ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update

February 13, 2008

A.W. Jones, Nadine Kujawa honored by Aldine ISD for their years of service.

Former Aldine ISD Board Member A.W. Jones and former Superintendent Nadine Kujawa were honored for their decades of service to the district when the Board of Education unanimously voted to name education centers after them during the Feb. 12 board meeting. Mr. Jones, who served as a trustee for 30 years, will have the Forest Point Early Childhood/Pre-K Center and Lee Road Elementary school center named in his honor, while Mrs. Kujawa, who served the district for 42 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, personnel administrator, deputy superintendent and for six years as superintendent, will have the Fallbrook Early Childhood/EC-Pre-K Center and Aldine Elementary Center named in her honor. The two schools in each center will also bear the honorees’ names. The two new Early Childhood/EC-Pre-K Centers and the elementary school on Lee Road will all open at the start of the 2008-09 school year. Mr. Jones is a lifelong resident of Aldine and served as a trustee from 1976, when he was appointed to the board to fill the unexpired term of Ray Shotwell, until his retirement from the board in December of 2006. During his 30 years of service, Mr. Jones held all four board offices and chaired numerous committees, more than once. He has also been a long-time community leader and public servant, has been the recipient of numerous service awards and has been recognized for his work with those who are less fortunate. Mr. Jones is a graduate of Aldine’s Carver High School and all seven of his children are AISD grads, having earned diplomas from MacArthur and Nimitz Senior High Schools. Mr. Jones and his wife Bettie have left their footprints in the Aldine community as business owners, role models and outstanding citizens. Mrs. Kujawa is also an Aldine product and became the first-ever female superintendent in Aldine ISD when she was named to succeed former Superintendent M.B. “Sonny” Donaldson upon his retirement in June of 2001. She was also the first AISD graduate (she graduated from Aldine High School) to become superintendent. During her 42 years with the district, Mrs. Kujawa served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, personnel administrator, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent before being named superintendent. In 2006, she was selected Region 4 Superintendent of the Year from among 54 superintendents in the area and was one of five state finalists for Superintendent of the Year. Mrs. Kujawa and her husband Harry have supported Aldine’s students at many sporting and extracurricular event, and the two have invested a great deal of their time, money and heart in the lives of Aldine’s students and staff. Mr. Jones and Mrs. Kujawa were joined at the Feb. 12 board meeting by family and friends and former Superintendents W.W. Thorne, who served from 1958‐73, M.O. Campbell, who served from 1973‐86, M.B. “Sonny” Donaldson, who served from 1986‐2001, and current Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg.

Staff assignments approved

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, trustees approved a number of staff assignments. Marguerita Guerra was named assistant principal at MacArthur Senior High School after serving as a skills specialist at that same school. Guerra received her bachelor’s degree in medical technology in 1983 from the University of Texas and her master’s degree in secondary education in 1990 from the University of Houston. She meets district requirements for this position. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1998 and was assigned to teach science at Aldine Middle School. In 1989, she transferred to MacArthur Senior High School to serve as a science teacher. In 2003, she moved into her present position as skills specialist at that same school. Guerra has spent all 20 of her years in education with Aldine ISD. Cheryl Fontenot was named principal of A.W. Jones Elementary School after serving as principal at Magrill Elementary School. Fontenot received her bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1982 from the University of Houston and her master’s degree in education, administration and supervision in 1999 from that same university. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. She began her teaching career with Houston ISD in 1989 and was assigned to teach third- and fourth-grade. Her career in Aldine ISD began in 1997 as a Title 1 math teacher and reading specialist at Oleson Elementary School. In 1999, she was named an assistant principal at that same school. In 2004, she moved into her present position as principal at Magrill Elementary School. Fontenot has 18 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 10 of those years with Aldine ISD. Deborah Hagood was named principal of Nadine Kujawa EC/Pre-K Center after serving as principal at Aldine Elementary School (which has been renamed Nadine Kujawa Elementary School). Hagood received her bachelor’s degree in education from State University of Oneonta in Oneonta, New York in 1974 and her master’s degree in education from the University of Houston in 1997. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1977 as a special education teacher at Odom Elementary School. She left Aldine ISD in 1986 to work for Humble ISD as a special education teacher at Woodland Hills Elementary School. In 1994, she became an assistant principal at Lakeland Elementary School. She returned to Aldine ISD in 2002 to serve as an assistant principal at Smith Academy. She moved into her present position as principal at Aldine Elementary School in 2003. Hagood has 30 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 15 of those years with Aldine ISD. Gladys Moton was named principal of A.W. Jones EC/Pre-K Center after serving as principal at Calvert Elementary School. Moton received her bachelor’s degree in education from Texas Southern University in 1985 and her master’s degree in education from Prairie View A&M University in 1995. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1985 and was assigned to teach second-grade at Oleson Elementary School. In 1991, she transferred to Calvert Elementary School to serve as a fifth-grade teacher and skills specialist. In 1994, she became an assistant principal at that same school and moved into her present position in 1995. Moton has spent all of her 22 years in education with Aldine ISD. Estela Garcia-Mattern was named principal of deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center after serving as an assistant principal at that same school. Garcia-Mattern received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Houston in 1978 and her master’s degree in administration in 1997 from Sam Houston State University. She is certified as a mid-management administrator. Garcia-Mattern began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1979 and was assigned to teach fifth-grade at Sammons Elementary School. In 1985, she transferred to Stephens Elementary School to serve as a pre- kindergarten teacher. In 1989, she returned to Sammons Elementary School as a pre- kindergarten teacher. In 1993, she left Aldine ISD to become a kindergarten/bilingual teacher in Conroe ISD. In 1997, she returned to Aldine ISD to serve as a bilingual teacher at Sammons Elementary School, and moved into her present position as an assistant principal at deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center in 1998. Garcia-Mattern has 28 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 23 of those years with Aldine ISD.

Plummer M.S. business Partner donates $25,000 to school

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, Plummer Middle School received a $25,000 donation from business partner FMC. On hand to make the presentation was FMC president and CEO Peter Kinnear. Plummer Middle School principal Isaac Carrier accepted the donation on behalf of the school.

Textbook committee recognized

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, Sara Ptomey, executive director of curriculum and instruction, introduced the 2007-08 textbook committee, whose job is to select textbooks for students. The committee consisted of: Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg; Dametra Skinner, program director of intermediate/middle school mathematics, Chantay Smith, program director of elementary mathematics; Ptomey; LaTia Foster of Johnson Elementary School; Coy Hooey of Aldine Elementary School; Amelia Mitchell of Carroll Academy; Romonna Tillman of Thompson Elementary School; Wanda Woods of Hill Intermediate School; Lee Armstrong of Conley Elementary School; Christi Chandler of Stephens Elementary School; Britt Victor of Caraway Intermediate School; Pantaleon Presillas of Wilson Intermediate School; Jessica Salazar of Calvert Elementary School; Latashia London of Dunn Elementary School; Sheila Bowie of Stehlik Intermediate School; Sharon Earnest of Raymond Academy; and Clare Harthan of Marcella Intermediate School.

2008-09 school calendar approved

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, trustees approved the school calendar for the 2008-09 school year. The first day of instruction will be Monday, Aug. 25. Other key dates include: Monday, Sept. 1, Labor Day Holiday; Monday, Oct. 13, Columbus Day Holiday; Nov. 26-28, Thanksgiving Holiday; Dec. 22-Jan. 2, Mid-winter break; Thursday, Jan. 15, end of first semester; Monday, Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Holiday; Tuesday, Jan. 20, beginning of second semester; Monday, Feb. 16, President’s Day Holiday; March 16-20, Spring Break; Friday, April 10, Good Friday Holiday; Monday, May 25, Memorial Day Holiday; Thursday, June 4, Last Day of Instruction; Friday, June 5, Staff Development Day.

Employees recognized

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, a number of employees were recognized for the contributions they make to Aldine ISD on a daily basis. Dani Sheffield, executive director of child nutrition services, named the Dunn Elementary cafeteria staff as her department’s Team of the Month. The team consists of manager Molly Rambally, Cheryl Foster, Kanojia Jesheree, Oralia Matamoras, Maria Otero, Patricia Pendley, Gloria Rios, Luz Salazar, Sandra Webb and Roshell Williams. The CN supervisor is Terrie Littleton and the school’s principal is Terrie Sanchez. Richard Delgado, executive director of transportation, named Kenneth Alexander as his department’s Employee of the Month. Alexander is a technician at the west side transportation department and has been with the district for 12 years.

Emitte Roque, executive director of buildings and properties, named Carroll Academy as his department’s Building of the Month. The school’s principal is Resie Wilson and the head custodian is Amil Mazariegos.

Roque named Mendel Elementary School as his department’s Yard of the Month. On hand to accept the award were principal Ann Stockwell, head custodian Domingo Garcia and yardman Chris Poncio.

Grants announced

Judy Hoya, program director of resource development, announced a number of grants during the Feb. 12 board meeting. Janet Ray, principal of Stehlik Intermediate School, and choir teacher Tonie Barnes, secured a $1,000 grant from Target to fund a field trip for Stehlik choir students to attend a performance of The African Children’s Choir at the Wortham Center.

Deborah Hagood, principal of Aldine Academy, along with teachers Elaine Wilkins and Chris Dickson, secured a $40,000 A+ Challenge Grant.

Mable Holt, principal of Wilson Intermediate School, and teacher Mathias Strommer secured a $5,000 grant from the NEA Foundation. The award will allow Wilson students to provide inquiry-based learning and critical thinking opportunities through a series of interactive, historical re-enactments which will be created and designed by students and teachers.

A number of Aldine ISD schools received Texas Fitness Now Program grants to help in the fight against childhood obesity. The school, and amounts of the grant were: Caraway Intermediate ($13,084), Eckert Intermediate ($14,172), Escamilla Intermediate ($16,956), Hill Intermediate ($18,300), Parker Intermediate ($18,812), Reed Academy ($16,860), Stehlik Intermediate ($13,980), Wilson Intermediate ($16,924), Aldine Middle School ($28,860), Grantham Academy ($31,132), Hambrick Middle School ($35,572), Plummer Middle School ($30,684), Shotwell Middle School ($34,812) and Stovall Middle School ($34,556). On hand to receive certificates from Hoya were the school’s principals and their physical education teachers. The grants announced at the Feb. 12 board meeting totaled $424,800.

Class size waiver hearing held

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, Dr. Margaret Byrd conducted a public hearing for a class size waiver to assure that Aldine ISD is in compliance with policy.

Program presented

During the Feb. 12 board meeting, Melinda Stapley, director of Magnet Schools, presented the program. The program highlighted the district’s IB (International Baccalaureate) program, which brings global learning standards to the district.