assistant principal at Francis Elementary School after serving as the testing coordinator at Hill Intermediate School. Afyounizadeh received her bachelor s degree in science from State University of New York in 2003 and her master s degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University in She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in 2003 as a sixthgrade English teacher at Splendora Middle School in Splendora ISD. In 2005, she moved to Aldine ISD and Hill Intermediate School where she served as a reading lab teacher, early intervention coordinator, response to intervention specialist and the campus testing coordinator. Afyounizadeh has nine years of experience in the field of education and she has spent seven of those years with Aldine ISD. Coy Hooey-Adams was named assistant principal at Francis Elementary School after serving as the math intervention specialist at Smith Academy. Hooey-Adams received her bachelor s degree in business administration and finance from Prairie View A&M University in 1988 and her master s degree in educational administration from that same university in She meets district requirements for this position. She began her teaching career as a third-grade teacher at Sanderson Elementary School in Houston ISD in In 1998, she moved to Aldine ISD as a fourth-grade teacher at Smith Academy, where she also served as grade-level chair from She transferred to Aldine Academy as the math skills specialist in 2003 and returned to Smith Academy in 2008 to serve as the school s math skills specialist. Hooey-Adams has 18 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 14 of those years with Aldine ISD. Demedia Edwards was named assistant principal at Orange Grove Elementary School after serving as a language arts skills specialist at Magrill Elementary School. Edwards received her bachelor s degree in education from Henderson State University in 2001 and her master s degree in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership from Houston Baptist University in She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in 2001 as a first-grade teacher at Orange Grove Elementary School. In

4 2006, she became the skills specialist and campus dyslexia coordinator at that same school. She transferred to Magrill Elementary School in 2008 as a language arts skills specialist. Edwards has spent all of her 11 years in education with Aldine ISD. Cicely Bailey was named assistant principal at Harris Elementary School after serving as a special education counselor at Carver High School and Eisenhower High School. Bailey received her bachelor s degree from the University of Houston- Downtown in 1998, her master s degree in counseling from Prairie View A&M University in 2006 and her master s degree in administration from that same university in She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career as a math teacher in 1999 at the Brown School. In 2004, she moved to Aldine ISD to teach special education at Hill Intermediate School. She transferred to Lane School to serve as a special education counselor in 2006 and then transferred to Rayford Road Intermediate School in She moved into her current position as a special education counselor at Carver High School and Eisenhower High School in Bailey has 10 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent eight of those years with Aldine ISD. Aldine ISD Trustees approved the following administrative transfers during their June 12 meeting: Jacquelyn Narro from assistant principal at Nimitz Ninth Grade School to assistant principal at Victory Early College High School; Juan Carlos Vargas from assistant principal at Stehlik Intermediate School to assistant principal at Aldine High School; Christi VanWassenhove from assistant principal at Escamilla Intermediate School to assistant principal at Stehlik Intermediate School; Tami Schuler from assistant principal at Jones Elementary School to assistant principal at Spence Elementary School; Denise Butler from assistant principal at Francis Elementary School to assistant principal at Jones Elementary School; Claudia Salcedo from assistant principal at Reed Academy to assistant principal at Carter Academy; Irma Guardiola from counselor at Eisenhower Ninth Grade School to counselor at Davis High School; Marva Casey-Flentroy from counselor at Shotwell Middle School to counselor at MacArthur High School; and Nedra Brown from counselor at Spence Elementary School to counselor at Eisenhower High School. Trustees approve budget, tax rate During the June 12 Board meeting, Trustees approved the budget for the school year and the proposed tax rate for the school year. Anne-Marie Hazzan, assistant superintendent of finance, recommended the tax rate be set at $ ($ for interest and sinking and $ for maintenance and operations). The tax rate will remain the same as it was for the school year. Aldine ISD Trustees will not be able to officially approve the proposed tax rate until the district receives the certified tax roll from the Harris County Appraisal District in late August. At that time, the district will be able to set the tax rate. A notice of the tax rate appeared in the Houston Chronicle, Northeast News and the Leader newspapers. Trustees also approved the budget for the school year. Hazzan recommended the budget be set at $477,544,051, which is an increase of $25,968,214 from the adopted budget. This represents an overall increase of 5.75 percent. The budget provides funding for all programs and activities in Aldine ISD.

5 Trustees approve salary increases Aldine ISD Trustees unanimously approved a salary increase for all employees during their June 12 Board meeting. Gloria Cavazos, assistant superintendent of human resources, recommended that teachers, nurses, counselors, information literacy specialists (librarians) and speech pathologists receive a 2% salary increase with some equity adjustments or additional salary increases for employees who are making less than the market average in the area. Additionally, Cavazos recommended a 3.5% base salary increase for auxiliary and para-professional employees. Cavazos also recommended a 3% salary increase for all administrators in the district with some equity adjustments or additional salary increases for employees who are making less than the market average in the area. The salary increases will be in place for the school year. Trustees also approved Cavazos recommendation that longevity pay be reinstated for the school year. Longevity pay will not be retroactive for the school year. Bethune Academy, Reece Academy honored Olivia Boatner, director of Magnet schools, announced at the June 12 Board meeting that Bethune Academy and Reece Academy were recently named Schools of Distinction at the Magnet Schools of America Conference. The two Aldine ISD schools were the only schools from Texas to receive the designation. On hand to accept their plaques were principals Theresa Craft and Sherrie Batro. Grants announced During the June 12 Trustee s meeting, Stacey Smith, program director of resource development, announced two grants. Xandra Williams-Earlie secured a $254,631 grant from Chevron to fund The Jason Project. On hand representing Chevron, and to make the check presentation, were Joni Baird and Mike Hawes. Dr. Robert Ballard, a National Geographic explorer and discoverer of the Titanic and the Bismarck, conceived Jason s Project. The Jason Project will connect Aldine ISD middle school students with Jason research scientists for face-to-face

6 virtual learning. Twenty-one teachers will be trained as coaches to implement the program district wide. The experience will culminate with one teacher and one student who will receive hands-on experience aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus. Aldine ISD was one of only three Houston-area school districts to receive funding from Chevron to participate in the Jason Project. Cheryl Matthews, principal of Hoffman Middle School, and Hoffman teacher Monica Angelle secured a $5,000 grant from Lowe s to turn an enclosed area of the campus into a science learning arboretum. Teachers, staff members and students will volunteer to plant flower beds, lay pavers and create a pond where students can learn about natural science, while creating an environment that enhances and preserves the beauty of Hoffman Middle School for future generations. The grants announced at the June 12 Board meeting totaled $259,631.