Leadership Comes Easy When Serving Others

June 1, 2018, 7:34 am

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Caroline Perillo likes to serve. More accurately, Caroline Perillo loves to serve.

The Memorial High School senior has done charity work since sixth grade but her service spiked significantly once she got to high school.

That’s when she and her older sister founded the Youth Action Council – the YAC (pronounced yack) – of Easter Seals Greater Houston, to help raise money for the venerable charity that serves as a resource for people and families living with disabilities.

Over Caroline’s four years at Memorial (her sister is now a student at Vanderbilt), the YAC has raised some $50,000 for Easter Seals. The YAC also makes dog leashes for service dogs and takes on other projects.

“It seems small, but the little things make a big difference,” said Caroline.

Indeed they do. Caroline said that she and her board of 12 MHS students had a simple goal this year – each member would reach out and get 10 friends to donate $50 each. The strategy clearly worked – the team raised nearly $11,000 this year.

She said she that leadership just comes with the territory.

“I don’t do it to be the leader,” she said. “I do it to help people. But it is an awesome thing to inspire others.”

Her record of service includes helping out at summer camps for children with disabilities, participation in the National Charity League (NCL) and volunteering at Brookwood, a local facility serving adults with disabilities.

In something of an understatement, Caroline said that she “really enjoys service to others.”

MHS counselor Catherine Atwal agrees.

“Caroline Perillo is a trailblazer,” said Atwal. “Hard working, cheerful and mature, Caroline is a true leader in our school and community.”

Atwal rattles off a host of Caroline’s activities – lacrosse, Mustang Sweethearts, NCL – as well as pioneering a national Youth Action Council for Easter Seals.

As Caroline heads off to the University of Texas at Austin to major in education (“I want to continue helping people,” she said) she also wants to keep in touch with YAC and Easter Seals.

“I have so much invested in YAC and Easter Seals,” she said. “I don’t want to let go. It’s a great way to learn a lot of things, and it’s a great way to get involved.

“Our YAC raised $50,000 in four years,” she said.  “I think it’s going to be huge.”

When she’s not studying or volunteering, she’s sort of a typical high school student who enjoys hanging out with her friends. She’s enjoyed the summer camps she attended for herself, and was also a delegate to Girls State.

The daughter of Joe and Donna Perillo, Caroline attended Memorial Drive Elementary, Spring Branch Middle School and graduated on May 26 from Memorial High School.

Her Memorial High School counselor can’t wait to see what Caroline does next.

“Both peers and teachers hold her in high esteem and appreciate her diligence and spirit,” said Catherine Atwal. “We look forward to seeing how Caroline will better the world!”

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Ramos Lopez Learning His Way Around English, Community

June 1, 2018, 7:39 am

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 Daniel Ramos Lopez can be excused for sounding like a young man on a mission.

The Memorial High School graduating senior came to Houston two years ago from Santiago, Chile, when his father, a Church of God minister, took the opportunity to pastor a congregation here.

Daniel overcame some obstacles to walk across the stage on May 26, including a miserable initial experience. Besides being the “new kid” that day, he also knew no English when he got here.

“The first day here was bad. It was awful,” he said. “I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t know English.”

Kindness from the front-desk clerk got him through that first day, he said, and he hasn’t looked back.

For instance, the casual observer could never tell that he’s only been learning English for two years, and learning by osmosis.

“I’ve learned by watching movies, reading and listening to people around me,” Daniel said. “I’m always listening and learning.”

He said the capacity for language comes naturally.

“I had to learn (English) if I wanted to get good grades and get into a good school,” he said.

Indeed. Even with his limited English, he’s taken classes in U.S. history, anatomy, health science, math and business and management. That’s a hefty load for native English speakers.

He really only speaks English with his MHS community – at home and at church he helps out his parents with English but mostly speaks Spanish.

But Daniel Ramos Lopez can’t be defined by overcoming his English-language deficiencies. No, he’s much more than that.

He’s been active with his family’s church, helping his parents – Daniel Ramos and Jeannette Lopez – both with language barriers (they speak little English) and the church’s work.

He’s helped out with families dealing with flooding both in Louisiana a couple of years ago, and Hurricane Harvey last fall. Besides doing some actual mucking, he produced a video for the worldwide Church of God (more than 8 million members) to help procure resources.

He’s active in the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) and makes rounds at local hospitals with health-care professionals.

“It’s a very interesting experience,” said Daniel. “I get to see things and I get to interact with patients. It’s one of the things I enjoy most with HOSA.”

And he’s been learning music – like his English, a relatively new experience. He’s learned to play guitar and is learning to play piano and drums. He’s learning drums, he said, to better control his musical movements.

He misses his dog, Sebastiana, who lives with his older sisters back in Chile. He’s been able to visit with his Sebastiana, a bichon fries, the couple of times she’s come to Houston for visits.

“(Daniel) is a student with a diverse skillset – he might be comforting a patient during his hospital rotation on Friday, organizing a community event on Saturday, and making a film on Sunday,” said 12^th-grade counselor Catherine Atwal. “An honest and caring young man, he approaches everyone with respect and humility and always goes out of his way to help others.”

So what’s next? Daniel said he’ll likely take a gap year, to learn more English and to travel. “It takes 12 years to become a physician,” he said.

So you want to be a doctor?

“Maybe,” he said. “Or a musician.”

Graduate Honors His Family by Finishing School

June 1, 2018, 7:43 am

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Nineteen-year-old John Castillo graduated from Academy of Choice for himself and for his future, but importantly to him also for a dad who has endured serious illness. His father’s sickness almost killed both of them.

Castillo joined his classmates on May 22 for a graduation ceremony at the non-traditional high school, located on the former site of the Spring Branch Education Center on Westview.

The school district’s Academy of Choice (AOC) offers options to students with unique curriculum and graduation needs -- a few credits to graduate, credit recovery, unusual school day issues, or other academic needs.

Castillo, by his own account, needed a special place that would accept him after a period of opioid abuse led to personal depression and a dismissal from another district high school. He returned to AOC after spending two years at Archway Academy in Houston, a recovery high school.

He fell into depression and serious drug abuse about four years ago after his father, the light of his life, fell ill with liver related complications leading to a bypass operation and multiple hospital stays.

Castillo’s dad sweated out heating, ventilation and air conditioning for three decades, and he was the person who introduced his then 4-year-old son to an all-American game called baseball. Ever since, Castillo’s passion for his dad’s health and well-being and for baseball have been linked in his heart.

“A big part of why I came back to school here was my dad being ill, and for me how he had sacrificed all he did. I owed him my finishing high school. It does take humility and my own integrity to come back, but I’ve been on my knees on the baseball field, and I’ve learned to get back up,” he said.

He spiraled down after watching his father’s illness lead to hospitalizations. Castillo said the recovery high school saved him and sobered him up, in part, through intensive outpatient program and counseling, and focused recovery strategies and tactics.

“I was forced to grow up young and be the man of the house,” he recalled, looking back on his personal journey on the morning he graduated.

For his dream future, Castillo would be a walk-on for the Astros, playing in the big leagues. He was a pitcher, first baseman and an outfielder in Little League, and both Showcase and Select baseball teams. “I love pitching,” the talented left-hander said.

On a practical level, he is considering Blinn and Angelina colleges, both of which also happen to have baseball teams. His dream career is veterinary medicine, dogs and cats. A toy poodle, Willie, is a loved family companion that was always there for Castillo.

His counselors and teachers think the world of him. Pete Gilmore, his U.S. history, economics and film history teacher, shared a love of sports. They discussed the Astros, Rockets, LeBron James and Castillo’s own playing career and dreams almost daily.

“John has a great sense of humor and a level of maturity and awareness well beyond his years,” Gilmore said. “John has had to deal with some adversity and challenges outside of school, but he didn’t let them get in the way of finishing school.”

“John was a leader in my classroom. He often assisted his classmates and always engaged in class discussions. He is a very likeable young man, and I will miss having him around in class,” Gilmore also said.

Castillo credits AOC with catching him up as quickly as possible on several missing semesters of high school work. He praised AOC counselors Angie Svetlik and Lindsey Heinzman for their open-door policies, too.

“I love the fact that the counselor’s offices here don’t seem like offices. The counselor’s office is a place where you can be yourself, and there is a truly awesome support network here [at AOC],” he said.

“John is a great example of someone with grit, or a growth mindset. Despite many roadblocks that have been thrown his way in the past few years, he has kept going and never given up on himself,” counselor Angie Svetlik said.

Lindsey Heinzman often had a quick chat with Castillo when he stopped by her counselor’s office between classes, often to grab a peppermint. Castillo was as confident talking philosophy and current events as sports teams and game results.

“I have come to know John’s heart for people, especially his family and those that have helped him on his road to recovery. John is insightful, compassionate and hard-working, and he will truly be missed on campus,” she said.

Stratford High Twins Too Tough for Harvey

June 1, 2018, 8:19 am

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 It seems everyone has a Harvey story. Twins Amanda and Meredith Williams, who look nothing alike, have one. Meredith is the one with brown, curly hair. Amanda’s is straight and blond.

There are other differences. They have different dreams, and this fall will head to different parts of the country. Meredith will pursue an electrical engineering degree at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and Amanda will major in theatre at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.

There are also similarities. Both are class salutatorians. They’re conscientious and loving daughters and friends. Both are energetic and vivacious. They’re each other’s biggest fan.

And they both say Hurricane Harvey shaped their senior year. Their home was one of the first to flood.

On the night the rain started, Amanda went out with friends in spite of weather reports and her parents’ fear she would get stranded. She was sure that wouldn’t happen – until it did. She camped out at a Whataburger until her parents rescued her, then she went to bed thinking the worst was over.

Little did the sisters know, the worst – and the best – was yet to come.

At 5 a.m., the family started moving everything upstairs. By 10 a.m., there was a foot of water in the house. A neighbor rowed the family to the front of the neighborhood with their four dogs, phones and a few T-shirts.

The family of one of Amanda’s theatre friends, Abby, hosted the Williams family for a week. “The Haralsons were wonderful and welcoming,” Amanda says.

The Williams family moved into a townhouse for the foreseeable future. The girls give their parents, Phillip and Margie, credit for making the ordeal an adventure. They would eventually sell their home and buy another flooded house, which they are now remodeling.

The girls spent their time applying to colleges.

A look at the pre-Harvey sisters: They are active school and church volunteers. Both are talented. They have participated in Stratford’s choir and have received recognition at the regional level. (This year, Meredith sings at the state level.) Both are talented basketball players. Meredith competes year-round on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team. She’s the only girl on the team – and she’s 5’2”! A thespian all four years of high school, Amanda gave up basketball her senior year to concentrate on theatre and would play the lead in two of her three senior productions.

There are many more accomplishments, but this story is about Harvey.

Though they were scared and out of their element, thinking of college helped them survive.

“Our parents did a good job of keeping us focused on the future,” Meredith says. “Dad always says, ‘Focus on the task at hand.’ It works.”

Harvey taught them a lot.

Meredith: “When life throws obstacles, you have two choices. You can whine and cry, or you can be productive. Do what makes the situation better. That’s how our parents approached it. My job was to get good grades and talk to college coaches.”

Amanda: “Be kind. Be kinder than you have to be. Our neighbor who canoed us out – his house had flooded too, but he was smiling and helping us.

“Senior year is stressful, and in high school, stress brings on drama – especially when the year begins with a hurricane. Kindness outlives any other attitude. My friends have been so kind to me. The only thing I can do is to give that kindness to other people.”

“Harvey shaped me as a person,” Meredith says. “I wouldn’t be as grateful. We don’t know what we have until we lose it. I have more drive now. I am determined to help my parents, whether it’s by getting scholarships or walking the dogs.”

“It prepared me to take on more experiences and to handle situations gracefully,” Amanda continues.

Their focus on college paid off. Amanda will pursue acting in the city known for it. She felt at home when she visited Loyola Marymount, where she will have a view of the ocean on one side and the Hollywood sign on the other. Best of all, the students were welcoming. Meredith was recruited to play basketball at Illinois Institute of Technology. Both received generous merit and academic scholarship packages.

They agree it will be hard to leave Stratford behind.

Amanda says, “This is where I transitioned from basketball to theatre. I found myself here. I owe Stratford a lot for shaping me. I can’t imagine life without these friends and this environment, but Stratford has prepared me for good things ahead.”

It will be hard to leave each other. “In high school, we found different passions,” she continues. “No one has seen me grow up like Meredith has.”

Meredith says, “Twins are different than siblings. We are so different, but at the core, we’re so similar.”

Almost at once, they say, “I’m so proud of her,” and move on quickly before the tears begin.

What advice would they offer their freshman selves? Meredith says, “Be grateful for everything, all life’s little blessings.”

And from Amanda: “Life is so much bigger than high school. Enjoy each moment. There will be life after this.”

So there, Harvey!

Fashion Dreams Lead to College Scholarship

June 1, 2018, 8:25 am

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When Tuesday Pears begins college in the fall, she’ll take advantage of a full-ride at Kent State
University. Well, almost a full ride. The first year, she’ll pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.

This will be the next step toward becoming a fashion designer. The journey started at age 9 when Tuesday taught herself to use a sewing machine, a gift from her mom. She’s been designing and sewing clothes ever since, including this year’s prom dress.

She had a break-through when she took fashion design as a sophomore elective. “Everything I knew, I had taught myself,” Tuesday says. “Ms. Lucas taught me things I didn’t know.”

Tuesday moved to Houston from Detroit second semester of her freshman year. “My mom researched good places to live and the best schools for my little brother and me. I knew I’d be going to Stratford before we got here.”

She compares Stratford to her school in Michigan. “Cass Tech was taller. Stratford is wider.”

There are other differences, of course. From a fashion viewpoint, she appreciates not wearing uniforms. Classes are quieter at Stratford, so it was hard to make friends at first. Luckily, she had art and biology where the activity and lab periods made it easier to meet people.

It was difficult to adjust to the A/B class schedule. School wasn’t necessarily harder here, but she had to adjust to different expectations and grading scales. She found her stride because except for one B as a freshman, she’s made all As.

Tuesday is philosophical about high school. “If you stay focused, you can get it all done. Don’t stress. We’re young. This is only the beginning.”

On the social scene: “Don’t exclude yourself to one group of students. The more people you know, the better.”

On making choices: “Always do the right thing, then you don’t have to worry about consequences. And you feel better if it doesn’t work out.”

The One Goal program was a huge influence in helping Tuesday galvanize her goals and make them a reality. Coach Mixon was instrumental in the process.

One Goal is a three-year college access and success program that runs junior year in high school through freshman year in college. Junior and senior years, it supports students through SAT and ACT prep, college match, college applications and the financial aid process. Then, it continues during the college freshman year to help with enrollment, class schedule and facing all the academic, financial and social challenges. One Goal coaches are just an email or FaceTime conversation away.

Besides Ms. Lucas and Coach Mixon, Tuesday says there have been many adults who have helped her prepare for college and life after.

“Ms. Johnson is the principal everyone should have. She listens and gives good advice. No matter what you think, she doesn’t make you feel you’re wrong.”

Her mom, Diane, is her greatest influence. In addition to finding Stratford, it was her idea to consider Kent State. Diane will move the family to Ohio in the fall, and Tuesday plans to live at home. “I think parent involvement is important at this stage of my life. My mom made a good decision to come to Texas. I’ve had more opportunities here.”

Harvey was her first hurricane. “I had never seen anything like it,” she says. “I knew about snow storms, but not this.” Tuesday, her mom and little brother have their own weather story. When they came to Texas four years ago, they drove through snow and ice storms and white outs. It took six days to get here.

Tuesday isn’t a fan of cold weather. She took to Houston’s heat very easily. So why return to the cold in Ohio? Because Kent State has one of the top fashion design programs in the country. Because the school offered her a deal she can’t refuse. And because her mom will use the opportunity to return to school and further her nursing career.

Just like the last move, this one will be a family affair.

Journey from El Salvador to Swarthmore College

June 1, 2018, 8:38 am

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Ten years ago, when Wilber Dominguez came to Houston from El Salvador with his mother, neither of them spoke a word of English.

Today, his English is perfect; he’s graduating as a valedictorian from an academically challenging high school; and he has a near-full-ride to Swarthmore College, the nation’s third-ranked liberal arts college. Princeton University should get ready – he hopes that’s his next stop on the way to an astrophysics PhD.

Wilber had a plan for himself during middle school and ninth grade. He played in the band, where he discovered the trumpet defines his soul, mind, spirit and character. But as far as academics went, “My mindset was go to school and do well.”

The plan worked. Until something magical happened.

Spring Branch ISD selected him to join in the Houston Chapter of the National Hispanic Institute. The summer after his freshman year, he participated in NHI’s Great Debate at Austin College.

“That was my first time out of my comfort zone,” he says. “I collaborated with other high achieving Latino students from across the state. Many are among my best friends. After that, I couldn’t keep to myself. I had found my voice.”

After his sophomore year, he was part of NHI’s Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative Session and made friends from across the nation. “When we got there, we had no idea what would be asked of us. It was the best experience ever.”

The next summer was the Collegiate World Series, which included Inquiry Based Learning. Participants were given obscure, difficult problems and expected to find solutions. To say these experiences stretched him would be an understatement. His excitement is palpable as he discusses the networking opportunities and personal growth.

As a volunteer, he trains Houston-area freshmen for this summer’s Great Debate. “It’s been such a big part of my life, I’ll continue volunteering through college.”

The EMERGE program was the second magical part of Wilber’s high school years. He was one of six Stratford students selected to participate in the program that empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges across the nation. EMERGE Fellows participate in after-school, weekend and summer programs from sophomore to senior years and continue to receive support through their college journey.

EMERGE opened the world for Wilber. He chose Swarthmore for its seminar-style learning after the sophomore year. “I learn from others’ viewpoints. I love hearing how other people think.

“EMERGE increased my confidence in what I can do and where I can fit in academically. Before working with Abygayl Flores, my program manager, I would have majored in engineering at a state school.” She expanded his vision and helped with the application process.

Wilber emphatically says he hopes SBISD will continue both programs. “My personal confidence grew with the National Hispanic Institute. My academic confidence grew with EMERGE.”

The confidence also increased the social life of the young student who wanted to go to school, do well and go home. Not only does he have friends from across the country, he has plenty throughout Stratford. He describes the school as a mindful and supportive community, especially the teachers.

He uses Mr. Poetzl as an example. “I enjoy math, so I came in to AP statistics with a negative attitude. But he is so passionate about statistics, I began to enjoy it and to truly learn. Ms. Sharp was the same way with English. And Ms. Glover with physics. I picked my college major because of Ms. Glover’s class.”

Wilber has great respect for his mom, who took the leap of faith to come to the United States. “She did that for me. She saw that I was a good student and wanted me to have opportunities. Ten years later, it’s paying off.”

In El Salvador, his mom was an anesthesiologist technician. In Houston, she worked in restaurants and cleaned buildings to make ends meet. She also earned a phlebotomy certification and now works in a plasma bank. “She proud that I’m doing what I want to do,” he says. The pride is mutual.

Wilber remembers his first day at Stratford High School, “I stepped through the doors with the goal of walking out with no regrets. I think I will do that.”

Running Helped Him Repair His Life and Graduate

June 1, 2018, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: Open Hearts at Spring Woods High Support Graduate

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For Jonathan Loebl, freshman year at Spring Woods High School was the pits. “I was full of myself, wanting so badly to fit in,” he remembers. “I was trying to be someone I wasn’t, and people didn’t like me that way.”

Life at home was even worse. Following his older sister’s example, he dove headfirst into the drug scene, and his family descended into an abyss of arguments until the environment became too confrontational. On Christmas day of sophomore year, after an especially explosive fight, Jonathan went for a walk to blow off steam. During the walk, he received a text from home: “Be out by Monday.”

Jonathan stayed one night at his girlfriend’s house, but he didn’t want to be a burden to her family. After retrieving a backpack of belongings from home, he walked and cried until 2 a.m. His girlfriend’s mother, Kim Harlow, insisted he return to her home – and he’s been there since.

Unfortunately, Jonathan’s downward spiral wasn’t over. He continued using drugs. He became depressed and suicidal. He cut himself. Finally, after a major meltdown, he talked with Kim most of the night. He eventually heard two things from her: “I will not tolerate drugs.” and “You are a member of this family now.”

Through Kim’s guidance, he got more heavily involved with school activities. He was already on the swim team; she signed him up for water polo, too. He already ran five miles every other day to clear his head; he joined the track team to run cross country. Over the summer, he got a job as a lifeguard.

And though Jonathan and his girlfriend broke up, his relationship with her family didn’t. Now, the two are close friends.

The final cut with the past came when Jonathan was out with his old friends and they were involved in a car accident. “I saw a side of them I didn’t want to see. It opened my eyes to their lifestyle. They were getting deeper into the pit I had left.”

Running became a metaphor for the transformation high school was providing him. He learned where he wanted to go; running would get him there.

By senior year, the pit was a distant memory. He stopped swimming and invested all his time in track and cross country. He took AP classes and maintained high grades. And he repaired a lot of relationships.

Jonathan has been accepted into the Entrepreneurial program at Sam Houston State University where he will walk on to the track team and pay for his education with scholarships, grants and loans. Chiropractic school will follow.

“I’m super grateful for the work I put into the last two years,” he says. “My future looks bright. I want to pay it forward, helping whoever needs me.”

He has advice for other students who are struggling to find their footing: “As cheesy as it sounds, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Find someone to talk to. Find a Kim. She was there as my No. 1 cheerleader all along the way. I adore her. She’s one of a kind.”

He’s grateful to others as well.

Coach Zachary Morgan has been a huge influence. “He pushed me to make my goals and dreams a reality. He did everything in his power to help me achieve them.”

His sophomore English teacher, Blaire Zuvich, helped him through the bad days. “I was filled with anger, but in her classroom, I felt at peace. I spent my lunch periods there.”

When he accidentally hurt his back, Jonathan met another mentor, Dr. Kurt Juergens, who has plenty of practical advice for pursuing a chiropractic career.

Jonathan entered Spring Woods High School as a cocky kid trying to fit in. He will leave it as an humble young man who definitely fits in.

It was a struggle, but he knows who he is now. “I’m a nice and kind kid who will help anyone. In the last two years, I’ve put myself out there establishing relationships. I’ve tried to be a leader for my freshman cross country teammates. Now I have to leave them. I’m going to miss this place.”

Graduation will be bittersweet.

Open Hearts at Spring Woods High Support Graduate

June 1, 2018, 2:13 pm

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Look up the word “strength” in the dictionary, and you’re likely to see Patricia Hernandez’ photo.

Freshman through junior years were packed with activities and accomplishments: soccer, student council, class council, Health Occupation Students of America, pep squad, athletic trainer program, National Beta Club. She was student council president her junior year. She participated in internships at Memorial Hermann Medical Center and at an oral surgery center.

She chose challenging academics as well. Except for electives, she took all AP classes and was on the Honor Roll each year.

She had the strength to do it all and do it well.

Senior year got tough. She was already having problems at home. She and her older brother had moved to Houston when she was 7 years old to live with their mother. Patty’s relationship with her step-dad was rocky, but it got worse. And her mother working two jobs added new stress. Everything felt out of control.

Patty spent more and more time in her room, including New Year’s Eve when her mother hosted a party. Before the night was over, her mother came into her room, and began to argue.

“I was so tired of everything,” she says. “I knew this was not okay.”

She grabbed her work clothes and left, eventually moving in with her brother’s girlfriend’s family. Things did not improve between Patty and her mom. They talked, but it was clear that moving back home was not a healthy option.

And this is where “strength” changed from getting things done to persevering.

Patty became depressed. How could she support herself? How would she finish school? How could she face the people at school who knew her as a success?

What she found was kindness. Spring Woods High staff and teachers opened their hearts to her. Though her grades had fallen, and she was no longer on the honor roll, teachers gave her opportunities to a make up work and attend tutorials. Her grade-level principal, Katie Kavanaugh, gave her a ticket to the prom and arranged funding for her cap and gown.

Her brother’s mother-in-law, Laura Iniesta, became her second mom. “She helped me so much,” Patty says. “She helped with insurance and so much more. She gave me food and shelter.” She also provided Patty a condo.

Though Patty worked part-time for the oral surgeon, she needed more work. She got a second job as a server at Plucker’s where she works most every day. As a Seventh-day Adventist Church member, she is restricted from working Friday night and Saturday. On Sundays, she works double shifts. 

She is completely self-sufficient – rent for her condo, food, clothing and school expenses.

Her days are packed. She’s at school by 6:15 a.m. for an internship class. By 8 a.m., she’s at Houston Community College for psychology or British literature classes, then back to SWHS for calculus and environmental science. She continues her extracurricular activities.

Patty applied to several colleges, but Laura’s family are all Texas A&M fans. When they took her to visit the campus, she accepted the school’s offer the next day. Scholarships will pay half her expenses, and she’s applying for jobs on campus.

She’ll major in biomedical sciences. “That’s been my interest throughout high school. I’m fascinated by all things medical. When I shadowed doctors during my internship, I paid special attention to the nurses. I loved what they did step by step.”

Patty is a model of perseverance. “I still struggle, but I find a way through. I’m set now. My home is peaceful. There are no arguments. I find strength in prayer.”

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Senior Finds Leaving WAIS Like Leaving Home

June 4, 2018, 5:09 am

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It may be too early to call Austin Armstrong a Renaissance Man, but then again, maybe not.

A short list of the Westchester Academy of International Studies (WAIS) senior’s activities includes:

•   Advanced Choir
• Theater
• Thespian Honor Society
• Wildcat Dance Team (he DJs, and has even danced with them)
• Interact
• National Honor Society
• National Technical Honor Society
• IB Career Program
• Eagle Scout (in progress)

 “I’m very invested in Westchester,” Austin said. “I don’t think I’ve fully processed (that I’m leaving) yet.”

Understandable. Austin has been at WAIS since sixth grade, after attending elementary school at Valley Oaks, with a brief period at Awty International School.

“Westchester has had a huge impact on my life,” he said. “I love Westchester. You can tell by all the things I’m involved in.

“(Westchester) is small so you get to know everybody so well. I know just about everybody, at least by face.”

You might even call him the mayor of Westchester, sort of. He did get to play Mr. Mayor in last year’s production of Seussical.

Austin’s also technically and digitally savvy, taking computer courses at the Guthrie Center and putting that knowledge to work in digital communications at WAIS, working on projects with teacher Shaun Wegscheid.

“I’m pretty well versed in technology,” he said.

So much so that he will major in computer engineering at Texas A&M in the fall. A good student, he was automatically admitted to both UT-Austin and Texas A&M, but scholarship offers tipped the scales in favor of the Aggies.

“It just worked out that way,” he said. He’s getting $15,000 in scholarship money to attend A&M. He’s also getting a $20,000 scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one that he’s particularly proud of.

“My dad is a big volunteer at the rodeo, a lifetime member,” said Austin. “I’ve been to the rodeo every year since I was born … it’s really, really exciting.”

He shows a reporter a photo of a smoker that he designed and built for his sophomore project, with the help of a friend who has a metalworking shop. He’s used the smoker to prepare meats for the WAIS senior auction and other events.

He cites his mother, Jo Anne Armstrong, as a “huge role model.” Now a real estate agent, Mrs. Armstrong has a degree in fashion design and Austin thinks that’s where he gets his artistic passion and talent.

His father, Daryl Armstrong, owns SSQQ Dance Studio near the Heights. The studio took on nearly seven feet of water during Harvey, but Austin said the family has found another location and is beginning build-out. The studio has special significance for the Armstrongs – Daryl and Jo Anne Armstrong met there before becoming owners.

Austin’s other family, though, is at Westchester, especially theater. He and his younger sister, Ali, a ninth-grader at WAIS, performed a duet of “Footprints” for the school recently that had everybody crying. “It’s like a good-bye from me to her,” he said.

He said that counselor Karren Sims, who’s known Austin since sixth grade, calls him her “favorite little project.”

Simms said that Austin is “an amazing young man (with) an incredible sense of honor.” She said met Austin that sixth-grade year when he accompanied her on a recruiting trip to an elementary school.

“I was so amazed at how poised he was,” she said. “Of course, now it makes perfect sense. He’s been so involved in our advanced choir and theater department. He is incredibly bright and has a great future ahead of him at Texas A&M in the engineering department.

For Austin, leaving Westchester is bittersweet.

“I spend more time here than at home,” he said. “I’m still processing the fact that I’m leaving.

“I’m excited but sad.”

WAIS Senior Likes the Many Dimensions of IB Program

June 4, 2018, 5:19 am

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 A conversation with Rania Dali is cruising along when it’s asked if she knew English when she came to the United States from Algeria five years ago.

“No,” Rania said, with something of a sheepish smile. “I learned English here.”

Not surprisingly, she’s fluent in both French and Arabic (the North Africa country of Algeria is a former French colony). She’s learned English through school, and that English seems flawless as well.

Her parents, Abdelkader Dali and Soraya Rahmane, moved to Houston so that Rania and her younger brother, a WAIS seventh-grader, could have a better education. That the family landed in Spring Branch ISD is pure serendipity.

She spent eighth grade at Spring Oaks Middle, then ninth grade at the Academy of Choice (AOC), where she took advantage of the smaller classes and more one-on-one with teachers. At AOC she learned leadership through the Restorative Justice program, and enjoyed going to political events with her former history teacher, the late Joyce Roberta Miller-Alper.

“She was active in politics,” Rania said. “She took me to about everything.”

Rania found Westchester Academy of International Studies (WAIS) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program for her sophomore year, and is working on her IB diploma.

“It’s great,” she said of the WAIS and the IB program. “It allows me to dig deep into the background of subjects.”

She said she was – and is – really excited about the IB program.

“It’s not just AP (advanced placement) classes,” she said. “You need service hours so it’s not just class-based.” She said students also have to be conscious of events both internationally and nationally.

She’s particularly interested in biology, and has taken the deep dive through the IB program and is now into her second year. “It’s tough, but intriguing,” she said. “I have a passion for biology.”

She also appreciates the international aspect of the IB program – in fact, she said it prepared her well for an internship with the Organization of Community Advocates, a national civil rights organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.

“(The internship) was a great opportunity for using the IB diploma,” Rania said. At OCA she helped organize a film festival, develop programs for students and learned about civic engagement.

She’s a member of the Thespian Honor Society, and Interact, a service club for teens that operates under the auspices of Rotary International. Through Interact she helped organize an Interact clothing drive for refugees.

Counselor Beverly Martin said that Rania is an “outstanding young lady” and a “world changer.”

“If she sees a person needing assistance or an area needing attention, she is generally the first to step forward and meet that need,” said Martin. “I’m impressed by her altruistic, giving nature, and I appreciate the impact she has had on Westchester while a student here.”

Rania will be going to Bryn Mawr College on a Posse scholarship. Posse scholarships group together a support group of sorts for college-bound students of similar backgrounds, and who all attend the same elite college.

She learned about Posse through Collegiate Challenge and her counselor, Beverly Martin. She was originally headed to UT-Austin but the school pulled out, leaving Rania headed to Bryn Mawr, in Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia.

Her parents are happy for her but concerned about how far away the school is. Rania shares their emotions.

“I’m excited,” she said, “but nervous.”

Memorial Duo Crowned State Mixed Doubles Tennis Champions

June 5, 2018, 2:42 pm

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MHS mixed doubles 6A state champions Andrew Esses and Drew Morris

The Memorial High tennis team had an amazing showing during recent state team competition play. As defending doubles champs, Andrew Esses and Drew Morris once again won the mixed doubles state championship held on May 18.

Memorial Coach Bud Booth reports that Esses and Morris had an undefeated season, winning six separate doubles titles: Corpus Christi, Spring Branch ISD, Kemah, District, Regionals and State.

The tennis doubles pairing finished a perfect season with a three-set victory over a Lake Travis High doubles pairing, winning 6-0, 6-7, 6-2  to stack another gold in Mustangs’ tennis history.

In addition, freshman Aleksandra Dimitrijevic finished as a state semifinalist. She won a bronze medal after losing a tough, three-hour match that went three sets against a University of Florida-signed player ranked fifth in the nation, Booth said.

Also earning a state bronze medal was the Memorial boys doubles team of Artur Zigman and Ben Westwick. Zigman was a defending state champion; Westwick was a state finalist. The two fell to a strong Austin Westlake High team that went on to win the state title.

The mixed doubles team of Cole Rassner and Natalija Dimitrijevic finished out as state quarterfinalists after a tough match against a Lake Travis team, which then advanced to state finals.

Congratulations all around to Mustang Tennis!

The Houston Chronicle published this story May 19 about Esses and Morris:

Memorial ends stellar year with mixed doubles tennis title

By Adam Coleman, Houston Chronicle

https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Memorial-ends-stellar-year-with-mixed-doubles-12926430.php

COLLEGE STATION – Memorial bookended its first team state championship in tennis in the fall with more gold in the spring.

Senior Andrew Esses and freshman Drew Morris won the Class 6A mixed doubles title at the UIL Tennis State Tournament on Friday at Texas A&M University.

The duo defeated Lake Travis’ Mitali Khoje and Jesse Wikso, 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-2. It’s one of three individual tennis titles for the Houston area this spring.

“After winning the state championship in team tennis, these guys in mixed, they had an amazing year,” Memorial coach Bud Booth said. “They’ve won every tournament they’ve played in. Lake Travis is a good team. I knew that was going to be a tough match. But you know, they haven’t lost this season and just to finish it off. We knew we could do it but you still have to play well. And they did. They played great. Very proud of them.”

The duo are on the opposite ends as far as classifications go. For the senior Esses, it caps off a landmark year for the program.

“It’s my senior year. It’s my last go around. So being able to cap it off with two state championships means the world to me,” Esses said.

Posse Scholar Shines Light on Great Art Teacher

June 7, 2018, 7:13 am

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Somewhere up in heaven, former Landrum Middle School art teacher Andres Bautista is looking down on one new Northbrook High School graduate, Sandra Melgar, and beaming brightly.

Melgar, who is also a graduate of the high school’s special Posse and Emerge student program cohorts, will attend Bryn Mawr College, near Philadelphia, this fall where she plans to study fine arts and education.

As a top-rated student, gifted artist and Posse Scholar, Melgar heads off to an Ivy League college with a full-tuition scholarship valued at $200,000, or more. Melgar today is not the tentative middle school art student she once recalls.

Bautista, a storied and highly acclaimed art instructor, died in 2015. A Teacher of the Year in SBISD, he had a special ability to connect with students and to identify their potential talents in art and related areas.

Melgar was one of Mr. Bautista’s Landrum Middle students, many of whom have also gone on to receive scholarships in art and other academic areas.

“I was stubborn. Mr. Bautista told me I had potential in my first year, but I did not listen. But the next year, I submitted one of my works to Newspring (a local arts organization program and annual student competition) and it was accepted. I realized through him that I really did have potential,” she said.

Both Melgar’s potential and her strong body of art works led the Newspring organization several weeks ago to award her and four other student artists scholarships valued at $5,000 each. Through Newspring, Melgar has sold more than a half dozen personal art works in recent years.

She has received recognition for her work, too, through Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and other art organizations. She loves abstract art, likes to paint and has worked on locally produced aluminum butterfly sculptures, a new and highly visible, Newspring community project.

“When I was given the task of nominating students for Posse, Sandra was one of the first students I thought of. During the interview process, I was fortunate to spend more time with her and got to know her well. Through our conversations she told me her story and talked about the people like Mr. Bautista, who have mentored her and helped her create change in her life,” Northbrook senior counselor Anne Styler said. 

“Sandra is smart and driven, and an amazing artist. She has had help and encouragement, but she has done the hard work. I am thrilled that she has the opportunity to attend Bryn Mawr College. She is going to do great things in her life,” Styler also said.

This soon-to-be Bryn Mawr freshman came to the United States at age 8 with her brothers from Honduras. She attended Housman Elementary for two years, and then Landrum Middle and Northbrook.

A National Honor Society member, Melgar ranked No. 11 in the Class of 2018 at Northbrook. A summertime visit to Bryn Mawr helped her decide the college was far enough from Houston (“I need that”) and flexible for a student like her who may wish to take college courses at nearby schools and universities, one of Bryn Mawr’s selling points.

Her native Honduras, a troubled land today, pulls at her heart. Melgar is thinking about teaching there after college, in part because of the needs in Honduras, and partly because of the current U.S. political situation.

“Everything happening is leading me in the direction of being a teacher. I have thought about art education as a possible way to combine both arts and education, but at this point I am open (to the future), she said.

Melgar credits both Posse and Emerge programs for her bright prospects. The Posse Foundation was created to identify, recruit and grow students with top leadership potential. Posse Scholars like Melgar often earn four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships from Posse partner colleges and universities.

Nine out of 10 Posse Scholars graduate from college, compared to about six in 10 college students who graduate nationwide.

The Emerge program now operates in several Houston-area public school districts, including SBISD. It connects high-performing students who live in underserved areas or have minority backgrounds with select U.S. colleges and universities.

From sophomore through senior years, Emerge students are given added support, including after-school meetings and programs, workshop options, individual college advising, standardized test preparation and college trips and tours during summer breaks.

Melgar says that the test preparation, exposure to college options, and all the advising and networking provided was “amazing” in her own journey. “They were always there to guide me,” she said of Emerge.

When she looks forward today, Melgar is not certain about her future, but Mr. Bautista’s invisible hand may still be guiding her.

The careers she has identified all have “art” in their titles – art studio owner, art business owner, art teacher.

Sandra Melgar found a big part of her future story back in middle school.

Summer 2018 Health Department Letter

June 7, 2018, 7:28 am

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SPRING BRANCH ISD WILL SERVE UP GOOD NUTRITION FOR LOCAL CHILDREN THIS SUMMER

Bringing healthy summer meals to Spring Branch children ensures kids have a healthy vacation and return to school ready to learn.

Houston – This summer, Spring Branch ISD will connect children 18 years old and younger with healthy Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) meals at no cost to the child. SFSP is a U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition program administered in the Lone Star State by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). For the children who rely on school meals during the academic year, these meals offer a source of good nutrition when school is out for the long summer vacation.

For the full letter, dates and locations of where the meals will be distributed, click here.

Celebrating Woodview Elementary's SPARK Park

June 11, 2018, 9:17 am

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Woodview Elementary principal Becky Hagan addresses students and dignitaries at the May 31 dedication of the school’s new SPARK Park.

Local dignitaries joined Woodview Elementary students and principal Becky Hagan recently to dedicate the school’s new SPARK Park, a playground area that can be enjoyed by the community after school hours. Major funding for the park came from generous institutional givers, but the Woodview school community raised $12,000 of the park’s $125,000 cost. 

Chatting under the entry arch to Woodview Elementary’s new SPARK Park.

Parents, students and staff organized a penny drive, a fun run with Hunters Creek Elementary (Woodview’s sister school), PDQ meal cards and engraved brick sales. Local artist Rose Toro and art teacher Kathleen Firth worked with students to create ceramic tiles for serpentine concrete seat walls and in entry columns to the park. Woodview Elementary is at 9749 Cedarview.

Go here for another story on the dedication.

Go here to learn more about SPARK parks.

Newspring Awards Five $5,000 Scholarships

June 11, 2018, 9:31 am

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Butterflies on display earlier this year at Memorial City Mall.

Newspring awarded each of five students with a $5,000 scholarship recently at the annual Student Art Auction, each one an “impressive student working to make a better future for herself and her family,” according to release from the organization.

Newspring scholarship winners at the Student Art Auction.

Receiving scholarships were:

• Daniela Cruz, Northbrook High School, who will study geosciences and studio art at Stephen F. Austin State University.
• Emalee Higgins, Northbrook High School, who will study graphic design and fine arts at Sam Houston State University.
• Sandra Melgar, Northbrook High School, who will study the arts at Bryn Mawr College.
• Alicia Villalta, Northbrook High School, who will study science at the University of Houston and hopes to pursue a career in a medical field.
• Natividad Mosqueda, a University of Houston-Downtown senior pursuing a degree in mathematics and art with a certification in secondary education.

Collaborative Spirit at work on the butterfly on the left between Rummel Creek Elementary and Sherwood Elementary.

The scholarships were funded through an original donation from the now-closed First Baptist Church of Spring Branch and sales of large butterflies over the past 18 months.

The butterflies, on display various places around the Spring Branch-Memorial area, are five-feet across and “as unique as the artists who create them” – art students and teachers who bring to life designs submitted by art classes and professional artists.

Sherwood Elementary students with the Sherwood butterfly.

Spring Branch ISD schools that decorated the aluminum butterflies include Buffalo Creek, Housman, Ridgecrest, Sherwood and Terrace elementary schools; Landrum, Northbrook and Spring Woods Middle Schools; and Memorial, Northbrook and Spring Woods High Schools.

“When we imagined this project, we chose the butterfly because it’s a symbol of transformation,” said Robert Westheimer, chairman of Newspring, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to making a positive social and economic impact in the Spring Branch area. “(T)hese butterflies will transform our community landscape, and the proceeds will fund scholarships for at-risk students and transform their lives.”

Some of the butterfly “kaleidoscope” (a swarm of butterflies) can be seen at Memorial City Mall. Other butterflies have made their way to other points across the district.

Sponsorships ranging from $7,500 to $50,000, are available. Contact Robert Westheimer at rwestheimer1@comcast.net for more information.

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June 12, 2018, 7:00 am

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Summer End of Course Testing

June 12, 2018, 11:09 am

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Summer End of Course Testing

 

The June STAAR EOC tests will be administered as follows:

• June 25, 2018 (English I)
• June 26, 2018 (Algebra I)
• June 27, 2018 (English II)
• June 28, 2018 (Biology, US History)

Please report for check-in at 7:30am.Testing will begin promptly at 8:00am.

Please note the new Spring Branch location:

Northbrook HS
#1 Raider Circle
Houston, TX 77080

Because the TAKS and TAAS tests are no longer being administered, former TAKS and TAAS examinees (including former TEAMS examinees) will take the STAAR EOC Algebra I and/or appropriate part of the STAAR EOC English II test(s). STAAR EOC scores will be matched to the appropriate TAKS and TAAS passing standards.

On the day(s) of testing, examinees should arrive at the test site 30 minutes before the designated testing time. Examinees must present picture identification, such as a driver’s license, DPS ID, military ID, school ID, or resident alien card to test. Examinees will not be allowed to take the test(s) without a picture ID.

If you have any questions about OOS registration, please contact Spring Branch ISD Assessment and Compliance at 713-251-2266.

Omar Hussein: His Father Would Be Incredibly Proud

June 14, 2018, 2:24 pm

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The American Dream never dies. Here’s how one remarkable recent Spring Woods High School graduate summed up his childhood, which was marked by family tragedy and great personal achievement:

My name is Omar Hussein.

I am the youngest son of two immigrants – a Mexican mother and a Pakistani father.

I am smart. I am driven.

And when I was in kindergarten, my entire life changed when my father was brutally murdered in our family store. Within a matter of hours, our family of four became a family of three, and I had to grow up – fast!

When Omar walked across the stage at Don Coleman Coliseum on May 26 and received his Class of 2018 diploma, he had exceeded the expectations of many of his own teachers and even astonished family members.

This fall, Hussein enters the freshman class at the University of Chicago, one of only a few EMERGE program seniors in Spring Branch ISD to get full-scholarship awards to their “dream” colleges.

Admitted to the University of Chicago by early decision, Hussein had the time in the months leading up to May graduation to let many others learn about his personal and school journey. It’s worth the time to hear.

His father, Saeed Hussein, was murdered at the family’s electronics store in southeast Houston after Hurricane Katrina. An attacker has never been found. Omar was just 5 years old. He was then left with his mom, an older brother, and a grandmother.

He has lived in Spring Branch ISD with his mom, Martha Hussein, and his grandmother, Ines Cervantes, through school years. He’s a graduate of Westwood Elementary, Cornerstone Academy and Spring Woods High.

In his youth, he was known as a bit of a class clown, but smart enough to get regular A’s. “I’m sure my teachers would have appreciated a different me. I managed to get work done, but they would have appreciated me far more if I wasn’t so talkative. I was pretty energetic, and I moved around a lot,” Omar recalls.

The fun loving Omar hid another young person. “I became a provider for my mother, and a stable force of positivity in our home. While school was the place where I focused my energies, I often struggled to balance my time between academics and working to support my own family,” he told an audience at one public event.

Omar needed no lessons in time management. As he grew up, he helped in the family store, Party Piñatas, on Gessner. By age 12, he was a tutor for Kumon Learning in math and reading. A positive, natural ability to connect with others then led to a middle-school age counselor position at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, where he worked for several years.

Before being chosen for the EMERGE student program, Omar viewed his college prospects as low. “Texas A&M or UT, those were out of my reach,” he recalls thinking.

EMERGE program support and encouragement from a program manager, Sherese Woolard, changed his view. He upped his high school game with AP classes, the Debate team and Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) program at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center.

The University of Chicago, where he aims to be a successful pre-medical student, was off his radar completely until he learned that a cousin was a student there.

“I didn’t know that the University of Chicago existed before my junior year,” he said. The university flew him up for a visit and interview. After a night in a dorm room, he was sold on the Hyde Park campus and the Windy City.

When the early decision notice came last December, he drove immediately to his mom’s piñata store. “I told her that I had been accepted, and she was in tears. It was a great moment in my life, and it made me so proud that she was so happy,” he said.

His father would be extremely proud that his son was headed to a top-level college, Omar believes. “A child achieving his dream is something that any parent can support. My father would have been overjoyed that I can live out my dream,” he says.

The Spring Woods High teachers and other adults who know Omar well consider him an amazing story. EMERGE manager Sherese Woolard is using the word “exceptional” to describe his drive and commitment.

“Despite many significant challenges that Omar has had to overcome in the last 18 years of his life, Omar persevered and pushed himself to achieve a level of academic success that is truly remarkable,” she said.

“I was so impressed with how hard Omar worked completing applications, crafting a strong resume, and revising essays often, all while balancing a demanding work schedule and full course load,” Woolard also said.

Omar is not the only good news EMERGE story in SBISD. More than 40 seniors participating in the program made decisions to attend colleges or universities nationwide, ranging from well-known East Coast names to a number of top colleges in the Midwest, West and here in Texas.

The EMERGE program operates in several Houston-area public school districts, including SBISD.

“What we do in EMERGE is ensure that students who have great potential are able to navigate systemic barriers to fully realize the potential in their lives,” Woolard said. “The hardest part of this job is seeing students who have done everything ‘right’ face the barriers that come with applying to college as a first-generation and/or low-income student in our country. The most gratifying part of this job is seeing students take on those barriers, overcome them, and despite the odds, achieve success. Omar is the epitome of this success.”

Spring Woods High Debate Team’s instructor, Victoria Beard, worked with Omar for just two years, but he did “more than many have accomplished in four years.” Omar earned Special Distinction for winning his tournaments in Congressional Debate. He also competed in extemporaneous speaking.

“Omar is not just an excellent debater, he has a compassionate heart for his fellow man,” Beard said. “He mentored and tutored novices on my team, and genuinely cares for each one of them. He is passionate about volunteering in the community. Omar is truly one in a million. I know that no matter what path he chooses in life, he will be successful and make a huge difference.”

Woolard agrees. “Omar has set a standard that I hope will continue to inspire and encourage other students to reach for the stars and advocate for the support they need to see their dreams become reality,” she said.

Omar is both nervous and excited about his future that begins this fall. “I am excited to graduate and to leave Spring Woods High School, but I’m nervous to move to a new city, and live in a dorm, and learn to study for that level of academics,” he says.

His family is helping him forward focus. “I will be upset to leave here and leave my family, but they have been so excited for me, and they view my decision as an opportunity of a lifetime. I’m more nervous than them!”

EMERGE Seniors Choose Colleges and Universities

June 14, 2018, 2:24 pm

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More than 40 seniors who attended Spring Branch ISD high schools and participated in the EMERGE program made May 1 college and university decisions.

The EMERGE program operates in several Houston-area public school districts, including SBISD. EMERGE prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to apply, attend and graduate from the nation’s most selective colleges and universities.

From sophomore through senior year, EMERGE students receive added support, including after-school programming focused on building college knowledge, workshops for families, individualized college advising, standardized test preparation, and summer college tours.

EMERGE student decisions in SBISD this year include the following:

Albion College, Albion, Mich. – Frank Hernandez, Spring Woods High

Austin College, Sherman, Texas – Youna Song, Stratford High

Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. – Glenda Molina, Northbrook High

Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. – Diana Soria, Northbrook High

Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. – Blanca Rodriguez, Northbrook High

Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. – Sandra Melgar, Northbrook High

Clark University, Worcester, Mass. – Madison Graham, Spring Woods High

Colgate University, Hamilton Village, N.Y. – Brissa Gaona, Northbrook High

Connecticut College, New London, Conn. – Juana Lopez, Northbrook High

Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. – Abel Aguilar, Northbrook High

Denison University, Granville, Ohio – Anel Sosa, Northbrook High

Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. – Jessenia Fanini, Stratford High

Howard University, Washington, D.C. – Jasmine Anderson, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. – Kenya Coffman, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa. – Evelyn Batres, Spring Woods High

Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Ore. – Ariely Mejia, Northbrook High

Mount Holyoke College, Paola Granados Jaramillo, Spring Woods High

Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. – Sydney Simmons, Stratford High

Rice University, Houston, Texas – Sergio Espinoza, Northbrook High

Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Myriam Dominguez, Northbrook High

Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa. – Wilber Dominguez, Stratford High

Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y. – Kimberly Acosta, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas – Emily Resendiz, Northbrook High

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas – Paul Kim, Northbrook High

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas – Lucio Ramirez, Spring Woods High

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas – Kathryn Weimer, Spring Woods High

Union College, Barbourville, Ky. – Genesis Gonzalez, Northbrook High

University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. – Omar Hussein, Spring Woods High

University of Dallas, Dallas, Texas – Donte Castillo, Spring Woods High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Thanh To, Northbrook High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Nitzarindani Angeles, Northbrook High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Azucena Huerta, Northbrook High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Lisette Chavez, Spring Woods High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Juan Rivera, Spring Woods High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Lorena Zelaya, Spring Woods High

University of Houston, Houston, Texas – Eunice Martinez, Westchester Academy for International Studies

University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. – Melissa Vicente, Westchester Academy for International Studies

University of Texas, Austin, Texas – Erick Chungata, Northbrook High

University of Texas, Austin, Texas – Hyunwoo Lee, Stratford High

University of Texas, Austin, Texas – Moises Olmos, Spring Woods High

University of Texas, Austin, Texas – Yamiletz Lucio, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y. – Jasmin McClinton, Spring Woods High

Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. – Meliza Perez, Northbrook High

Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. – Naudia Johnson, Northbrook High

SBISD Superintendent Named to Chiefs for Change

June 25, 2018, 9:39 am

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2018

Spring Branch ISD Superintendent Scott R. Muri, Ed.D., was named today as one of four new members of Chiefs for Change, a bipartisan network of state and school district chiefs that represents some of the nation’s boldest and most innovative education leadership.

Chiefs for Change, a 3-year-old nonprofit group, includes a diverse group of leaders who believe that every child deserves a high-quality education and pathways to college and meaningful degrees. Members lead public educational systems serving more than 7 million students, 435,000 teachers and 14,000 schools.

The nonprofit increases to 31 members with the recent appointment of Dr. Muri and three other district superintendents. Joining SBISD’s leader are Superintendents Emmanuel Caulk of Fayette County Schools, Ky.; Sharon Contreras of Guilford County Schools, N.C.; and Donald Fennoy with The School District of Palm Beach County, Fla.

“We are pleased to welcome this impressive group of educators into our community,” said John White, board chair for Chiefs for Change and the state superintendent of education in Louisiana. “They have shown a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for all children and are leading innovative work in their districts. As members of our network, they will play an important role in our national and state-level efforts to promote policies and practices that are best for students.”

The selection of Dr. Muri and others followed a rigorous review process that included extensive research and staff conversations with potential candidates. The group’s Board of Directors approved their membership earlier this month.

Dr. Muri and the three other new chiefs “have implemented a range of school choice initiatives to give families greater access to excellent schools and instructional programs, supported efforts to provide all teachers with top-tier instructional materials and related professional learning, and developed programs and partnerships to set students up for success long after graduation,” Chiefs for Change states in a news release.

“Chiefs for Change is a group of state and district leaders with fresh, out-of-the-box thinking about how to create schools that personalize learning,” Dr. Muri said. “Much like our work in Spring Branch ISD, the members are developing new approaches that center around students’ unique skills, interests and learning styles.”

“With the [federal] Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) providing greater opportunities for innovation, this is an exciting time for us to share ideas and design entirely new instructional models,” Dr. Muri also said.

Dr. Muri was named SBISD’s Superintendent of Schools three years ago. From his first role as a classroom teacher, Dr. Muri has followed a career path with increasing administrative duties, but his heart is still in teaching because that’s where he believes the key work that matters takes place – with children in the classroom. 

Of the 25 active chiefs in membership, 16 are school district chiefs and nine are state educational leaders. More than half of the members are leaders of color, and more than 40 percent are women. Four key areas have been the focus of advocacy for this group:

·        Equitable access to outstanding schools

·        High-quality curriculum and the supports for teachers to use it effectively

·        College affordability and completion

·        Safe and welcoming schools where children are free to learn, free from fear

Chiefs for Change CEO Mike Magee said the four new members share all these values, but also “have a track record of acting on those beliefs and standing up for kids.”

“Each one of them is a strong, effective leader,” Magee said. “They are committed to creating schools that will allow every child to achieve his or her potential and realize the American dream.”

Chiefs for Change members include these district and state leaders:

● Malika Anderson: Former Superintendent of the Achievement School District, Tennessee

● Katy Anthes: Commissioner of Education, Colorado

● Robert Avossa: Former Superintendent of The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida

● Desmond K. Blackburn: Superintendent of Brevard County Schools, Florida

● Tom Boasberg: Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, Colorado

● Steve Canavero: Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nevada

● Emmanuel Caulk: Superintendent of Fayette County Schools, Kentucky

● Christopher D. Cerf: Former Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, New Jersey

● Tommy Chang: Superintendent of Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts

● Veronica Conforme: Former Chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority, Michigan

● Sharon Contreras: Superintendent of Schools in Guilford County, North Carolina

● Paolo DeMaria: Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ohio

● Lewis D. Ferebee: Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana

● Donald Fennoy: Superintendent of The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida

● Deborah A. Gist: Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, Oklahoma

● William R. Hite, Jr.: Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

● Barbara Jenkins: Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, Florida

● Hanseul Kang: State Superintendent of Education, District of Columbia

● Christina M. Kishimoto: Superintendent, Hawaii

● Pedro Martinez: Superintendent of San Antonio Independent School District, Texas

● Candice McQueen: Commissioner of Education, Tennessee

● Scott Muri: Superintendent of Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas

● Kunjan Narechania: Chief Executive Officer of the Recovery School District, Louisiana

● Paymon Rouhanifard: Superintendent of Camden City School District, New Jersey

● Robert W. Runcie: Superintendent of Broward County Schools, Florida

● Christopher Ruszkowski: Secretary- Designate of Education, New Mexico

● Sonja Santelises: Chief Executive Officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland

● Hanna Skandera: Former Secretary of Education, New Mexico

● John White: State Superintendent of Education, Louisiana

● Antwan Wilson: Former Chancellor of DC Public Schools, District of Columbia

● Carey M. Wright: State Superintendent of Education, Mississippi

For more details on Chiefs for Change, please visit:

http://chiefsforchange.org/