ActionLine…Your Board Meeting Update May 20, 2009

Staff assignments approved

During the May 19 board meeting, Trustees approved a number of staff assignments.

Rhonda Johnson was named director of stimulus programs at the Central Office after serving as principal at Hoffman Middle School. Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in English from Texas Southern University in 1974 and her master’s degree in English in 1978 from that same university. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. She began her teaching career as an English and French teacher at Carver High School in 1974. In 1976, she transferred to Aldine Middle School where she continued to teach English. She moved to Nimitz High School in 1978 and taught English until she became a counselor at that campus in 1987. In 1990, she was named assistant principal for administration at MacArthur High School and served in that capacity until assuming her current assignment as principal at Hoffman Middle School in 1996. Johnson has spent all 34 of her years in education with Aldine ISD.

Cheryl Matthews was named principal of Hoffman Middle School after serving as principal at Caraway Intermediate School. Matthews received her bachelor’s degree in health instruction from Tennessee State University in 1978 and her master’s degree in political science from the University of Louisville in 1985. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. She began her teaching career at Lane School in 1992 as a physical therapy assistant. In 1993, she transferred to Eckert Intermediate School to teach special education. She became the educational diagnostician at that school and at Aldine Ninth Grade School in 1996. In 1999, she moved into the position of program director of special education at the Resource Center. Matthews was named assistant principal for instruction at Aldine Ninth Grade School in 2002 and was named principal at Caraway Intermediate School in 2006. Matthews has spent all 16 of her years in education with Aldine ISD.

Alfred James was named principal at Caraway Intermediate School after serving as an A+ intern at that same school. James received his bachelor’s degree in vocal music from Xavier University in New Orleans in 1997 and his master’s degree in music from Michigan State University in 1999. He is certified as a principal. James began his teaching career as choir director at McKinley High School in Baton Rogue, LA in 1999. In 2001, he moved to the Houston area to become

the choir director at Eisenhower High School and in 2003 he transferred to Eisenhower Ninth Grade School to serve as choir director. In 2004, he moved to Stovall Middle School as an assistant principal where he remained until 2008 when he was selected by Houston A+ Challenge to serve as an A+ intern in its Regional Principal Leadership Academy for the 2008-09 school year. James has nine years of experience in the field of education and he has spent seven of those years in Aldine ISD.

Kristin Pfeiffer was named program director of special education after serving as assessment specialist at Parker Intermediate School. Pfeiffer received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Creighton University in 1993 and her master’s degree in special education from Sam Houston State University in 1999. She meets district requirements for this position. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1993 as a special education resource teacher at Gray Elementary School. In 1998, she transferred to Carmichael Elementary School as the assessment specialist. In 2000, she moved to Dunn Elementary as the assessment specialist where she remained until she assumed her current position of assessment specialist at Parker Intermediate in 2007. Pfeiffer has spent all 15 of her years in education with Aldine ISD.

Diego Calderon-Duran was named assistant principal at Stephens Elementary School after serving as a bilingual teacher in Galena Park ISD. Calderon-Duran received his bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Universidad de Extremadura in Spain in 1995 and his master’s degree in modern language from that same university in 1997. He is certified as a principal. He began his teaching career in 2000 in Galena Park ISD where he taught second- and fifth-grade bilingual at Galena Park Elementary School and Cimarron Elementary School. Calderon-Duran has eight years of experience in the field of education.

Michelle Burke was named assistant principal at Norma Garcia-Leza EC/Pre-K Center after serving as coordinator of Project ELLA at Keeble EC/Pre-K Center. Burke received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2002 and her master’s degree in instructional leadership from Sam Houston State University in 2007. She meets district requirements for this position. She began her teaching career in 2002 as a bilingual teacher at Keeble EC/Pre-K Center. In 2008, she left Aldine to become the director of operations at the Cathedral House Montessori School. She returned to Aldine in January 2009, in her current position as Project ELLA coordinator at Keeble EC/Pre-K Center. Burke has spent all six of her years in education with Aldine ISD.

Robert Toomer was named head football coach and athletic coordinator at Nimitz High School after serving as defensive coordinator/physical education teacher at Bush High School in Fort Bend ISD. Toomer received his bachelor’s degree in general studies from LSU in 1997. He meets district requirements for this position.

Toomer began his teaching career at Jesuit High School in New Orleans in 1998 as a health and physical education teacher and coach. In 2001, he moved to HISD as a speech teacher and assistant coach. In 2002, he accepted a position as a health teacher and assistant football and track coach at Galena Park High School. He was named the head boy’s track coach at that same school in 2004. In 2006, he was named athletic director/head football coach at Abbeville High School and in 2008, he returned to the Houston area and was named defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, assistant track coach, NCAA coordinator and physical education teacher at Bush High School in Fort Bend ISD. Toomer has 10 years of experience in the field of education.

Community members, employees honored

During the May 19 board meeting, a number of community members employees and students were honored for the contributions they make to Aldine ISD on a daily basis.

Ralph Wheeler with the Greenspoint YMCA thanked the Board for the district’s support of the Y and brought along students and staff members to also say thank you.

Additionally, Seth Sharr, a Greenspoint Y board member, and student Rory Wilson, presented Board President Dr. Viola M. Garcia a statue in appreciation of the district’s support of the Y. Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg also took the opportunity to thank Wheeler for his service to the

community over the years. Wheeler recently received a promotion and will be re-located to the Downtown YMCA and will be in charge of a campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new Downtown Y.

Ben Wilson, assistant superintendent of community and governmental relations, announced the three district employees who received A+ For Learning Grants. The three recipients are: Megan McEntire of Carver High School, Janelle Hoffart of Lane School and Andrea Chouhan of Jones EC/Pre-K Center. The

grants are $500 each and will be used by the teachers to try innovative programs in their respective classrooms.

Olivia Boatner, director of Magnet

Schools, announced the district’s Magnet Schools that received Magnet School of Excellence Awards and Magnet School of Distinction Awards at this year’s national conference, held recently in Charlotte, N.C. AISD schools named Magnet Schools of Excellence were: Carver High School, which was represented by assistant principal Natalya Henderson; Drew Academy, which was represented by

principal Earnest Washington; Hill Intermediate, which was represented by principal Donnie King; and Raymond Academy, which was represented by Dr. Linda Miller. AISD schools that were named Schools of Distinction were: Harris Academy, which was represented by principal Kathy Bacy, Houston Academy, which was represented by assistant principal Julie Johnson, Reed Academy, which was represented by Aletha Price; and Stovall Academy, which was represented by Barbara Childs.

Todd Davis, area superintendent of

Magnet Schools, also announced that Raymond Academy was featured in the United States Department of Education’s publication, Creating and Sustaining Successful K-8 Magnet Schools. Additionally, Carver High School’s

website will be featured on the USDE’s web site this summer. Emitte Roque, executive director of

buildings and properties, was named the Gulf Coast Maintenance and Operations Organization’s Person of the Year. On hand to announce the award was Abby Abou-Awdi, president of GCMOO. Roque received a plaque and a check for $1,000 that will be donated to the Aldine Scholarship Foundation.

Roque then announced the year-end and monthly awards for his department. The Building of the Year Award went to Gray Elementary. On hand to accept the award were principal Kimberly Stanley Martin, head custodian Mary Price and custodian Olga Cobar.

The Yard of the Year Award went to

Vines EC/Pre-K Center. On hand to accept the award were principal Dottie Pickens, and head custodian/yardman Francisco Bernal.

The Yard of the Month Award went to Grantham Academy. On hand to accept the award were principal Ben Ibarra, head custodian Maria Rosario Perales and yardman Juventino Gutierrez.

The Building of the Month Award was presented to Black Elementary. On hand to accept the award were principal Lori Garcia and head custodian Maria Landaverde.

Board President Dr. Viola M. Garcia singled out first-year Conley Elementary teacher Yolanda Martinez for her exceptional leadership qualities at an early age. Martinez graduated from UH-Downtown at 19. While in college, Martinez served as an executive officer for BESO. Since she has been at Conley as a bilingual intervention teacher,

Martinez has provided staff development for the National Association of Bilingual Educators she has also been selected to address educators at the Kindergarten Teachers of Texas Conference scheduled this fall. She has also received invitations to address fellow educators from Arizona schools and Wyoming State University. She is also working on her master’s degree in administration.

Dr. Garcia also surprised Board

Vice-President Dr. Alton Smith with a resolution from State Reps. Sylvester Turner and Diana Maldonado congratulating him on his birthday, which fell on the same day as the May board meeting, May 19. The resolution also commended Dr. Smith for his “exceptional dedication to Houston area children” by making a positive impact in their lives.

Dani Sheffield, executive director of child nutrition services, named the Jones EC/Pre-K cafeteria staff as her department’s Team of the Month. The team is headed by manager Kim Joubert, and specialists Delma Alaniz, Lewis Delecia, Nancy Fogle, Theresa Froscino, Petricia Lewis, Terri

Watkins and Ramirez Zoila. The CN supervisor is Terrie Littleton and the school’s principal is Gladys Moton.

Richard Delgado, executive director

of transportation, named three employees as his department’s Employees of the Month at the May 19 board meeting. Earning the honor were Irma Garcia, Carmen Orozco and Lesa Garcia.

Grants announced

Lisa Scarborough, program director of resource development, announced a number of grants during the May 19 board meeting.

Dr. Linda Miller and after-school

coordinator Justin Pluckhahn of Raymond Academy received a $15,574 grant from Lone Star College-Greenspoint to provide an adult ESL civics class and a GED class for the entire 2009-2010 school year. Additionally, Saxson Industries’

Warren and Joan Dale made an $800 donation to support the continued operation of Raymond’s after-school learning center. Carroll Academy librarian Sally Rash was recently named the winner of the American Library Association’s Sara Jaffarin School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. Rash will receive her award in Chicago this July, along with a $4,000 cash prize. Joining Rash at the announcement were Carroll principal Resie Wilson, Chris VanHammersveld, program director of

library media services and Cindy Buchanan, library management systems administrator.

A number of Aldine schools were

awarded Texas Ninth Grade Transition and Intervention Grants. The program is designed to transition students from eighth grade to ninth grade and to increase the number of students moving from ninth grade to 10th grade on time. The schools that received the awards

were: Aldine Ninth Grade School, Carver High School, Eisenhower Ninth Grade School, MacArthur Ninth Grade School and Nimitz Ninth Grade School. On hand to accept the grants were principal Walter Stewart of Aldine Ninth Grade School, assistant principal Natalya Henderson of Carver High School, principal Mel McGowen of Eisenhower Ninth Grade School and counselor Veronica Martin of Nimitz Ninth Grade School. Each school received an allocation of $80,750.

The grants announced at the May 19 board meeting totaled

$445,374.

Program presented

During the May 19 board meeting, Dr. Sara Ptomey, executive director of curriculum and instruction, presented close to 60 students who had achieved academic and extra curricular achievements during the school year. Joining the students at the board meeting were family members and friends.