ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update

July 16, 2008

Staff assignments approved

The Aldine ISD Board of Education approved a number of staff assignments during their July 15 meeting. Todd Davis was named area superintendent of the Magnet area after serving as principal of Aldine Middle School. Davis received his bachelor’s degree in education from Minnesota State University in 1992 and his master’s degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University. He is certified as a principal. He began his career in education with Aldine ISD in 1992 and was assigned to teach at Worsham Elementary School. In 2000, he was named principal of Stephens Elementary School and moved into his present position as principal of Aldine Middle School in 2005. Davis has spent all 16 of his years in education with Aldine ISD. Herbert Harris was named director of maintenance after serving as an assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High School. Harris received his bachelor’s degree in special education in 1983 from Lamar University and his master’s degree in physical education from Texas Southern University in 1992. In 1995, Harris earned a master’s in education degree from Prairie View A&M University. He is mid-management certified. He began his teaching career in 1985 with Houston ISD where he was assigned to teach special education. In 1986, he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints and returned to teaching in 1988 when he joined Aldine ISD as a special education teacher and coach at Eisenhower Senior High School. In 1994, he moved into his present position as an assistant principal at that same school. Harris has 20 years of experience in the field of education and he has spent 19 of those years with Aldine ISD. Carla Merka was named accountant at the Central Office after serving as an internal auditor with Pasadena ISD. Merka received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Houston Downtown in 2007. She meets district requirements for this position. She began her career in education in 2000 with Humble ISD as a financial bookkeeper and secretary. In 2007, she moved to Pasadena ISD, where she served as the activity fund auditor in the Internal Audit Department and moved into her present position as internal auditor in October, 2007. Merka has eight years of experience in the field of education. Michael Houston was named administrative assistant for transportation (west side) after serving as a physical education teacher and coach at Shotwell Middle School. Houston received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and elementary education in 1979 from Prairie View A&M University and his master’s degree in educational leadership in 1995 from that same school. He meets district requirements for this position. He began his teaching career in 1982 with Crockett ISD as a fifth-grade language arts teacher. In 1984, he joined Tyler ISD as a physical education teacher and coach at John Tyler High School. His career in Aldine ISD began in 1987 as a language arts teacher and coach at Aldine Middle School. In 1994, he became an assistant principal at that same school. In 1998, he transferred to Nimitz Senior High School as an assistant principal and moved into his present position as a physical education teacher and coach at Shotwell Middle School. Houston has 26 years of experience in the field of education and he has spent 21 of those years with Aldine ISD. Brenda Wyman was named administrative assistant of data analysis at the Central Office after serving as testing coordinator at Nimitz Senior High School. Wyman received her bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1982 from Texas A&M University. She meets district requirements for this position. She began her teaching career with Conroe ISD in 1984 as a mathematics teacher. In 1988, she transferred to McCullough High School, where she served as a mathematics teacher and coach. Her career in Aldine ISD began in 1991 as a mathematics teacher at Aldine Middle School. In 1992, she transferred to Nimitz Senior High School where she served as a mathematics teacher and skills specialist. She moved into her present position as the school’s testing coordinator in 2006. Wyman has 24 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 17 of those years with Aldine ISD. Rebecca Duong was named principal of Hall Center for Education Day Academy after serving as an assistant principal at Plummer Middle School. Duong received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Houston in 1991 and her master’s degree in educational administration from Prairie View A&M University in 1996. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in 1994 with Spring ISD, where she served as a language arts teacher at Melbourne High School. She began her career in Aldine ISD in 1996 when she was assigned to teach ESL language arts at Stehlik Intermediate School. In 1998, she transferred to Smith Academy to also teach ESL language arts. In 2002, she was named writing skills specialist at that same school, and in 2005, she moved into her present position as an assistant principal at Plummer Middle School. Duong has 13 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent 12 of those years with Aldine ISD. Heather Kirk was named principal of Hall Center for Education after serving as an assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High School. Kirk received her bachelor’s degree in teaching in 1989 and her master’s degree in counseling in 1992 from Sam Houston State University. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1989 as an English teacher at MacArthur Senior High School. In 1993, she was named counselor at Black Elementary School and in 1998, she transferred to Aldine Senior High School to also serve as a counselor. In 1999, she transferred to MacArthur Ninth Grade School as lead counselor and in 2003 she was named an assistant principal at that same school. She moved into her present position as an assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High School in 2007. Kirk has spent all of her 19 years in education with Aldine ISD. Dr. Crystal Watson-Barrow was named principal at Nimitz Ninth Grade School after serving as an assistant principal at that same school. Dr. Watson-Barrow received her bachelor’s degree in English education in 1995, her master’s degree in liberal studies in 1997 from Grambling State University and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction in 2007 from Texas Southern University. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in 1996 at Pineview High School in Lisbon, LA as an English teacher. In 1998, she relocated to Little Rock, AR as an English teacher at Cloverdale Junior High School. In 1997, she transferred to Dunbar Magnet Middle School where she taught English. Her career in Aldine ISD began in 1999 as an English teacher at Nimitz Ninth Grade School. In 2001, she became skills specialist at that same school and moved into her present position as an assistant principal in 2004. Dr. Watson-Barrow has 12 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent nine of those years with Aldine ISD. Denise Meister was named principal at Worsham Elementary School after serving as an assistant principal at Stephens Elementary School. Meister received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1988 from Mankato State University and her master’s degree in educational administration in 1999 from Sam Houston State University. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career in Aldine ISD in 1990 at Francis Elementary School where she was assigned to teach language arts. In 1994, she was named reading and writing skills specialist at that same school. In 1997, she moved into her present position as an assistant principal at Stephens Elementary School. Meister has spent all of her 18 years in education with Aldine ISD. Winston Steele was named assistant principal at Eisenhower Senior High School after serving as principal at Yates High School. Steele received his bachelor’s degree in education from Texas Tech University in 1989 and his master’s degree in educational administration in 1996 from Prairie View A&M University. He is mid-management certified. He began his teaching career in 1989 with Spring Branch ISD where he was assigned to teach mathematics and coach. In 1997, he was named assistant principal at Spring Oaks Middle School and in 2001 he transferred to Stratford High School to serve as an assistant principal. His career in Aldine ISD began in 2002 when he was named an assistant principal at Nimitz Senior High School. He moved into his present position as principal of Yates High School in HISD in 2007. Steele has 19 years of experience in the field of education and he has spent five of those years with Aldine ISD. Fran Williams was named assistant principal at Eisenhower Ninth Grade School after serving as testing coordinator at that same school. Williams received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1997 and her master’s degree in educational administration in 2006 from Prairie View A&M University. She meets district requirements for this position. She began her teaching career with Aldine ISD in 1998 at Eisenhower Ninth Grade School where she was assigned to teach mathematics. She moved into her present position as the school’s testing coordinator in 2006. Williams has spent all 10 of her years in education with Aldine ISD. Cynthia Donatto-Blair was named assistant principal at Drew Academy after serving as technology specialist at that same school. Donatto-Blair received her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977 from Sam Houston State University and her master’s degree in occupational education in 1990 from the University of Houston. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career with North Forest ISD in 1985 as a business teacher at Smiley High School. In 1989, she transferred to Elmore Middle School, where she served as a career and technology teacher. Her career in Aldine ISD began in 2000 at Drew Academy where she served as a technology applications teacher and moved into her present position as a technology specialist in 2002. Donatto-Blair has 17 years of experience in the field of education and she has spent nine of those years with Aldine ISD. Miguel Perez was named assistant principal at Shotwell Middle School after serving as a Spanish teacher in Humble ISD. Perez received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas State University in 2005 and his master’s degree in educational administration from Sam Houston State University in 2007. He meets district requirements for this position. He began his teaching career with Humble ISD in 2005 where he was assigned to teach Spanish at Humble High School. He transferred to Atascocita High School in 2006 where he also taught Spanish. Perez has three years of experience in the field of education. Charles Gerszewski was named assistant principal at Aldine Middle School after serving as a mathematics teacher at Victory Early College High School. Gerszewski received his bachelor’s degree in education from Mayville State University and his master’s degree in administration from Sam Houston State University in 2008. He meets district requirements for this position. He began his teaching career with Aldine ISD as a mathematics teacher at MacArthur Ninth Grade School and moved into his present position as a mathematics teacher at Victory Early College High School in 2007. Gerszewski has spent all three of his years in education with Aldine ISD. Daphne Johnson-Thomas was named assistant principal at Smith Academy after serving as program director of Title I at the Resource Center. Johnson-Thomas received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 1993 and her master’s degree in educational administration in 2004 from Prairie View A&M University. She is certified as a principal. She began her teaching career with Aldine ISD in 1993 and was assigned to teach second-grade at Smith Academy (then known as Inwood Elementary School). In 1998, she was named writing specialist at that same school and in 1999 she became mathematics specialist and testing coordinator at Smith Academy. In 2006, she was named the school’s testing coordinator. She moved into her present position as program director of Title I at the Resource Center in 2007. Johnson-Thomas has spent all 14 of her years in education with Aldine ISD.

Austin Glamser recognized

During the July 15 board of education meeting, Dr. Sara Ptomey, executive director of curriculum and instruction, recognized Eisenhower Senior High School graduate Austin Glamser, who distinguished himself academically during his educational career in Aldine ISD. In addition to winning numerous math competitions and spelling bees during his younger years, Glamser was the valedictorian of the Class of 2008 at Eisenhower Senior High. He was also part of the school’s History Fair team that won first place in the group documentary category at the National History Fair. Additionally, Glamser was named the recipient of the Legacy Award at the National History Fair for his mentoring of younger students. He competed at the National History Fair for five consecutive years, which had never before been accomplished in Aldine ISD. Glamser also received a full scholarship from Harvard University, where he will attend beginning with the fall semester.

Program presented

During the July 15 board meeting, Dr. Chris Van Hammersveld, program director of library media services, along with Cindy Buchanan, library management systems administrator, presented the program. They presented a Power Point presentation on the first annual Celebrate Teen Lit ’08 event, held May 3 at Nimitz Senior High School. More than 300 Aldine ISD students attended the event where they heard from and interacted with youth authors.