Board Report Oct. 19

Teaching, Learning and Leading Department highlights 28

AISD students who were named National Recognition Program Scholars during Oct. 19 AISD Board of Trustees meeting

During the Oct. 19 Aldine ISD Board of Trustees meeting, the district’s Teaching, Learning and Leading Department announced that 28 Aldine ISD high school students have been recognized as National Recognition Program Scholars by the College Board.

Chief of Schools Dr. Katie Roede made the announcement and introduced the students during the Board meeting.

College Board’s National Recognition Programs create pathways to college for students by awarding them academic honors and connecting them with universities across the country. In order to be eligible for the National Recognition Program, students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher and identify as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latinx, Indigenous or attend a school in a rural area or small town.

In addition, they must meet the following requirements: take the PSAT 10 in the spring of their sophomore year and score in the top 10% by state; take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their junior year and score in the top 10% by state; or earn a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams by their junior year.

The program is designed to honor student accomplishments, and to help create additional pathways to college for underrepresented students. Students can include the academic honors on college and scholarship applications, and colleges around the country also use the list of honorees to identify high-potential students from underrepresented groups.

Dr. Roede also announced that Davis High School student Renny Hoang has been named a National Merit Scholar. In addition, she announced that Blanson CTE High School senior Leilani Diaz has been named the recipient of the Hispanic Scholar Award and the National Commended Scholar Award.

The 28 students who were named National Recognition Program Scholars were: Lauren Baines of Aldine High School; Alexander Guel, Elisabeth Zapata, Gabriel Aguilar, Giovanni Cortes, Diaz, Martin Saenz, Derek King and Jonathan Hartfield of Blanson CTE High School; Ryan Randolf of Carver High School; Hoang and Mike Rodriguez of Davis High School; Sydney Prier and Tiara Anastacio of Eisenhower High School; Shonease Murphy, Alicia Garza, Emily Villegas Garcia, Karla Duran, Mayline Garcia, Melanie Fabela and Vanessa DeOsio of MacArthur High School; and Laila Adams, Yoselin Owolabi, Mayowa Ogunbowale, Andrea Cruz, Kelly Irlas Flores, Graciela De La Cuesta, Nashaly Diaz and Jonathan Ortega of Victory Early College High School.

Staff Assignments Announced

During the Oct. 19 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney announced a number of staff assignments.

Tiffanie Travis-Williams was named Director of Transportation after serving as a Senior Transportation Manager with Houston ISD.

Tiana Rodriguez was named Program Director of Middle School Mathematics after serving as a Math Instructional Specialist at Jones Middle School.

LeAnnda Ashley was named Principal of Gray Elementary School after serving as an Assistant Principal at that same school.

Jonathan Kegler was named Principal of the Young Men’s Leadership Academy after serving as an Assistant Principal at Jones Middle School.

Chelsea Fields was named an Assistant Principal at Vines Primary School after serving as the Math Instructional Specialist at that same school.

NaTonya Holmes was named an Assistant Principal at Houston Academy after serving as a Social Studies Teacher at MacArthur High School.

Dr. Reginald Wright was named an Assistant Principal at Grantham Academy after serving as the Social Studies Instructional Specialist at Aldine Middle School.

Employees Recognized

During the Oct. 19 Board meeting, a number of Aldine ISD employees were recognized for the commitment and dedication they made to the district on a daily basis.

German Enamorado, Executive Director of Transportation, named Diana Deleon as his department’s Employee of the Month.

Susan D’Amico, Executive Director of Child Nutrition Services, named Mercedes Hernandez as her department’s Employee of the Month.

Milo Ortiz, Executive Director of Buildings and Properties, named Kujawa Elementary School as his department’s Building of the Month. Kujawa’s Head Custodian is Rosalind Hunter and the school’s Principal is Kimberly Jenkins.

Tremel Prudhomme, Director of Maintenance, named Vicente Garcia as his department’s Employee of the Month.

Patrick Mouton, Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Construction, named Emily Erreguin as his department’s Employee of the Month.

Dr. Robin Williams, Executive Director of Performance Management and Development, named Maria Ochoa as the Human Resources Employee of the Month.

Grants Announced

Stacy Smith, Director of Special Programs, announced two grants during the Oct. 19 Board meeting.

Smith announced that Caraway Elementary School, under the direction of Principal Dr. Andrenetta Marshall, would be receiving a Spark Park. SPARK has built more than 200 community parks throughout the Houston/Harris County area. Each park is unique, with its design based on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods. The amount of the grant is $150,000.

Aldine ISD Executive Director of Athletics Dre Thompson, Director of Athletics Sandra Mader and teachers Regina Bolden, Kenneth Hernandez and Stasie Veinotte secured a $234,00 grant from M.D. Anderson’s Be Well Foundation. The Be Well Foundation’s goal is to improve the health of communities. The grant will extend the district’s Coordinated Approach to Child Health (C.A.T.C.H.) in 15 Aldine ISD schools. The two-year program will include family engagement activities for health and fitness, an anti-smoking and anti-vaping campaign and it will create a fitness trail.

Trustees Approve Action Items

During the Oct. 19 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the following action items:

• Approved the consent agenda
• Approved an Enrollment Agreement between the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Aldine ISD
• Approved a MOU with Lone Star College for College Preparatory Math and English Language Courses for the 2021-22 school year
• Approved the Texas Agrilife Extension Services Agreement for the 2021-22 school year
• Approved a Memorandum Agreement between the City of Houston and Aldine ISD for a Juvenile Case Program Manager Program
• Approved bids for awards, incentives, and spirit apparel, fundraiser vendors, instructional supplies, material and equipment, photography services, professional and consulting services, restaurant, food and catering vendors, retail stores, general operations maintenance and facility suppliers, dust mop services, MOC power generators, Bamberg Resource Center power distribution project, approved contacts and purchases of more than $50,000, approved the general fund budget amendment for Period 4 of the 2021-22 school year, the monthly Tax Office refunds, the monthly Tax Office report, and the monthly revenue status and budget analysis
• Approved to amend the 2021-22 Instructional Calendars
• Approved District and Campus Goals and Performance Objectives for the 2021-22 school year

Prior to the start of the Oct. 19 Board meeting, the MacArthur High School JROTC Color Guard, consisting of Jaizel Castillo, Dayanara Torres, Braulio Badillo, and Joselyn Ramos, presented the colors. Oleson Elementary students Serenity Jo’l Parker, Tierra Doris Parker, Anjelah Martinez and Aliah Martinez led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Texas Flag.

The November Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 16 in the Board Room of the Donaldson Administration Building.