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T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher: Trish Schappell

February 5, 2015, 6:28 am
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Trish Schappell of Rummel Creek Elementary School was named as SBISD T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher in January for her work and passion in creating the nonprofit group The Kids’ Reading Room, which has established several children’s reading rooms in area apartment complexes.

SBISD Board of Trustees recognized her on Jan. 26 at its monthly meeting. The T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher recognition is awarded to employees for ongoing efforts to embrace the district's goal to double the number of graduates who complete either military training, technical certification, or a two- or four-year degree.

Since November 2013, Trish, an interdisciplinary coach at Rummel Creek, has led highly successful efforts through The Kids' Reading Room to open book filled, children's reading rooms in several Spring Branch area apartment complexes.

Trish first formed The Kids' Reading Room with her husband, Vincent, after being inspired by a training program led by presenters from SBISD and the University of Houston.

Today, both high school volunteers and community adults serve as readers and mentors for reading room sessions held weekly at three big, area apartments as well as at Spring Spirit Baseball’s local center. The programs are always growing, and new volunteers are always needed.

The reading rooms are located at the Castlewood Apartments, 7000 Westview; Hammerly Walk Apartments, 8787 Hammerly Blvd.; and at the Gentry House Apartments, 9001 Kempwood. Spring Spirit Sports and Education Complex is located at 8526 Pitner Road.

The apartment reading rooms conduct weekly sessions where children check out and then return a variety of books and reading material on an honor basis. All the books, furniture and all supplies are funded by private donations.

Research shows that student access and exposure to books is a critical factor in a student's ability to read proficiently early and for them to do well in school. Many children served by The Kids' Reading Room have not had many books in their own homes.

Trish, who has served in public education for 20 years, aims to improve literacy for all. Describing her recognition as a “tremendous surprise,” she spoke about the need and mission involved in encouraging young readers. “Our mission is to promote literacy and instill a love of reading in kids,” she told Trustees, “and to hear from those children [tonight] and to see what a difference we are making, I’m just astounded.”

Sylvia Henriquez, an Edgewood Elementary mom who works at the Gentry House Apartments, told Trustees how popular her reading room is for her two children, Bianca and Juan. Her children visit the reading room often.

“We’ve been so blessed to have it. Just recently, one of the moms there came to me and told me what a struggle it was to for her to get her child to read with her on a nightly basis. She’s so grateful to see him get excited about reading with the reading room volunteer without having to be forced,” she said.

“And my children have had the privilege to help Mrs. Schappell set up the reading room because they are there every day.”

Also speaking in Trish’s behalf were Rummel Creek’s music teacher and choir director, Karen Donathen, and her son, Josh, an Eagle Scout who worked with the Rummel Creek community to donate more than 3,000 books and stock a reading room at the Hammerly Walk Apartments.

“Trish’s endeavor has united the entire district,” Karen said. Josh noted that The Kids’ Reading Room gives kids in the Northbrook High neighborhood a safe place to spend time reading with responsible adults and caring volunteers. Josh is now organizing National Honor Society students at Northbrook High to be volunteers in the nearby reading rooms.

Trish has held several positions at Rummel Creek, including math/science school improvement specialist and fifth-grade teacher. She’s taught in several districts, and was an assistant principal in Klein and Cy-Fair ISDs.

She earned her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, and she also earned a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. She holds a Principal’s Certificate from St. Thomas University, too.

“Being awarded T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher for The Kids’ Reading Room made all the challenges, sweat and tears all worth it!” Trish exclaimed after her recent honor. "Sometimes I get so caught up in the busyness of it all that I forget we really are impacting the lives of kiddos. Hearing the stories the speakers told reminded me that our efforts are not fleeting, and that meant the world to me.”

Under her leadership, The Kids' Reading Room has been awarded several grants. The nonprofit is now listed as a partner with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, among other honors.

Learn more about The Kids’ Reading Room.
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City Connections Grant Helps At-Risk Students Go to College

February 9, 2015, 9:36 am
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Houston City Council Member Brenda Stardig and Center for Afterschool, Summer
and Expanded Learning (CASE for Kids) Director Lisa Thompson-Caruthers present
a check for $5,000 to Executive Director of CollegeCommunityCareer, Kathy Rose.
For first generation, low-income students, the journey to college can be a struggle. Many lack support from parents through the application and financial process. According to USA Today, nationally 89 percent of low-income, first-generation students leave college within six years without a degree.

Students at Spring Woods and Northbrook high schools in Spring Branch Independent School District have the opportunity to receive extra help and encouragement in preparation for college thanks to a grant for their afterschool program, CollegeCommunityCareer.

CollegeCommunityCareer received $5,000 in the first wave of funding from the City Connections initiative with the City of Houston and Center for Afterschool, Summer and Expanded Learning (CASE for Kids) for its college preparation programs at the two Spring Branch campuses. Kathy Rose, executive director of CollegeCommunityCareer, says the grant will help fund civic engagement programs for their students.

“We will perform a community service project at a nonprofit location as well as expose our students to a cultural event such as the symphony, ballet, or theater by attending an event this spring,” said Rose.

The program meets weekly at each campus to teach teambuilding skills, prepare for the SAT, and complete college admissions and financial aid applications. Students also have the opportunity to tour college campuses and visit professionals in the workplace.

Students start in CollegeCommunityCareer’s program as high school sophomores and continue to receive mentoring until they obtain a four-year degree from a university. To enroll, they must be a first-generation student on the recommended or distinguished achievement high school graduation plan, and qualify for the free/reduced meal program.

In Spring Branch ISD, the partnership is helping reach the district’s goal to double the number of graduates successfully completing a two-year or four-year degree, technical certificate or military training.

“Grant funding for CollegeCommunityCareer partnership efforts at Spring Woods and Northbrook High Schools is a game-changer for our students who will be served by this important program,” said Linda Buchman, Community Relations Officer for Spring Branch ISD. “The opportunity for rich, well-planned and comprehensive college and career readiness activities will build within them the hope, the skills and the preparation necessary for them to achieve their dreams of higher education.”

City Connections is an initiative spearheaded by Houston City Councilmember C.O. Bradford last summer and CASE for Kids. The out-of-school time funding is intended to help fight juvenile crime and to promote child safety during the hours of 3-6 p.m. during the school year when parents are working and in the summertime. The funding is especially needed due to decreased state and federal funding streams which previously supported afterschool locally.

CASE for Kids promotes and administers the City Connections program. The City of Houston Parks and Recreation Program assists in the application process.

Grant applications for the afterschool funding continue to be accepted through April 6, 2015. Awards are announced on the first Monday of each month. To apply for City Connections funding, go to www.afterschoolzone.org and access CASE for Kids City Connections. Call 713-696-1331 for more information.

About the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Expanded Learning (CASE) for Kids
CASE for Kids, formerly the Cooperative for After-School Enrichment, was launched by Harris County Department of Education in 1999. CASE for Kids is an after-school intermediary which leverages community resources and strengthens the capacity of the out-of-school time field. Services benefit approximately 11,000 kids in greater Harris County. CASE for Kids programs happen before and after school, on weekends and during the summer. Go to www.afterschoolzone.orgfor information.

About Harris County Department of Education (HCDE)
HCDE provides education services to the general public and 25 school districts throughout Harris County and beyond. Services include adult education, programs to promote safe schools, after-school programs, therapy services, professional development for educators, special schools, alternative certification for principals and teachers, Early Childhood Intervention and Head Start programs. We offer purchasing procurement, grant development, program research and evaluation, records management, and school finance support. Since 1889, our services continue to evolve to meet the needs of our education public. Visit us at www.hcde-texas.org.
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YES Prep Northbrook High School Director Readies For First Year

February 12, 2015, 8:03 am
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Bryan Reed, School Director, YES Prep Northbrook High School
By Rusty Graham
Senior Writer, SBISD

Bryan Reed could hardly contain himself as he sat down recently for an interview in the commons area at Northbrook High School.

“I’m really excited to be leading the YES Prep high school here,” he said, unprompted, while looking around the large open area, the walls and ramps leading to the second level adorned with motivational slogans – and the Northbrook Raider, astride a black steed, setting the tone.

That YES Prep high school will be YES Prep Northbrook High School, and classes begin there this summer. The high school program represents the maturing SKY Partnership, an innovative collaboration between Spring Branch ISD, a traditional school system, with YES Prep Houston Public Schools and KIPP Houston Public Schools, the highly successful state charter schools.

The founding school director for YES Prep Northbrook High School, Reed has been splitting his time this spring between YES Prep Northbrook Middle and Northbrook High School. He’s spending much less time at his now-former school, YES Prep North Central, on Aldine-Westfield Road in Northeast Houston, where he spent 10 years as a teacher, then principal, then school director.

He didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher – like so many, he really didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do. Changing majors several times at the University of Florida (UF), he graduated in 2003 with a degree in psychology.

But it was his work at a small Catholic school during high school and college that set him on his current path. By the time he graduated from UF, he was a counselor at the school, as well as serving at one point or another as athletic director and working after-school programs, security – even performing custodial functions.

“I was their utility infielder,” he said.

An apt analogy, because coaching is in his blood. Coaching has been the root of several of his teaching jobs, and serves at the core of his leadership philosophy.

“I consider myself a coach first,” said Reed. “It drives who I am as a leader. I’m someone who’s always looking to get the best out of folks.”

The Catholic school experience made Reed realize that he liked working with kids. And he was ready to leave Gainesville after spending most of his life there. He had a friend who worked with Teach For America (TFA) and the more he learned about TFA the more he thought about educational inequality in the United States.

He signed up for TFA and was assigned to teach social studies in a New Orleans high school. It was an eye-opening experience, he said.

“The students were phenomenal,” he said, “but not at any level ready for college.” He said that he had 11th graders there who were “pre-literate” – they could barely read and write at all. “They were kids with no resources, who could have been successful.”

In 2005, the school was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. Reed had evacuated two days prior to landfall but watched the storm from afar and knew how bad it all was for New Orleans.

Legions of evacuees made their way to Houston, including many school-age children who were missing school. Reed said TFA called him and asked for help recruiting students from shelters to enroll in schools in Houston. “I slept on teachers’ couches across Houston for a month,” he said of that time here.

It was in Houston that he first learned about YES Prep, through a friend he met here. Reed was skeptical at first.

“I wasn’t sure I believed it,” Reed said. “He was so positive.”

But Reed checked it out anyway, stepping on the YES Prep North Central campus one day and teaching eighth-grade social studies the next, as well as coaching basketball and directing athletics.

Ten years later he finds himself the founding school director at YES Prep Northbrook High, leading what will be the transitioning and opening of a 140-student ninth-grade program. The school will add a grade each year as the ninth-grade class progresses.

He hopes to have his staff of seven teachers and five support persons hired by the end of this month. Space at Northbrook High School is currently being remodeled and is scheduled to be completed by the first of April.

He said the SKY Partnership is a big reason why he’s excited about his new role, considering his background at the large public high school in New Orleans and his 10 years at YES Prep.

“It’s an opportunity to be part of YES Prep but also be part of a larger school community,” said Reed. “It plays to my strengths, I think, to help partner these two worlds and make sure every student in the city is served.”

Reed is working with school leadership on the transition and has started integrating himself on campus, working the lunch area once a week. He has nothing but praise for Northbrook High School Prinicipal Randolph Adami and his staff.

“Randolph’s team is awesome,” he said. “They’ve been so accommodating. I’ve been blown away so far at how receptive they are … I’m going to hire staff that are equally as gracious and eager to partner.”

And that certainly fits in with yet another part of Reed’s leadership philosophy.

“Relationships are the foundation of everything,” he said. “We’re in the people business – students, teachers, parents, community.”

For more information about the SKY Partnership and school choice in Spring Branch ISD, go to www.springbranchisd.com.

At a Glance

NAME:  Bryan Reed
AGE:  35
HOMETOWN:  Gainesville, Fla.
EDUCATION:  Master’s degree, Education Leadership, Sam Houston State University
Bachelor’s degree, Psychology, University of Florida
PLACES WORKED:  Sarah T. Reed Senior High School (New Orleans), YES Prep North Central (Houston)
INTERESTS AND HOBBIES:  Coaching basketball, college football (specifically Florida Gator football), mediocre golf 
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SBISD Scholastic Art & Writing Winners Announced

February 12, 2015, 11:38 am
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Forty-two teenage artists and four writers from Spring Branch ISD schools have earned Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the annual regional competition sponsored through the Harris County Department of Education.

One student won a top level American Visions award, another received a $500 Trustees’ Incentive Award, and 13 other student artists won Gold Key awards, qualifying them to advance to national-level judging in New York City.

Fifteen students took home Silver Key art awards, and others earned Honorable Mention. In writing, two SBISD students won Silver Key awards and two earned Honorable Mentions.

View a selection of the winning artwork >>

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, now 92 years old, provides middle and high school students with an opportunity to have their personal work judged and shown. Through the awards, outstanding visual art and writing created by American teens is showcased to a national audience, promoting creativity and career development.

Former Scholastic Art & Writing winners who received this award in high school include notables like writer Truman Capote, photographer Richard Avedon, artist Andy Warhol, poet Sylvia Plath, director Robert Redford and fashion designer Zac Posen.

Across Harris County, 1,346 students from 18 separate public school districts, and private, religious, charter and home schools received Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention awards, along with American Visions and American Voices nominations. National medalists will be announced March 16 in New York City.

Winning art and writing entries were selected from about 5,000 regional entries, HCDE Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Coordinator Melba Kent said.

“We celebrate the talent of these young artists and writers,” Kent said. “We are proud to sponsor this competition and look forward to showcasing the work of these amazing youth.”

Named as one of 10 American Visions art nominees from the region is Memorial High’s Cheryl Mai. As a “Best in Show” finalist, she has earned a national medal and a $250 scholarship from Texas Arts Supply.

Memorial High art student Michelle Moore received the $500 Trustees’ Incentive Award from Harris County Dept. of Education for her drawing and illustration titled “Valentine.” 

Harris County Dept. of Education will sponsor a regional Gold and Silver Key Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 for art winners and Feb. 25 for writing award recipients. The ceremony will be held at HCDE offices located at 6300  
Irvington in Houston.

A separate Gold Key artists and writers reception will be held 5:30-8 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Glassell Junior School, 1001 Bissonnet.

SBISD Student Art Award Winners:

American Visions Awards

Carol, Cheryl Mai, Memorial HS
Memorial High
Cheryl Mai for her painting titled “Carol”

Gold Key Awards

Memorial High
Anna (Hee Won) Cho, Portfolio, “Reminiscence, Dream, and Me”
Macala Elliott, Photography, “Wall Flower”
Macala Elliott, Photography, “Tethered Truths”
Inchan Hwang, Mixed Media, “Seeding”
Inchan Hwang, Mixed Media, “Portrait of Neighbor”
Inchan Hwang, Art Portfolio, “People and Life”
Hee Jung (Jennifer) Kim, Mixed Media, “Patches of Me”
Seoyoung Kim, Portfolio, “Human Mind and Society”
Cheryl Mai, Art Portfolio, “Mai Portfolio”
Cheryl Mai, Painting, “Carol”
Michelle Moore, Drawing and Illustration, “Valentine”
Jihwan Park, Drawing and Illustration, “Choices”
Flora Thevoux-Chabuel, Mixed Media, “Desperate Souls”
Min Kyung Yun, Mixed Media, “Scattered Shoes”
Min Kyung Yun, Art Portfolio, “Friends and Family”

Pure Clarity, Julia Boyles, Spring Branch MS
Spring Branch Middle
Julia Boyles, Photography, “Pure Clarity”

Spring Woods High
Daniel Hernandez, Drawing and Illustration, “Cletus”

Stratford High
Grant Haralson, Photography, “The Truck”

Silver Key Awards

Memorial High
Ann (Hee Won) Cho, Mixed Media, “What I Am Made Of”
Ann (Hee Won) Cho, Mixed Media, “Inside My Dream”
Erica Kim, Drawing and Illustration, “Companionship”
Hee Jung (Jennifer) Kim, Mixed Media, “Splash of Color”
Hee Jung (Jennifer) Kim, Mixed Media, “Pieces of My Life”
Seoyoung Kim, Drawing and Illustration, “The Scream”
Eve Low, Photography, “Flight”
Joy Lu, Painting, “Golden Moment”
Ashley Park, Painting, “Touch of Reproach”

Memorial Middle
Kathryn Love, Drawing and Illustration, “Which Galaxy Are You From?”
Christina Ofori, Drawing and Illustration, “Self Portrait”

Spring Branch Middle
Mollie Macicek, Photography, “American Beauty”

Beauty.Is.Me, Selena Quintanilla, Spring Woods HS
Spring Woods High
Virginia Hernandez, Painting, “Summer Bloom”
Selena Quintanilla, Mixed Media, “Beauty.Is.Me”

Stratford High School
Ye-sol Han, Drawing and Illustration, “Reflection”
Savanna Kuhn, Ceramics & Glass, “Life in a Bubble”
Hyunjung (Victoria) Shin, Mixed Media, “Windows to Culture”

Honorable Mention

Memorial High
J.S. Burleson, Photography, “Untouched”
Hye Yeun (Angela) Cho, Painting, “24 Hours”
Seoyoung Kim, Painting, “Rendezvous”
David Salas, Drawing and Illustration, “Down to Sleep”
David Salas, Art Portfolio, “Me and My Animal Friends”
Flora Thevoux-Chabuel, Art Portfolio, “Wave”
Anna Zhuraveleva, Photography, “Leopard”

Memorial Middle
Lauren Dodds, Drawing and Illustration, “Raggedy Still Life”
Bokyung Jeon, Drawing and Illustration, “On Edge”
Hannah Khairandish, Drawing and Illustration, “Sisters”
Ashton McCain, Drawing and Illustration, “Self Panic”

Spring Woods High
Virginia Hernandez, Drawing and Illustration, “The Bright Path”
Elizabeth Limas, Mixed Media, “Dancing Skeletons”
Susana Resendiz, Mixed Media, “In My Father’s Hands”

Stratford High
Katelyn Balevic, Digital Art, “Beauty Is Toxic”
Maddie Dyer, Photography, “A Watchful Eye”
Zachary Harkins, Photography, “A Splash in the Rainbow”
Darian Julun, Digital Art, “Her Conscience”
Savanna Kuhn, Painting, “Uncle Jon”
Chayse Sampy, Drawing and Illustration, “Monarch”
Remy Velarde, Drawing and Illustration, “Mini Mirrors”

SBISD art and photography instructors include Marilyn Guerinot, Cathleen May, and Cameron Sands, all at Memorial High; Lynn Ludlam at Memorial Middle; Elisa Barry at Spring Branch Middle; Andres Bautista and Crystal Fiocchi at Spring Woods High; and Kim Lynch and Jennifer Clouse at Stratford High.

Scholastic Writing Awards:

Silver Key

Memorial High
Aria Herbst, Short Story, “Strings”

Spring Branch Middle
Ruhi Thapar, Poetry, “The Dying Moment”

Honorable Mention

Memorial High
Anneysa Gaille, Writing Portfolio

Spring Branch Middle
Isha Thapar, Poetry, “The Passing of Childhood”

SBISD instructors who supported student writing submissions include Cathleen May and Claire Kruse of Memorial High, and Brandee Smith of Spring Branch Middle School.

For more information about HCDE’s regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, please visit www.hcde-texas.org/scholasticartandwriting.
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Spring Branch ISD Spelling Bee

February 12, 2015, 12:13 pm
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Spring Branch area residents and families are invited to the annual Spring Branch ISD Spelling Bee, which will be held beginning at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Spring Woods High School Mini-Theater, 2045 Gessner.

Spelling Bee guest pronouncer will be Mary Grace Landrum, a former SBISD Board of Trustees member. Winner and runner-up students from 16 elementary schools and six middle schools in SBISD will compete for the title of district Spelling Bee Champion.

Ten student participants took part in the 2013-14 Spelling Bee competition. The winner of this year’s Spelling Bee will go on to compete March 28 in the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee. That winner and runner-up will then compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee later this year in Washington, D.C.

The SBISD Advanced Academic Studies Dept. will host the public spelling event.

View SBISD Spelling Bee flyer invitation including list of student contestants by school >>
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Get Ready for Garage Sales

February 13, 2015, 6:58 am
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Who likes a garage sale bargain?  If you're ready to shop, Stratford High and Memorial High are hosting garage sales this month as class fundraising events.  Both garage sales are open free to the public and include preview hours for SBISD employees.




Stratford High School Garage Sale

When:
Saturday, February 21
Preview Sale - 7:00 am - 9:00 am (Free for SBISD employees plus one guest each - district badge required, $10 cash admission per person for non-employees)
Open Free to Public - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where:
Stratford High School - Cafeteria
14555 Fern Dr.  77079

View the SHS garage sale flyer.  To register as a volunteer, visit volunteerspot.com.


Memorial High School Freshman Garage Sale

When:
Wednesday, February 18
Preview Sale - 7:00 - 9:00 pm ($15 cash admission per person)

Thursday, February 19
SBISD Employee Day - 2:00 - 6:00 pm (Free for SBISD employees - district badge required)

Friday, February 20
Open Free to Public - 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Saturday, February 21
Open Free to Public - 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Where:
10303 Katy Freeway (Benignus & I-10 Feeder in Jason's Deli parking lot)

For more about the MHS garage sale, including collection dates and volunteer information, visit the MHS website.
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Partnership Offers Choices - Interview with SBISD Superintendent Duncan Klussmann

February 16, 2015, 9:09 am
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Spring Branch ISD's unique partnership with KIPP and YES Prep public charter schools offers students more district choice in their educational possibilities.  Students in the SKY Partnership program benefit through intense focus in the classroom and solid, proven programming, as well as, staying in their neighborhood schools and participating in co- and extracurricular activities.

Houston Matters’ Edel Howlin talks with Spring Branch ISD Superintendent Duncan Klussmann about the SKY Partnership.
Listen to the interview here >>
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Hollywood Premiere Spotlights Local Principal’s Son

February 17, 2015, 9:11 am
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Pratts family (with Carlos Pratts second from right) and Vanessa Garcia at the world
premiere of McFarland USA at the El Capitan Theatre.
Edgewood Elementary Principal Vivian Pratts was being a proud mom first as she stood with her adult son, Carlos, and family on the red carpet in Hollywood during the premiere of the new Disney film McFarland, USA.

Carlos Pratts, Vivian’s son, plays cross country team captain Thomas Valles in the new film. Carlos’ name now stands next to Academy Award winning costar Kevin Costner on billboards, posters and movie trailers. The film opens Feb. 20 in movie theaters nationwide.

“I’m a mom swelling with pride,” Vivian reports, but what impresses her deeply is McFarland USA’s inspirational story. The film retells how a group of Latino high school runners in the small farming town of McFarland, Calif., under the guidance of Coach Jim White, placed first in state cross country, remarkable in part because many of the teenagers worked as field laborers to support their families.

“It’s a T-2-4 story,” Vivian says, referring to the district goal to double the number of graduates who complete either military training, technical certifications, or two- or four-year college degrees.

Vivian Pratts stands next to a McFarland USA movie poster.
“Through a teacher who believes in students, even if the students did not believe in themselves at first, many of McFarland students went on to colleges and successful adult lives. This movie is really about perseverance and a teacher who sees talent in his children, and what happens when students begin to believe in themselves and each other,” she says.

Vivian attended the Hollywood movie premiere with her husband, Luis, the retired principal at Landrum Middle School, and their young son, Luis Pratts Jr.

Carlos Pratts is no newcomer to Hollywood television and film. In recent years, he has been seen in Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones and as the character, Gus, in FX television’s The Bridge. He has appeared in many other shows, too.

The Disney movie is his first major movie, but Carlos has been named as a Top 10 candidate to be named the next Spiderman. He’d love to be the first Latino Marvel superhero.

In McFarland, USA, Pratts earned “flat-out superb” kudos from Forbes magazine. A Hollywood publication, Variety, said that the “excellent” Pratts also “brings a grave emotional intensity to the role of the team’s most compelling individual.”

These positive reviews are a long trip from The Woodlands, where Carlos played football at The Woodlands High School until his senior year. A theater arts course taught by Larry Woods, now deceased, led him to believe in a Hollywood dream.

After attending the University of Texas at Arlington, Carlos moved out the West Coast after gaining the support of his two educator parents, who urged him nonetheless to have a “Plan B” in case Hollywood was not a perfect match.

“Carlos had our support when he went out there. He went with our blessing, but I did talk to him about how many years he’d give this before thinking about Plan B, his next step. He’d say, ‘Mom, there is no Plan B. If I have a Plan B, then I won’t do this,’” Vivian recalls.

Today, the Pratts extended family looks back to family events and gatherings for a single key moment when they knew that Carlos would be a star. Vivian believes in the hand of God – and Carlos deep desire to be a working actor.

“He has passion and determination. That’s the real reason why Carlos is going to make it,” says his proud mom. For more reading links, please visit:
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Young Adult Author Q&A: Matt de la Peña

February 18, 2015, 8:32 am
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Critically acclaimed author Matt de la Peña visited Stratford High School recently and talked to about 300 middle and high school students from across the school district. In the high school auditorium, de la Peña discussed his journey from basketball jock to writer as he pulls new ideas and fictional characters from everyday life.

California born, de la Peña lives, writes and teaches today in New York City. The new father has written six well-praised books, including Ball Don’t Lie, Mexican WhiteBoy and The Living. His Houston visit was sponsored by Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial Drive, where he held an evening reading from his award-winning children’s picture book, Last Stop on Market Street. The area bookstore was packed with fans of all ages for his reading.

His Jan. 22 talk included high school students from Stratford, Memorial and Spring Woods, as well as small groups from Cornerstone Academy, Westchester Academy for International Studies and Spring Branch Middle School. His SBISD stop was arranged through Blue Willow and district librarians, including Stratford High’s own Lisa Stultz.

De la Peña spoke freely about his “mixed” upbringing: His dad is Mexican and his mother is white. His young adult books offer first-hand insights into issues related to increasing diversity in American families.

He spoke frankly about his published books and how he brainstorms his plots and fictional characters. He uses life-as-it-happens, ranging from the conversations he may overhear on a New York City subway ride to falling in love at first sight with a Vietnamese-American girl at a teenage house party, to base quirky characters on. De la Peña’s characters quite often have unforgettable names – Sticky, Shy and Anh-thu – to match their personalities.

After his campus talk, de la Peña took time to sit down with new Stratford High reporter Ellie Herrmann to talk about the writing process, the feelings behind planning his first series, and the new books we can look forward to. 

Ellie Herrmann, Student Reporter
Student Reporter Ellie Herrmann interviews Matt de la Peña
(Selected Questions & Answers)

Q: You went to the University of the Pacific on a basketball scholarship. How did you go from playing basketball to earning your Bachelor of Arts?
A: I think basketball took me to college, and then, once I got there, I knew I wasn’t good enough to play beyond college, so I committed more to academics. The thing that I loved the most was writing poetry, and slowly but surely, my poems became too long to be poems, and they became short stories. Then I started becoming a reader; I always tell people you can never be even a good writer unless you’re first a great reader, so I think once I became a really, really invested reader, that was when my writing got better.
Q: Do you believe having grown up in California influences your writing in any way?
A: Yes, everything I’ve ever written. I’ve never written a book that takes place outside of California, even though I’ve lived in New York for 10 years.
Q: When did you know that you wanted to write your first book?
A: I think that when I was writing short stories I knew that one day I’d write a novel. So before graduate school, I made a goal of writing a novel. I would never not do it.
Q: The first book you wrote was Ball Don’t Lie in 2005. How long did that process take, to get to the point of publication, and what was involved in it?
A: It took about a year and a half to write, and it took about another year and a half to revise, so I revised it hundreds of times. Well not really hundreds, but a hundred. And then I got an agent, and then the agent sold it; it took him about four months. And then it takes two years after it’s sold for it to come out. Even though the book’s done. 
Q: Your first children’s book was released in 2010, A Nation’s Hope. Why did you make the switch from young adult to children’s books?
A: You know what, in a weird way, you know how I said I started with poetry? It’s like going back to the poetry, writing picture books. You’re going to verse. It’s the rhythm of just a few words. It was great, and now I have a little daughter, she’s only 9 months old, and it’s so cool I have a second picture book. I want to keep doing these, I love it.
Q: You have your first series that starts with The Living. What’s it like [plotting] a series?
A: It’s hard as hell. I’ll never do it again. Have you ever heard of the Twilight books? I used to make fun of those books and now I’m like, that chick is a genius. How did she do all the connecting? That’s amazing! I can’t believe. It was so hard to do, and my series is only two books. 
Q: You live in Brooklyn now. When did you know you wanted to teach creative writing there?
A: That’s the kind of thing that you just fall into, because you’re starving when you first write a book. You have one book out, and you’re literally starving. You’re like, I could either rob a bank, or I could teach a class. And if I teach a class, I definitely won’t go to jail. So that’s when you decide to teach a class. . . I’m never in one place that long, but I do love teaching.
Q: Do you enjoy the traveling? Or is it just something you have to do?
A: I love it, but now that I have this little kid, I miss this little kid. That’s the sad thing.
Q: Where do you draw your daily inspiration for your books and your speeches?
A: Other books. I read a lot of other books. I am always inspired by other authors. And then your memories, you go back into your memories. Or sometimes I do school visits, and I’m here, and I meet somebody who looks sad, and is not really engaging, and I’ll imagine where they’re coming from. 
Q: What is your absolute favorite part about being an author?
A: It’s when you’re writing a book that you think isn’t good, and you don’t think it’s good for six straight months. And then suddenly, you figure something out, and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, now I understand what this book is about.’ And it’s this euphoric epiphany, and from that point on you actually understand your book. 
Q: Do you have any new books coming out soon?
A: I do. I have one book that’s coming out May 12; it’s called The Hunted. Then I have another book I’m starting now that comes out in 2016.


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Bookworm Festival Draws Hundreds

February 18, 2015, 10:32 am
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Hundreds of young, early readers and families joined five children’s authors and illustrators at Spring Oaks Middle School on Jan. 31 for the district’s Bookworm Festival. Several Spring Branch ISD elementary schools helped their students and parents attend with Saturday bus transportation.

Children's author Dan Santat speaks to young readers at
the Bookworm Festival.
Festival keynote speaker Dan Santat learned only two days after the event that he had been awarded the Randolph Caldecott Medal for picture book artistry for The Adventures of Beekle: The Imaginary Friend. The American Library Association issued the award, considered one of the top national prizes in children’s literature.

Santat talked about his most recent book, A Crankenstein Valentine, and his love for writing and illustrating to several hundred SBISD students and parents. Santat found his calling in creating picture books after switching from microbiology and  a future career in dentistry to art school and uncertain future. A supportive father gave him permission to “be happy.”

“Being a writer and an illustrator is like being a wizard. If you become a writer or illustrator, you can take simple tools – a pencil, pad and paintbrush – and you can make absolutely anything from nothing,” he told students and parents gathered in the middle school cafeteria. 

This year’s Bookworm Festival was designed as a fun event celebrating emerging readers, and those who write for them. Hundreds of students from three schools – Hollibrook, Shadow Oaks and Woodview – rode buses to the school event. The children’s authors attracted students and families from across Houston, too.

SBISD teachers and librarians read authors’ books to students ahead of the festival to familiarize students with book characters.

Bookworm Festival authors included:
  • Deborah Freedman. Author and illustrator Freedman has written three books, including Scribble, Blue Chicken and The Story of Fish & Snail (2013). Her newest book, By Mouse & Frog, will be released in April.
  • Tad Hills. American writer and illustrator Hills has published nine books in the Duck & Goose series and several more in the Rocket Learns to Readseries, including How Rocket Learned to Read, and Rocket Writes a Story.
  • Dan Santat. In addition to his new book, A Crankenstein Valentine, this children’s author may be best known for The Guild of Geniuses, and for creating the Disney Channel animated series, The Replacements. He was awarded the Caldecott Medal literary prize for best picture book.
  • Jennifer Hamburg. Houston-based Hamburg has written A Moose That Says Moo,Monkey, and Duck Quack Up. She has written for television shows on Disney Junior, PBS and Nick Jr. She won two Emmy Awards as a writing team member for Between the Lions.
  • Dan Hanna. He illustrated the many “Pout-Pout Fish” series books. He has more than 10 years of experience in the animation industry, and his works and illustrations have appeared on BBC, America and the Cartoon Network.

Blue Willow Books, a generous district partner, supported the special author event.

Festival attendance increased in one year from 300 to 500 students and adults, said teacher and librarian Melanie Scales of Spring Shadows Elementary School.

“All of our authors and illustrators expressed their gratitude and pleasure at being included in an event that was created for children and authors. They enjoyed the opportunity to interact with readers in our community. I saw so many happy kids, parents, educators and book people,” Scales said. “It was a magical morning!”

The Saturday event included two separate sessions with authors and then a closing children’s puppet show.

During breakout sessions, authors Tad Hills and Deborah Freedman talked openly about the personal joys and headaches involved in writing and illustrating as a job.

Their advice for young writers was simple – read, read, read, and then write, write, write. “The best way to write a lot of stories is to read a lot of stories. Read a lot of books, as many and as many types as you can,” Tad Hills said.

“All the writers I know are big readers. They write and they read a lot, and the best advice I have for young writers is to just write. Write something, and then write the next something. Just keep writing and reading,” Deborah Freedman said.
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REEP Business Fellowship for School Leaders

February 18, 2015, 12:40 pm
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Six Spring Branch ISD leaders including two school principals, three assistant principals and a prekindergarten program director returned to school early this month with the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP) Business Fellowship for School Leaders, a yearlong development and training program.

The REEP Business Fellowship is offered through the Jones Graduate School of Business to better equip campus principals or other qualifying educators with the leadership tools they will need in areas ranging from innovation and organization to marketing and staff management. REEP helps principals run their campus with a CEO mindset.

The two SBISD principals joining the 2015 REEP class are Danny Gex, interim principal at Stratford High, and Rian Evans, principal at Wilchester Elementary. Also joining the Rice program is Kim Hammer, the director of Bear Boulevard School for Early Learning.

Two assistant principals and an associate principal also joined REEP’s Business Fellowship. They are Michelle Garcia, who is Ridgecrest Elementary’s assistant principal; Linda Guzman, assistant principal at Spring Oaks Middle; and Debbie Silber, associate principal at Spring Woods High.

Participants attend one weekend session per month as part of the yearlong program, including a two-week summer institute. Classes began earlier this month. The new group expects to graduate in May 2016.

REEP’s curriculum is designed to teach strategic frameworks for identifying and solving problems, exploring alternatives and reaching solutions to improve schools, and current school systems. New academic theory is blended with practical thinking and experiences.

Classes include leadership development, organizational behavior, change management and other business and entrepreneurial courses.

“Acceptance [into a REEP Business Fellowship program] recognizes academic and professional achievements, along with their potential for outstanding personal and career development. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the RICE/REEP community as members of the seventh cohort,” states Shea Bledsoe, Reep’s assistant director of recruiting and marketing.

Six other SBISD principals and others are expected to graduate in this May.

New REEP Program Leaders include:
  
Rian Evans
Rian Evans is a native of Portland, Ore.  He attended both public and private schools, and these early experiences helped to broaden and expand his ideas and views on education and the tools and skills needed to be successful in multiple learning environments.

Rian originally earned a bachelor of science in history from Portland State University in Portland, Ore., later received two additional graduate degrees in education in New York City.  He earned a master’s degree in special education from Hunter College as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership from Baruch College.
 
He began teaching as an inner city resource teacher in both middle and high schools in Manhattan.  In 2007, he moved with his family to Houston and was hired as the assistant principal at Bunker Hill Elementary.   Two years later, Rian was promoted to principal at Wilchester Elementary.  He is serving his fifth year as a principal, and 12th year in public education.

Michelle Garcia
A daughter of immigrant parents, Michelle Garcia was raised in a Spanish speaking, limited socio-economic household in southwest Houston. She attended Title I schools in Houston ISD from the beginning of her education. This opportunity allowed her to experience first-hand what economically disadvantaged communities endure and overcome.  It has been the inspiration behind her service to the very same population. 

Compassion is at the heart ofherdesire to do everything she can to help the children and their parents and teachers at Ridgecrest Elementary.  She wants each child to reach their full potential so their futures will be brighter by learning problem-solving skills that will advance their own communities.   

After a challenging high school experience, Michelle was determined to pursue her dream of earning a college education with the goal of becoming the influential teacher she always wanted to be since she was a little girl.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in bilingual education from Houston Baptist University, and later, a master’s degree in education administration from Prairie View A & M University.   

Michelle began her teaching career as a bilingual teacher in SBISD in 1997 with aspirations of touching children’s lives in an extraordinary way.  Her journey as an educator continued as a reading specialist who was passionate about teaching struggling students to learn to read and write.  She has planted her roots in Spring Branch were she currently serves as the assistant principal in the same school she taught her first year in education.  Her SBISD roles have included intervention specialist, instructional coach, and district lead for elementary language arts.  She loves working with children at school and at church, and she loves challenging herself to new heights.

Danny (Robert) Gex
A native Houstonian, Danny attended primary and secondary schools in the suburbs of west Houston.  His unique educational experience molded his philosophy and outlook on education today and enables him to think differently than others, seeking ways to help his students enjoy their educational experience as much as he did.

In 1985, he left west Houston and traveled up the road about 100 miles to attend college at Texas A&M University.  Danny believes that the confidence and knowledge he obtained by putting himself through college by working odd jobs allowed him to take risks and follow his dreams.  He knew that no matter what obstacles he faced, he could always achieve whatever he put his mind to.  By working at a camp for underprivileged kids he knew he wanted to impact the lives of children in the same way his life was impacted.  He recognized then that education was his ticket to a rewarding and exciting life. 

Since Texas A&M, Danny has obtained a master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M University and doctoral work except for a dissertation, or ABD, from Texas A&M University. 

Danny started teaching and coaching in SBISD in 1991 at Spring Forest Junior High and a year later at Stratford High School.  He went to Katy ISD in 1996 and was an Assistant Principal at Mayde Creek Junior High for two years, and then served at Taylor High School for five years.

In 2003, Danny moved to Second Baptist School for four years as the director of student affairs and athletic director.  In 2007, returned to public education and SBISD’s Stratford High.  For the past eight years his roles have included science department chair, AP testing coordinator, assistant principal, and associate principal. He is currently interim principal at Stratford High.

In addition to high school duties, Danny loves doing church mission trips with his wife and four daughters.

Linda Guzman
A proud native of New Orleans, Linda Guzman is also a history fanatic, educator and devoted mother. Anyone who knows Linda knows that she is a determined, focused and competitive person.  When she wants something, she makes it happen through hard work and diligence.  She makes bold choices in her life and is constantly formulating new goals for herself. She is exhilarated by stretching herself to try new things. Direct in her communication style, she enjoys helping other people grow whether it’s a student, teacher or friend.  She's a natural teacher.

Discovering her passion for history in elementary school, Linda chose to major in history and received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of New Orleans. After working in the life insurance industry, Linda decided to pursue a position that enabled her to make a positive impact on people. 

She began substitute teaching and soon realized that her purpose and path in life was to teach. The principal at the private school where Linda often substituted recognized her natural ability to teach and hired her as full time history and English teacher.  Soon after, her path towards seeking more knowledge and experiences to better serve students and stretch her potential began.

In order to teach history in public high school, Linda received her alternative certification and began her 14-year career in SBISD at Spring Woods High.  Linda had lived in the neighborhood for 24 years, and she believed that this was an excellent opportunity to serve her community. 

For 10 years, Linda taught social studies and English as a Second Language (ESL) at Spring Wood High School. Her leadership opportunities at the high school included serving as team leader for world history, ESL coordinator, and department chair. 

Linda received her master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University two years ago. She is currently assistant principal at Spring Oaks Middle School. While at Spring Oaks, Linda has served as the testing coordinator, oversees Title 1 and Campus Improvement Plan, and supervises instructional programs and professional development.

Linda enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, and indulging her passions for history through reading, traveling and visiting museums.

Kim Hammer
A native Houstonian, Kim’s family relocated to Knoxville, Tenn., where Kim began school. When the family moved back to Houston, Kim began second grade in Houston ISD. She struggled with reading after being taught to read by sight in Tennessee, and then found that her new school expected her to read phonetically. This struggle early on has helped shape her own passion to support diverse learners as an adult.

After high school, Kim spent her freshman and sophomore year at Texas A&M University pursing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education. She transferred to Texas State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

Kim spent the first two years of her career as a special education teacher in San Marcos ISD. After receiving a full scholarship, she taught in Austin ISD while completing a master’s degree at the University of Texas. She earned several certifications at this time, too.

Missing her home town and family, Kim moved back to Houston and served the next 15 years in Alief ISD beginning as a special education teacher. Kim has the distinct honor of being the two-time winner of validation status in the State of Texas Education Agency Showcase of Promising Practices. Her classroom served as a demonstration site attracting visitors from across Texas.

She received her Principal Certification through the University of Houston at Victoria. Positions she has held: coordinator of district extended year services, special education high school department chair, district inclusion specialist, and special education instructional coordinator.

Kim also gained a national perspective with an educational consulting firm as an associate and was a coordinator of research and development for the firm. Longing to have a local impact, she returned to public education. She currently is the director of Bear Boulevard School for Early Learning in SBISD.

Kim loves to spend time with family, visiting dog parks, bird watching, and supporting her son with rocketry endeavors and interests.

Deborah Landau Silber
Deborah Silber was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She attended primary and secondary Jewish School in Venezuela. She credits her educational and upbringing experience for molding her philosophy and outlook on education.

Known affectionately as Debbie to her family and close friends, she left Venezuela at the age of 20 to pursue her dream of living in the United States. The knowledge and experience gained from studying in America fueled her ability to take greater risks. She believes that perseverance and belief in oneself does forge the path to success.

Although psychology was her first goal, life had other plans for Deborah as fate helped find her passion in education. Since moving to America to pursue an education, Deborah has obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in organizational behavior.

Deborah began her teaching career with Houston ISD in 1998 and worked for HISD until 2013. Her roles have included teacher, elementary assistant principal, high school assistant principal, community development and elementary principal. She has served the last two years in Spring Branch ISD as associate principal at Spring Woods High School.

Deborah loves to travel, read and spend time with her two children.
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Spring Branch ISD ACT & SAT Scores Beat Texas and U.S. Averages

February 19, 2015, 8:46 am
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District student average scores on the SAT and ACT college-readiness assessments continue to outpace Texas and the nation, according to results from these two well-known student assessment tests.

SAT and ACT Scores - 2014

SBISDTexasU.S.
SAT - Combined153614321497
SAT - Writing499461487
SAT - Math534495513
SAT - Critical Reading503476497
ACT - Composite23.820.921.0


SAT results continue to outpace state and nation

According to 2014 District Summary information, SBISD students averaged 1536 on the combined SAT, while the Texas student average was 1432 and the national average was 1497.

The SAT assesses student reasoning and logic based on knowledge and skills that students develop in their course work.

More than 1,470 district students took SAT tests last school year. The SAT has three parts – critical reading, mathematics and writing. SBISD students outpaced state and national scores in all three portions of the SAT.

SBISD’s average writing score was 499, while the Texas average was 461 and the national writing average was 487.

In mathematics, SBISD’s average score was 534 versus 495 in the state and 513 in the nation.

SBISD’s critical reading score was 503, much higher than 476 in Texas and the national average of 497.

Selected Highlights 2014 SAT:

• About 72 percent of the SBISD graduating class took the SAT.
• More than a third of SBISD students (34 percent) taking the SAT reported family income of less than $30,000, reflecting a higher portion of the testing population in this income level when compared to Texas (25 percent) and the nation (22 percent)
• District performance exceeds state and national averages in all subjects tested.
• Mathematics continues to be the strongest performance area, followed by Critical Reading.
• Average scores increased in all three sections compared with 2013: Critical Reading (+9 points), Mathematics (+1 point), and Writing (+10 points)
• Regardless of first language (English, English and Another Language, or Another Language) or Parental Education Level, SBISD students outperformed their state counterparts in all three areas tested.

ACT results top state and nation once again

On the 2014 ACT, SBISD students averaged 23.8 compared to 20.9 in Texas and 21.0 in the nation.

Selected Highlights 2014 ACT:

• SBISD continues to exceed state averages by 2.4 to 3.2 points, and in the past five years, ACT participation has increased 12.6 percent from 874 to 984 students.
• The percentage of SBISD students performing at or above college-ready levels continues to exceed state rates by 16 to 22 percentage points, with College Algebra showing the greatest margin in the past six years, 22 points above the state average, along with College Biology, also 22 points above the state average.
• College English composition is the strongest of four subjects tested, with 76 percent of SBISD students performing at or above the college-ready level, and 16 percentage points above the state average.
• SBISD students performed at or above the college-ready level in four tested areas, and district students performed 23 percentage points above the Texas performance rate.
• In 2014, average Science scores for SBISD students exceeded the state in every course configuration; Students with three years of high school Science exceeded the state average by 3.2 points, and those with four years of high school Science outperformed the state average by 2.6 points. 
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SBEF's 19th Annual Spring Golf Classic - March 29

February 19, 2015, 11:31 am
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For immediate release    

February 18, 2015
Contact:  Elaine Reeder Mayo, 713.882.2517

Spring Branch Education Foundation plans Spring Golf Classic
Spring Branch Education Foundation’s (SBEF) 19th annual Spring Golf Classic is slated for Sunday, March 29, 2015, at River Ridge Golf Course in Sealy. As one of SBEF’s major fundraisers, proceeds from the tournament will benefit students and teachers in Spring Branch Independent School District. Co-chairs Doug Goodson and Rob Stewart are expecting a sold-out event.

Visit the SBEF website for more information >>

“The tournament is always a great success. The last one raised more than $85,000,” said Cece Thompson, SBEF executive director. “It’s a popular tournament. Golfers appreciate that the money goes for scholarships and campus grants, and everyone is guaranteed to enjoy the day.”

Team and individual registration is open through Thursday, March 26: teams, $2,000; individuals, $500. Call the SBEF office, 713-251-2381, for registration forms and information.

Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP has signed on as the tournament’s Eagle Clubhouse sponsor. Other sponsorships are available.

Ciro’s Italian Grill will provide lunch for the golfers, and Goode Company Bar-B-Q will donate dinner.

Assisting Goodson and Stewart on the SBEF Spring Golf Classic committee are: Debra Aitken, Mike Baker, J. Carter Breed, Patty Busmire, Kirk Guilanshah, Kamden Kanaly, George Kurisky, Warren Matthews, Roy Montalbano, Paul Moreton, Ted Nowak, Ron Nunley, Lisa Schwartz, Cece Thompson and Portia Willis.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $8 million to the district and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.
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Spring Forest Middle School’s Character Without Question Honoree Displays “True Grit”

February 25, 2015, 7:30 am
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Spring Forest Middle's Character Without Question Winner - Caroline Piskurich
This month, as students from SBISD gather to be honored at the annual Character Without Question Awards, Spring Forest Middle School’s student honoree Caroline Piskurich will be there, in part, due to her display of many positive character traits including GRIT.  

Inspired by the Ted Talk lecture series and ongoing collaboration within the SKY partnership in SBISD, her campus principal Kaye Williams kicked off this school year by asking her teachers and students what it meant to have grit and why it is an important character trait.

“If we are to produce a well-rounded child in SBISD and meet the T-2-4 goals, student character will play a major role in meeting this goal. Students are going to need to advocate for themselves and become independent, especially if they are to complete a 2 or 4 year degree or technical certification. Students will have to have 'grit' to achieve their goals. Our student who won the Character Without Question Award absolutely has grit. Several of the questions we asked her during the selection process were about qualities, examples of traits that she has that show her true grit. Our winner truly had to possess many different grit characteristics,” said Principal Williams.

This message is clearly and consistently delivered by campus staff to students and their families. Weekly articles, student lessons included in e-blasts and social media, sweatshirts and posters blanketing the school are part of a larger awareness campaign aimed at shaping the thinking of students, faculty and families within Spring Forest Middle. The reason behind it is simple for Principal Williams...the benefit students reap in the short and long term.

“We are focusing this year on teaching kids to be responsible for their own learning and pushing themselves to work above and beyond their comfort zone. In order for this to happen, we as a campus are encouraging students to work at being successful and that, if they fail, it’s ok and that they need have the confidence to move forward. This is why our motto is TRUE GRIT,” she said.

Go BOBCATS!


Looking around the campus cafeteria at a sea of blue and gold sweatshirts sporting the campus mascot and ‘True Grit’ slogans, it is obvious students are listening.
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Spring Branch ISD Spelling Bee

February 25, 2015, 10:17 am
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Try, try again. That’s what Cornerstone Academy seventh-grader McKenna Tanner did after finishing No. 2 last year in Spring Branch ISD’s Annual Spelling Bee. On Friday, she was crowned district Spelling Bee winner after 18 rounds of words and competition.

“It felt really cool, because last year I was so close, and this year I made it,” gushed the Cornerstone teen who reads widely and hopes to be a writer one day. “I did it!”

McKenna, a Gifted & Talent student who taught herself to read as a child, skipped the fourth grade and loves to ride horses, prepared for the Spelling Bee by working through practice word lists with her mother and campus volunteer Tamara Gordon.

Her mom, Jean, says that McKenna dropped the school Geography Bee to focus on spelling this year. Her preschool teachers called her “hyperlexic” when she quickly mastered reading. Today, her favorite authors are J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan.

Her own writing is a state PTA Reflections Contest submission.

The Spelling Bee was conducted Feb. 20 in the mini-auditorium at Spring Woods High School. More than 40 elementary and middle school students competed, and twice as many parents, counselors and principals observed. The official pronouncer was Mary Grace Landrum, a former Board of Trustees member.

All students had been named either winner or runner-up in school spelling contests.

Finishing second this year was sixth-grader Hannah Krenz, who was the runner-up winner at Spring Branch Middle School earlier this year. 

As Spelling Bee winner, McKenna received a special trophy, Barnes & Noble gift certificate, and large Webster’s International Dictionary. She will now compete in the HoustonPBS Spelling Bee scheduled for March 28.

That regional winner and runner-up go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., later this year. Both regional and national Bees are televised.

Joining Mary Grace Landrum as the event judges were Mike Thomas of Program Evaluation and Research, Barbara Cofer with Advanced Academic Studies and Becky Wuerth with SBISD Community Relations.

The Spelling Bee sponsor was Amy Ellingson with Advanced Academic Studies.

Campus Winners and Runers-Up:

Elementary Schools

Buffalo Creek– David Palacios, Winner; Katherine Pimentel, Runner-Up
Bunker Hill– Megan Moore, Winner; Nara Yoo, Runner-Up
Cedar Brook– Isabella Luu, Winner; David Santillán, Runner-Up
Edgewood– Hoang Mai, Winner; William Moore, Runner-Up
Frostwood– Megan Xie, Winner; Catherine Lu, Runner-Up
Housman– Hoan-My Le, Winner; Evelyn Osorio, Runner-Up
Hunters Creek– Sang Yen Chung, Winner; Srijan Velamuri, Runner-Up
Meadow Wood– Harrison Brooks, Winner; Alex Skoutelakis, Runner-Up
Memorial Drive– Sydney Krenz, Winner; Cole Hartung, Runner-Up
Ridgecrest– Arlette Camacho, Winner; Binh Tran, Runner-Up
Shadow Oaks– Brenna Payne, Winner; Kevin Lara, Runner-Up
Spring Branch– Olivia Koepke, Winner; Jorge Salayes Quinonez, Runner-Up
Terrace– Kiera Yetiv, Winner; Mahad Khan, Runner-Up
Valley Oaks– Ben Brink, Winner; Daniel Rampersaud, Runner-Up
Westwood– Alijah Hall, Winner; Kyle Doan, Runner-Up

Middle Schools

Cornerstone Academy - McKenna Tanner, Winner; Macy Hempe, Runner-Up
Landrum Middle - Felicity Fernandez, Winner; Brandon Baltazar, Runner-Up
Memorial Middle - Stephen Kim, Winner; Aidan Berkman, Runner-Up
Spring Branch Middle - Drew Schachel, Winner; Hannah Krenz, Runner-Up
Spring Forest Middle - Sagan Bui, Winner; Daniela Perez, Runner-Up
Westchester Academy - Ali Fazal, Winner; Shahir Ali, Runner-Up

Spelling Bee Words
Round 1
goatee
average
whirlpool
ninja
reckless
errand
cashew
polka
walrus
mohair
anvil
canary
magazine
hustle
barley
alderman
buffalo
mermaid
electoral
beige
totem
necessary
slaughter
hibachi
pragmatic
discipline
saxophone
siesta
mahi-mahi
periscope
admiral
manicure
bambino
fidelity
cocatoo
behoove
homonym		Round 2
ventilate
typhoon
finale
begonia
dungaree
prosecute
jackal
cabana
knavery
transect
biopsy
albatross
parfait
gondola
contiguous
Flemish
cafeteria
persimmon
confetti
semantics
haiku
expertise
clementine
jaguar
agnostic
inferno
herbivore
physique
topography
Frankenstein		Round 3
wiseacre
henna
simile
shogun
portfolio
dynamic
kahuna
filament
artichoke
democracy
Gestapo
postmortem
tomatillo
souvenir
hydrology
kitsch
origami
consensus
mattock
succotash
lethargy		Round 4
Kremlin
desperado
ominous
influenza
cryptic
guilder
paradox
idiom
macadamia
alliteration
foliate
colloquial
hacienda
bolero
paprika
implement
analysis
prosaic		Round 5
megalopolis
sayonara
cruller
mercurial
doctrinaire
maestro
exuberant
synergy
credenza
Samaritan
protagonist
Amarillo
Meticulous
Subterfuge
Intractable		Round 6
piccolo
apostrophe
pacifism
saffron
erudite
mistletoe
spinet
chagrin
endemic
ubiquitous
tariff
capitulation
Round 7
impetuous
cravat
gourami
oregano
hedonism
samurai
dressage
palmetto
isinglass		Round 8
barrio
mystique
hippopotamus
odyssey
bezoar
glasnost
verboten
tachometer
magnanimous		Round 9
tremendous
companion
bungle
officer
variance
possessed
remainder
congeal
discord		Round 10
frailty
corpse
salvage
decisive
baffling		Round 11
existential
perturbed
grotesque
infallible		Round 12
evasion
introspect
Round 13
critique		Round 14
subjunctive
culinarian		Round 15
pugnacious
inconsequential		Round 16
longevity
emissary		Round 17
alibi
incessant		Round 18
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Couple in SBISD Teaches Through Teach for America

February 25, 2015, 2:17 pm
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Back in Nashville, Ryan and Christina Beeler had totally different lives. He worked as a cop. She tutored students while pursuing a singing career. They ditched those jobs and moved to Houston two years ago.
Now they both teach in the Spring Branch Independent School District through Teach for America, which recruits recent college graduates to work in schools for two years. Ryan Beeler, 29, currently teaches environmental science while his wife Christina, 26, teaches English.
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Character Without Question Awards

February 27, 2015, 7:01 am
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Forty-seven exemplary students in kindergarten through 12th grade were honored as Character Without Question Award recipients during a public celebration held on Feb. 23 at Northbrook High School.

The theme of this year’s awards program was “Dream a Dream,” which is based on an award-winning book titled “Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom and Wishes,” by Susan Bosak. Student award winners received copies of this book.

The ceremony was held during the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees monthly meeting. Character Without Question Awards are given to students who exhibit an outstanding character, make positive decisions and are responsible citizens.

Student recipients are selected through a nomination and interview process. SBISD educators and campus interview teams review candidates who exemplify character traits of honesty, responsibility, respect, perseverance, courage, kindness and citizenship. 

The SBISD Community Relations Department’s Pat Waldrop coordinated special event preparations. Awards ceremony emcee was Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman.

Program support and underwriting were provided by Wells Fargo Bank, Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF), Behind the Scenes (Jim Koehn), Blue Willow Books (Valerie Koehler) and Lion Market Catering (Culinary Arts).

Communications and Community Relations staff members Paul Bryant and Amy Byrom provided graphic design and additional event support.

Read about Spring Forest Middle School’s Character Without Question honoree >>

2014-15 Character Without Question Recipients are:

Schools for Early Learning (Prekindergarten)
Bear Boulevard – Jason Rodriguez
Lion Lane – Jason Medina
Panda Path – Fernanda Nambo
Tiger Trail – Vida Garcia
Wildcat Way – Henry Bradley

Elementary Campuses
Buffalo Creek – Claire Carbajal, 5thgrade        
Bunker Hill – Patricia Lynn, 5thgrade     
Cedar Brook – Anahi Gamez, 5thgrade 
Edgewood – Islara Ramirez, 5thgrade   
Frostwood – Soraya Patterson, 5thgrade         
Hollibrook – Paulina Rodriguez, 5thgrade-        
Housman – Jimena Gonzalez, 5th grade
Hunters Creek – Kallie Carlson, 5thgrade        
Meadow Wood – Grace Hare, 5th grade
Memorial Drive – West Jinks, 5thgrade  
Nottinghman – Denise Ivey, 5thgrade    
Pine Shadows – Grace Fyfe, 5thgrade  
Ridgecrest – Gabriella Starlin, 5thgrade 
Rummel Creek – Lauren Dietert, 5thgrade
School for Highly Gifted Students – Ben Brink, 5th grade       
Shadow Oaks – Jada Gibson, 5, Shadow Oaks         
Sherwood – Bruno Tobias, 4th grade     
Spring Branch – Leslie Alejandro, 4th grade     
Spring Shadows – Richard Belman, 5thgrade
Terrace – Christopher Hogue, 5thgrade
Thornwood – Ana Ramirez, 5th grade
Treasure Forest – Reynaldo Hernandez, 5thgrade     
Valley Oaks – Dominic Bujanos, 5thgrade        
Westwood – Iraima Lara, 5th grade        
Wilchester – Grace Stern, 5thgrade                
Woodview – Christopher Lagos, 5thgrade        

Middle School Campuses
Cornerstone Academy – Yuanting Xu, 8thgrade         
Landrum Middle – Ruby Ochoa, 8thgrade        
Memorial Middle – Julianne Boyd, 8thgrade     
Northbrook Middle – Marc Hidalgo, 8thgrade   
Spring Branch Middle – Rosy Navarro, 8thgrade        
Spring Forest Middle – Caroline Piskurich, 8thgrade   
Spring Oaks Middle – Grace Maynard, 8thgrade        
Spring Woods Middle – Nicole Martinez, 8thgrade      
Westchester Academy – Cindy Vargas, 8th grade      

High School Campuses
Academy of Choice – Lazaro Martinez, 12th  grade
The Guthrie Center – Katherine Hulbert, 12thgrade              
Memorial High – Michael Brittain, 11thgrade    
Northbrook High – Eduwiges Tellez, 12thgrade          
Spring Woods High – Jack Liu, 12thgrade                  
Stratford High – Joshua Wright, 12thgrade                
Westchester Academy – Cathy Ramos, 12th grade                
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T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher: Nancy Avila

March 2, 2015, 11:04 am
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Nancy Avila, an English instructor at Northbrook High School, has been named as SBISD’s T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher for her commitment to ninth-graders enrolled in the same campus where Nancy herself discovered a love of literature and desire to earn a college degree.

SBISD’s Board of Trustees honored Nancy on Feb. 23 at its monthly meeting. The T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher recognition is awarded to employees for ongoing efforts to embrace the district’s goal to double the number of graduates who complete either military training, technical certification, or a two- or four-year degree.  

A Spring Branch native, Nancy is the second of three daughters born to immigrant parents. Nancy attended Housman Elementary, Landrum Middle and Northbrook High (Class of 1999). She graduated in 2003 from the University of Houston with a major in English literature and minors in both Spanish and secondary education.

Her two sisters, who are also college graduates, work in nursing and construction management today. Nancy's father passed away when she was in high school, but her mom's pride in her three adult daughters is deep, Nancy says.

"The American dream?" Nancy asks rhetorically. "For me, that is very much alive. That is what drives what I do, and why I do it."

Nancy joined Northbrook High's English faculty in 2004. At first, Nancy wasn't sure that working in the same high school she attended as a teen was for her, but after 11 years teaching at Northbrook she has adopted each ninth-grade English class as her "babies."

Northbrook High's Jackie Garcia, an academic advisor at the school, recalls Mrs. Avila serving as 2009 Class Sponsor when she was student president. "She was our main support, wonderful and amazing. She stayed after hours for us, and I kept in touch with her. She would always have me speak to her freshman classes when I visited," says Jackie, who earned degrees in biomedical sciences and Spanish from Texas A&M University in 2013.

Former teacher Kathy Ulbrich instilled a love of English literature and reading in Nancy, especially after her father's death. Nancy wants her ninth-graders to have confidence about their ability to speak, read and write clearly.

“Spring Branch and Northbrook High School gave me a solid foundation. I want to give back to my community and to my alma mater. I want all of my students to know that I came from this place, that I did well here, and that they can do well, too," she says.

Nancy respects her ninth-grade teaching team highly, and views such supportive colleagues as essential to her career. In addition to her teaching duties, Nancy and her husband, a dentist, are the parents of two young daughters.

Remarks by Academic Advisor Jackie Garcia to Trustees:

My name is Jackie Garcia. I am currently an Academic Advisor here at Northbrook High School. It is an honor for me to be here, not only to recognize Nancy Avila as the T-2-4 Spotlight Teacher, but also because six years ago I was the recipient of a Character Without Question Award like students here tonight.

Today, I would like to discuss with you the amazing teacher that Mrs. Avila is, and share a little about the wonderful experience I had as a student. Mrs. Avila was not my teacher in high school, but we did have the opportunity to work together when I was Class President, and she was our class sponsor.

There is no doubt that Mrs. Avila was our biggest cheerleader. There were a few times where I myself was stressed about our class’s fund-raising goals and all of our upcoming activities. As Class President, I was afraid that we might not meet our goals, and that it would all reflect on me. If it was not for Mrs. Avila’s positive outlook and support, I don’t know how I would have done it.

Many times, she stayed after hours to work with us and help us in whatever way she could. Not only did she focus on sponsoring our class, but when it was time for us to start applying for college and scholarships, Mrs. Avila was on top of all of us, making sure that we got applications submitted. If we needed help, she was there. I cannot tell you how many essays she alone edited for us, even if many were last-minute requests.

I am thankful that Northbrook High has Mrs. Avila. She is an outstanding teacher and individual who goes above and beyond what is normally expected of teachers for her students. Every time I came back to visit her, she would ask me to talk and share my post-secondary experiences with her freshmen.

We all know most teachers are very protective of how their class time is used, but Mrs. Avila willingly gave up a few minutes of her lesson plans so that her students could learn more directly about education after high school. Even though I was put on the spot and had to come up with inspirational things to say right then and right there, not one bit of me was bothered because her intentions were always good.

Mrs. Avila is a true inspiration and a great role model – for me and for all of her students. She deserves this recognition, and I am thankful to be here tonight, and to be a part of this recognition. Thank you, Mrs. Avila, for all you do!
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Founders Day Dinner

March 4, 2015, 12:56 pm
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The Rummel Creek Rockin' Roadrunners perform at the Founders Day
dinner.
A high school coach, two professional accountants, the Spring Branch Education Foundation’s leader and Spring Branch ISD’s superintendent of schools were all honored for their contributions and work during the recent Founders Day Dinner, sponsored by the SBISD Council of PTAs.

The popular Feb. 12 dinner celebration was held at the newly rebuilt Frostwood Elementary School. At the dinner, almost 100 volunteers who have served school PTAs won special state honors, and 17 School Bell nominees were honored.

The Spring Branch Education Foundation also presented a big donation of more than $6,000 to support student and teacher scholarships.

Founders Day is held across the United States every year to recognize a February 1897 meeting in Washington, D.C., where the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) held its first national meeting.

Today, the SBISD Council of PTAs has a membership of 10,000 parents.

The dinner included special remarks by retiring Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., plus presentation of several yearly Council of PTAs Awards. Special recognitions included:
  • The presentation of nearly 100 Lifetime Membership Awards by Council of PTAs Vice Presidents Debbie Slack and Lynn Harrison
  • The Back to the Future Award presented to certified public accountants Ed Kaminski and Gena Docog of Kaminski & Co. by SBISD Council of PTAs President Dmel Tatum
  • The presentation of the Council of PTAs Honorary Life Member Award to Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) Executive Director Cece Thompson by Council of PTAs President Dmel Tatum
  • SBEF Scholarship Chair Lisa Schwartz and SBEF Executive Director Cece Thompson presented a symbolic check for about $6,000 to fund student and teacher scholarships
  • Presentation of the 2015 School Bell Nominees and the School Bell Award winner Memorial High School Coach Rene Rosales by the Council of PTAs Award Chair Rikke Graber
  • A special presentation to retiring Superintendent Duncan Klussmann of the Texas PTA Extended Service Award by Council of PTAs’ President Dmel Tatum
Tatum delivered most of the evening remarks, starting with praise for individuals and groups that have contributed to SBISD excellence since the district PTA was formed in 1952. She described this as the “DNA model” for leadership and great accomplishment.

“Each of these great institutions – our local PTAs and Council, the Spring Branch Education Foundation, and our district leadership including educators – is a unique strand of DNA that came together to make up SBISD,” she said.

“At critical times, these unique strands are so interwoven that you cannot separate out or attribute the success of SBISD to one specific organization’s or individual’s specific role.”

Founders Day Dinner co-chairs this year were Amy Bartlett and Heather Willard.

Ed Kaminski and Gena Docog of Kaminski earned the Back to the Future Award for many volunteer hours and work that they contributed to campus PTAs to help with separate 501c3 nonprofit status issues.

“They have given countless hours of their expertise to help a few of our PTAs to resolve their nonprofit status with the IRS. The Council attempted to help these PTAs on our own, but soon realized we needed expert help,” Tatum said.

Ed Kaminski, who leads Kaminski &Co., has assisted PTAs with required federal tax filings. He also works with the Spring Branch Academy of Finance and has sponsored summer internships for Stratford High students. CPA Gena Docog works with Kaminski & Co. and has worked on many PTAs nonprofit tax filings.

SBISD Council of PTAs President Dmel Tatum presents
Spring Branch Education Foundation Executive Director
Cece Thompson with Council of PTAs Honorary Life
Member Award.
Cece Thompson, who is Spring Branch Education Foundation executive director, received Council of PTAs Honorary Life Member Award. During the past decade of Thompson’s leadership, SBEF scholarships have increased from about $10,000 and 10 students to $150,000 and more than 100 students.

Tatum praised Thompson highly for her dedication to the foundation, the Council of PTAs, and to SBISD teachers and students.

“Cece Thompson is the driving force behind the incredible success of the Spring Branch Education Foundation. Under her direction, the education foundation has reached goals beyond what was thought possible. Her high energy, enthusiasm, leadership and business acumen are second to none,” Tatum said.

Memorial High Coach Rene Rosales, a 23-year educator, received the Council of PTAs School Bell Award. Among other accomplishments, Coach Rosales started the Hispanic Parents Forum at Memorial High. In addition, he helped start up the laptop loan program for families, and he coaches sixth-grade girls developmental basketball with the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association.

He is best known for founding the Luis Jamie Rosales Foundation in memory for his brother. The foundation has provided up to $10,000 in college scholarships to 10 or more Memorial High students in recent years. Through its golf tournament, the foundation has provided more than $50,000 in scholarships over six years.

“I thank Coach Rosales for the football lessons, but mostly for the off-field lesson of giving to the community, of encouraging people to succeed,” stated University of Houston student Efrain Batista. “He taught me that there is truly no excuse not to get the best education possible and to make it big!”

Rosales also received a $250 cash award from Patriot Bank.

Sixteen other School Bell nominees were honored individually during the dinner.

Council President Dmel awards Superintendent Klussmann
with the Texas PTA Extended Service Award.
Finally, Superintendent Klussmann was honored by the Council of PTAs with the Texas PTA Extended Service Award. Council President Dmel regaled diners with a few fun stories from Dr. Klussmann’s time as Spring Branch Middle’s principal.

He had the campus PTA compile a notebook for him so that he would know what dress code violations for teenage girls look like, such as spaghetti straps. At one eighth-grade dance, a life-size, Saturday Night Fever cutout of John Travolta as Tony Manero with then-Principal Duncan Klussmann’s head on it appeared The search is still on for this memorable cutout!

Years before being named SBISD leader, Dr. Klussmann’s inclusive style was on display when Spring Branch Middle won the national Blue Ribbon School Award.

“[Dr. Klussmann] knew that he had not accomplished this alone and he made sure that Marta, the school’s custodian, was among the group of Spring Branch Middle School leadership traveling to Washington, D.C., to formally receive this award,” Tatum said. “When the panel of Blue Ribbon judges had first visited his campus, Duncan knew that Marta had worked tirelessly to make sure that the school looked better than fantastic.”

When the custodian later became ill on the trip, Dr. Klussmann made sure she had proper hospital treatment and accompanied her, Tatum said.

As the Council of PTAs prepared this year’s special award, Dr. Klussmann was described with these phrases: personable, strong sense of humor, collaborative, innovative, inclusive, optimistic, insightful, consensus builder, visionary and compassionate.

In his own remarks, Dr. Klussmann thanked Tatum and other Council of PTAs officers for their leadership. Looking back, he said that he didn’t think that he’d ever missed a Founders Day Dinner.

Event music was provided by the Frostwood Fiddlers under the direction of Padua Canty and the Rummel Creek Rockin’ Roadrunners, directed by Debbie Moore.

The dinner was provided by Hugo in City Centre. HEB provided flowers.

2014-2015 School Bell Award Nominees
  • Tobey Unrath, Buffalo Creek Elementary
  • Ashley Cernosek, Bunker Hill Elementary
  • Ilsa Perez, Cedar Brook Elementary
  • Denny Dial, Cornerstone Academy
  • Angela Moya, Frostwood Elementary
  • Frances Moore, Hunters Creek Elementary
  • Laura Weber, Meadow Wood Elementary
  • Tori Moxley, Memorial Drive Elementary
  • Rene Rosales, Memorial High School
  • Lynn Greenhill, Memorial Middle School
  • Lori Davis, Nottingham Elementary
  • Christine Godin, Rummel Creek Elementary
  • Elizabeth Meshkoff, Sherwood Elementary
  • Kelly Harkins, Spring Forest Middle School
  • Sharon Huff, Valley Oaks Elementary
  • Kimberly Montgomery, Westchester Academy
  • Khristina Ballard, Wilchester Elementary

2014-15 Texas PTA Lifetime Members

Elementary Schools

  • Bunker Hill: Kris and Carter Breed, Vicki Bullers, Ashlea Cedrone, Rachel Lim, Jeff Swantkowski, Patricia Winburne
  • Frostwood: Janna Altman, Marilyn Blakely, Aimee Dodson, Sharalynn Fenn, Susan McMillan, Tracey Rogan, Julie Sheets, Inga Smith
  • Hunters Creek: Meg Bissinger, Marisa Duewel, Katherine Dukes, Karen Edmonds, Kimberly Gartner, Denise Janowski, OG Miller, Elizabeth Rotan, Kelly Siblik
  • Meadow Wood: Casey Brand, Kayla Chaumont, Allyn Dukes, Susi Hagedorn, Angelica Limon
  • Memorial Drive: Brenda Bartley, Sulyn Dillon, Laura Horn, Stephanie Meckert, Margie Moerbe, Caroline Shanahan, Cartha Siddiqui, Rebecca Ziegenhorn
  • Nottingham: Jeanine Piskurich, Ami Rapp, Casey Reed
  • Rummel Creek:Jennifer Cartwright, Ching Chan, Kimberly Coolidge, Stacye Foster, Lynn Harrison, Kimberly Hillman, Deborah Kopp, Leslie Latiolais, Mercedes Perez-Meyer, Lisa Rose-Morrow, Meredith Ramey, Jon Rice, Rebecca Robbie, LouAnn Timmreck, Amy White
  • Sherwood: Stefanie Spencer, Ingrid Van de Coevering
  • Valley Oaks: Jennifer Arriaga, Melissa Boswell, Randi Doris, Frank Dragna, Annissa Farrar, Tina McElyea, Manisha Patel, Marissa Perez, Morella Tapia, Nina Rubinsky
  • Wilchester: Holly Davis, Melinda Hickey, Tamma Howell, Carolyn McCall, Robin Parker

Secondary Schools

  • Memorial Middle:Tracy Ashmore, Beth Cole, Tammy Hampton, Kim Moore, Liz Rushing, Wendy Sicola, Laura Tingleaf
  • Spring Branch Middle: Melissa Baldwin, Stashia Davis, Susan Gooden, Marta Petraglia, Dena Williams
  • Spring Forest Middle: Judi Campbell, Vanessa Croix, Veronica Geller, Kareem Goode, Betsy Snapp
  • Stratford High: Katherine Kennedy, Darrell Pickard, Karl Poetzl, Jana Stiffel
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Campus Teachers of the Year Announce

March 6, 2015, 8:54 am
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Congratulate these superlative educators! Forty-eight district campuses have now selected nominees for Spring Branch ISD’s 2015 Teacher of the Year competition.

This year’s new nominating process for Teacher of the Year resulted in hundreds of nominations from district students, parents and teachers, submitted via a new online nomination site.

The SBISD Teacher of the Year (TOY) Award recognizes and honors qualifying educators who meet the district’s priority goals. Nominees must:
  • Support the district’s T-2-4 Goal for graduates to pursue military training, technical certification, or two- or four-year degrees, and also demonstrate commitment to SBISD’s beliefs and values
  • Be a dedicated, knowledgeable, effective and skilled teacher
  • Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn/have a growth mindset
  • Have the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues
  • Play an active role in both the school and wider community
  • Demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching
  • Teach at least 4 hours a day if a librarian or counselor
  • Plan to return to their campus or to SBISD next year
TOY nominees were named recently after campus teachers voted anonymously by school location via an online site procedure. Nominees will now submit by writing or video answers to several TOY related questions. Three finalists at each teaching level will be named as finalists by the end of March.

The district’s two winners will receive a new $1,000 cash award, thanks to the generosity of district partners CenterPoint Energy and First Community Credit Union, as well as, a $2,000 professional growth stipend and district acclaim.

Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., will announce the final winners.

The two winners may also represent SBISD in regional, state and national Teacher of the Year competitions. They will also represent the school district in the annual Houston West Chamber Teacher of the Year competition.

SBISD Teacher of the Year nominees are:

PreK/Elementary Schools

The Bear Boulevard School, Patricia Brady
The Lion Lane School, Estefana Limas
The Panda Path School, Elsie Contreras
The Tiger Trail School, Nicola Pilon
The Wildcat Way School, Katya Michel
Bendwood Campus, Molly Nipper, Patricia Kassir
Buffalo Creek Elementary, Briana Zarea
Bunker Hill Elementary, Patricia Jenkins
Cedar Brook Elementary, Maria Calero
Edgewood Elementary, Dora Vera
Frostwood Elementary, Karen Ferraro
Hollibrook Elementary, Kari Heitman
Housman Elementary, Susana Trevino
Hunters Creek Elementary, Sara Huffman
Meadow Wood Elementary, Tracey Tomaro-McCall
Memorial Drive Elementary, Anne Smalling
Nottingham Elementary, Jeanette Choy
Pine Shadows Elementary, SaMone Ballard
Ridgecrest Elementary, Rita Davidek
Rummel Creek Elementary, Lou Ann Timmreck
Shadow Oaks Elementary, Kimberly Muske
Sherwood Elementary, Kala McKnight
Spring Branch Elementary, Diana Lopez
Spring Shadows Elementary, Maria Luna
Terrace Elementary, Shannon Wall
Thornwood Elementary, Caitlin Perkins
Treasure Forest Elementary, Felipe Acosta
Valley Oaks Elementary, Lindsey Buse
Westwood Elementary, Noemi Leon-Garcia
Wilchester Elementary, Jennifer Deaton
Woodview Elementary, Jonathan Christman

Secondary Schools

Academy of Choice, Rony Reyes-Torres
Cornerstone Academy, Katie Wood-Sponsel
DAEP, Mary Jackson
Landrum Middle, Jaime Trigo
Memorial High, Leslie Iler
Memorial Middle, Taylor Ellerbrock
Northbrook Middle, Ashley Westhaver
Northbrook High, Shelby Acevedo
Spring Branch Middle, Elisa Barry
Spring Forest Middle, Katrina Briggins-Stanfill
Spring Oaks Middle, Sheila Larang
Spring Woods Middle, Marcos Altamirano
Spring Woods High, Maggie Fuchs
Stratford High, Karl Poetzl
The Guthrie Center, Jane Primrose
Westchester Academy (Middle School), Rachel Rose
Westchester Academy (High School), Andrew Maddocks
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