ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update September 22, 2010 Staff assignments approved The Aldine ISD Board of Education approved two staff assignments during its Sept. 21 meeting. Deidre Leaks was named assistant principal at Raymond Academy after serving as a literacy coach in the Houston Independent School District. Leaks received her bachelor s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas Southern University in 1996 and her master s degree in curriculum and instruction from the same university in 2003. She is certified as a principal. Prior to beginning her teaching career, Leaks was employed in Aldine ISD as a paraprofessional and a substitute teacher for four years starting in 1992. She began her teaching career as a third-grade teacher at Smith Academy in Aldine ISD in 1996. In 1999, she transferred to Reece Academy to teach kindergarten. She moved to Raymond Academy in 2002 as a second-grade math and science teacher and became the reading skills specialist and direct instruction facilitator at that same campus in 2003. She accepted her current position as literacy coach at Dogan and Scott elementary schools in Houston ISD in 2009. Leaks has 18 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 17 of those years with Aldine ISD. Mark Mitchell was named assistant principal at Houston Academy after serving as that school s technology specialist. Mitchell received his bachelor s degree in Christian leadership from the College of Biblical Studies in 2005. He meets district requirements for this position. He began his teaching career at Inwood Baptist School in 1993. During the next six years, he served as a teacher, coach, athletic director and administrator at that school. In 2000, he moved to Texas Christian School where he served as a computer teacher, coach, athletic director, and dean of students. In 2002, he moved to Aldine ISD where he served as a paraprofessional at Harris Academy. In 2005, he became the technology specialist and served as a social studies teacher at that same campus. He transferred into his current position as technology specialist at Houston Academy in 2006. Mitchell has 17 years of experience in the field of education and he has spent eight of those years with Aldine ISD.
ASF receives $20,000 donation From AISD, Lone-Star College North Harris During the Sept. 21 Board of Education meeting, the Aldine Scholarship Foundation (ASF) received $20,000 in donations from Aldine ISD and Lone Star College-North Harris. Each institution donated $10,000, which will go towards providing scholarships to Lone Star College-North Harris for Aldine ISD graduates. CeCe Sutphen made the presentation on behalf of the college, while Dr. Keith Clark made the presentation on behalf of the school district. Accepting on behalf of ASF was ASF board member Dr. Charlotte Davis. ASF is a non-profit organization consisting of business people, educators and members of Aldine ISD and Lone Star College-North Harris. Donations are collected and invested and placed in certificates of investment with the principle remaining perpetually untouched. All investment proceeds are used to pay college tuition for AISD graduates to attend any school in the Lone Star College system. Since its inception in 1991, ASF has awarded 760 scholarships to deserving AISD seniors. During the 2009-10 school year, 65 AISD graduates received ASF scholarships. For more information on ASF, or to make a donation, contact Perla Davila at (281) 985-6289.
Employees recognized During the Sept. 21 Board meeting, a number of Aldine ISD employees were recognized for the contributions they make to the district on a daily basis. Richard Delgado, executive director of transportation, named Esther Hinojosa as his department s Employee of the Month. Hinojosa works at the east side transportation department in the payroll office. She has been with the district for 20 years and has been with the transportation department for 16 of those years. Emitte Roque, executive director of buildings and properties, named Eisenhower Senior High School as his department s Yard of the Month. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Paula Gonzales, assistant head custodian Johnny Majors, yard man Ciro Ibanez and principal Ben Ibarra. Roque also named Stehlik Intermediate as his department s Building of the Month. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Maria Gonzalez and assistant principal Juan Carlos Vargas. Dani Sheffield, executive director of child nutrition services, named the cafeteria staff at Jones Elementary School as her department s Team of the Month. The team consists of manager Roberta Robertson, and staff members Beverly Diaz, Melissa Guzman, Deborah Perez, Margarita Ruiz- Velasco, Rebecca Viera, Theresa Watson, Jeanette Williams, and Saadia Williams. The CN supervisor is Terrie Littleton and the school s principal is Cheryl Fontenot.
Grants announced Judy Hoya, program director of resource development, announced a number of grants during the Sept. 21 Board meeting. Rebecca Duong, principal of Grantham Academy, and language arts teacher Rhonda Odom secured a $500 donation from Aaron s. The money will be used to purchase materials for students and for student, teacher and staff incentives. Three Aldine ISD schools received 21 st Century Community Learning Center grants. Wanda Walker, the 21 st Century CLC coordinator, was joined by Hoffman Middle School principal Cheryl Matthews, Shotwell Middle School principal Mable Holt and Tiffany Sims, the 21 st Century CLC site coordinator at Stovall Middle School who were recognized for receiving the grants. Each school received $80,000 in grant funding to provide after-school services to students. Marcus Pruitt, principal of Aldine Middle School, Rebecca Duong, principal of Grantham Academy, Crystal Phlegm- Rollins, counselor at Hambrick Middle School, Mable Holt, principal of Shotwell Middle School, Dawn Ayers, assistant principal of Shotwell Middle School and Clint Holden, assistant principal of Teague Middle School, each received a College Readiness Initiative for Middle School Students pilot grant. The purpose of the grant is to implement programs that increase the preparedness of middle school students to be successful on the English I and Algebra I EOC assessments and ultimately meet the college readiness standards set for the Algebra II and English III EOC assessments. Each school chose to partner with the College Board. Each campus received a two-year grant totaling $150,000. The grants announced at the Sept. 21 Board meeting totaled $990,500.
Program presented Deborah Johnson, program director of secondary social studies, and Shirley Worden, program director of elementary/intermediate social studies, presented the program during the Sept. 21 Board meeting. They announced that a number of Aldine ISD social studies students competed at National History Day at the University of Maryland in June. They also presented the senior group documentary produced by a group of Eisenhower Senior High School students, titled, A Temple Built on Innovation. AISD students returned with two third-place finishes and three top 10 finishes at National History Day.