ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update

May 19, 2010

Staff assignments approved

During a special called Board meeting on May 4, Aldine ISD trustee approved one staff assignment.

Dr. Rebecca Duong was named principal at Grantham Academy after serving as principal at Hall Career Academy. Duong received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston in 1996, her master’s degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M in 2003 and her doctorate in educational administration from that same university in 2009. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD as a sixth-grade ESL language arts teacher at Stehlik Intermediate School in 1996. In 2002, she transferred to Smith Academy as the all-levels writing skills specialist. In 2005, she was appointed the curriculum assistant principal at Plummer Middle School where she served for three years before assuming her current position as principal at Hall Career Academy in 2008. Dr. Duong has spent all of her 14 years in education with Aldine ISD.

During the May 18 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved a number of staff assignments and two administrative transfers.

Kristina Delatore was named grant accountant after serving as a temporary financial accountant at the University of Houston. Delatore received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2007. She is currently pursuing Certified Public Accountant certification through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She began her career in accounting in 2004 as an accountant at Goliad Energy Productions, LLC. In January 2009, she moved into a temporary accountant’s position at Northwest Petroleum, LLC, before joining UHY Advisors TX, LLC in July of the same year. Delatore has six years of experience in the field of accounting.

Laura Hunter was named principal of Eisenhower Ninth Grade School after serving as an assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High School. Hunter received her bachelor’s degree in English from Cleveland State University in 1990 and her master’s degree in education from the University of Houston in 2003. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career as an English teacher at Eisenhower Senior High School in 1992, where she also served as the junior varsity and then varsity cheerleader sponsor. In 2001, she became the Educational Service Manager at the same school. Her duties in that position included administrative as well as counseling responsibilities. Between 2006 and 2008, she served as one of the administrative assistant principals at Eisenhower Senior High before moving into her current position as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction. Hunter has spent all of her 19 years in education with Aldine ISD.

Mable Holt was named principal at Shotwell Middle School after serving as principal of Wilson Intermediate School. Holt received her bachelor’s degree in teaching from Sam

Houston State University in 1977 and her master’s degree in educational administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1984. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. She began her teaching career as a speech and physical education teacher and head basketball and track coach in Marlin ISD in 1977. In 1980, she moved to Splendora High School in Splendora ISD as the director of girls’ athletics and head basketball and track coach, and teacher of journalism, speech and physical education. Holt left education temporarily in 1987 but returned in 1990 to assume a position in Aldine ISD at Hoffman Middle School as a sixth-grade science teacher. In 1993, she was named assistant principal at that same school. In 2002, she was named principal of Wilson Intermediate School. Holt has 30 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 20 of those years with Aldine ISD.

Guadalupe Munoz was named principal of Oleson Elementary School after serving as an assistant principal at MacArthur Senior High School. Munoz received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from West Texas A&M University in 1997 and her master’s degree in administration from Sam Houston State University in 2008. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career as a math teacher at Rivera High School in Brownsville ISD in 1998. In 1999, she joined the staff at Fannin Middle School in Amarillo ISD as a math teacher. In 2001, she joined Aldine ISD where she taught math at MacArthur Senior High School. She also coached basketball and volleyball and served as the math skills specialist before assuming her current position as assistant principal at MacArthur High in 2007. Munoz has 12 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent nine of those years with Aldine ISD.

The Board also approved two administrative transfers. Winston Steele was named curriculum assistant principal at Nimitz Senior High School after serving as an assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High, while James Metcalf was named curriculum assistant principal at Hoffman Middle School after serving as an assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High School.

Southwestern Energy makes donation to Raymond Academy

During the May 18 Board meeting,

representatives from Southwestern Energy Company made an $8,700 donation to Raymond Academy to help fund its after-school program. The company, located in Aldine, recently held a golf tournament to help raise funds for the school. On hand to present the check to Raymond principal Dr. Linda Miller were Susan Richardson, Southwestern’s manager of charitable

contributions, and Cheryl Roberts, senior team assistant for R2 and new ventures. Also on hand for the check presentation were assistant principals Delilah St. Julian and Peter LeBlanc and teacher Justin Pluckhan.

Magnet schools earn national recognition

During the May 18 Board meeting, Olivia Boatner, director of Magnet schools, announced that four AISD Magnet schools were recently honored by the Magnet Schools of America. Carver High School, under the direction of principal Tom Colwell, was named a Magnet School of Excellence Award winner, while Carter Academy, under the direction of principal Robert Graham, Raymond Academy, under the direction of

principal Dr. Linda Miller, and Wilson Intermediate, under the direction of principal Mable Holt, were named Magnet Schools of Distinction.

Employees recognized During the May 18 Board meeting, a number of Aldine ISD employees were

recognized for the contributions they make to the district on a daily basis. Emitte Roque, executive director of

buildings and properties, named deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center as the Building of the Year. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Maria Mejia and principal Rosa Mattern.

Roque named Escamilla Intermediate as

the Yard of the Year. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Maria Garcia, yardman Alton Honeycutt and assistant principal Joyce Ross.

Roque also handed out monthly awards. The Building of the Month went to Magrill Elementary School. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Verlean James and principal Robin Williams.

The Yard of the Month Award went to

Stovall Middle School. On hand to accept the award were yardman Roy Edmond and assistant principal Benjamin Bostick.

Dani Sheffield, executive director of child nutrition services, named the Nimitz Senior High School cafeteria staff as her department’s Team of the Month. The team consists of managers Katrina Gonzales and Tammy Cantu and specialists Rosa Alvarado, Luz Alvarez, Charles Barber, Rosalyn Brisby, Betty Eagleton, Sharon Gay, Francine Gibson, Shirley Gilmore, Faylean Harper, Marvis Jenkins, Sandra

Keough, Teresa Madron, Ura Moses, Martha Perez, Demona Ray, Michelle Sherman, Maria Valle, Debbie Vasquez, Lidia Velasquez, Paula Veleros and Miranda Williams. The CN supervisor is Terrie Littleton and the principal is Alex Jordan.

Richard Delgado, executive director of transportation named Dora Watson and Carolyn Badley as his department’s Employees of the Month. Watson works at the east side transportation department as a dispatcher and has been with Aldine ISD for 21 years, while Badley also works at the east side transportation department as a route driver. She has been with the district for 29 years.

Grants announced

During the May 18 board meeting, Judy Hoya, program director of resource development, announced a number of grants the district received.

Robert Graham, principal of Carter Academy, and Maryella Stevens, the school’s music teacher, received a $25,000 donation worth of free editions from the Houston Chronicle for teachers, students and their families during the 2009-10 school year. Joining the two at the Board meeting was Rebecca Jones of the Chronicle.

Monica Donaldson, IB Magnet schools coordinator, along with Eisenhower Middle Years Programme Partnership members Mable Holt, Peggy Tomme, Cheryl Matthews, Wanda Walker, Charlotte Davis, Mel McGowen and Jennifer McBride teamed up to secure a $10,000 grant from International Baccalaureate for funding workshop registration and annual fees.

Mable Holt, principal of Wilson

Intermediate School, secured a $4,700 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education-Let’s Build Something Together grant. The money will be used to update Wilson’s courtyard.

Xandra Williams-Earlie, program director of secondary science, has worked with Region 4 in partnering on their 2010-11 Regional Science Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching Program grant. The Region 4 Science Collaborative is a grant-funded program that provides sustained and high-quality professional development based on the science TEKS and TAKS objectives. Aldine ISD received $50,000 of the $150,000 grant.

Lori Garcia, principal of Black Elementary School, and PE teacher Marina Zepeda, teamed up to secure a $55,000 KaBoom! Playground grant. The KaBoom! playground was installed May 7 with the assistance of more than 200 community and business partners.

The amount of the grants announced at the

May 18 Board meeting totaled $153,385. Program presented

During the May 18 board meeting, Sara Ptomey, executive director of curriculum and instruction, presented the program. She introduced a number of students, and their parents, who attained academic accomplishments during the 2009-10 school year.