ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update

A c tionLine...Your Board Mee ting Upda t e
December 14, 2005
Dr. Al ton Smi th named to
suc c e ed Emme t t W . Hill on AI S D Board
During the Dec. 13 Board of Education
meeting, Dr. Alton Smith was named to fill
the unexpired term of former Trustee Emmett
W. Hill, who resigned in October due to
health concerns. Dr. Viola M. Garcia,
chairperson of the selection of new board
members committee, along with committee
members Marine Jones and A.W. Jones,
received numerous nominations to fill Hill’s
seat. The committee was given information on
all candidates and candidates were
interviewed by the entire board for the Position 2 seat. After careful consideration and
much discussion, the committee recommended to the entire board that Dr. Smith be
chosen to fill Hill’s unexpired term. Dr. Smith is a resident of the Inwood community and
currently serves as principal of Nitsch Elementary School in Klein ISD. Nitsch
Elementary is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School and a TAAS Exemplary
campus. He has nine years of experience in the field of education. Dr. Smith has also
served as a special education teacher in Goose Creek ISD and Klein ISD and as a
department chair and assistant principal in Klein ISD. Prior to entering the public
education sector, Dr. Smith spent more than 30 years in the private sector in human
resources with Shell Oil Company. He worked in benefits processing, payroll,
recruitment, labor relations, wage and salary administration, training and development
and safety and industrial relations. Dr. Smith holds a doctorate in educational leadership
from Sam Houston State University, a MBA from Texas Southern University and a BS in
business administration from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. Dr. Smith is a
member of various civic and professional associations and organizations and his children
are graduates of Aldine ISD schools. He is a member of the Educational Leadership
Advisory Board at Sam Houston State University, the Klein Education Association, past
president of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the Texas Association of Secondary School
Principals, Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association and the Texas
Association of School Administrators. Dr. Smith is also a member of the Southwest
Educational Research Association and the National Dropout Network. His civic activity
includes membership in the Sam Houston State University Alumni Association and the
Southern University Alumni Association. He serves as coordinator of new members
committee of Living Word Fellowship Church. Dr. Smith’s wife Marjorie is a former
Aldine ISD teacher.
Emplo yees honored
During the Dec. 13 board meeting, a number of Aldine ISD employees were honored for
the contributions they make to the district on a daily basis.
Jim Pinkerton, director of transportation,
named Dorothy Weathers as his
department’s Employee of the Month.
Weathers drives out of the east side
transportation department and has been with
the district for five years.
Emitte Roque, executive director of buildings
and properties, named Aldine Ninth Grade
School as his department’s Yard of the
Month. On hand to accept the award was
assistant principal Vincent Cue, head
custodian Milagro Romero and yard man
Cristino Benitez.
Roque also named Sammons Elementary as
his department’s Building of the Month. On
hand to accept that award were principal
Selina Chapa and head custodian Erica
Tillman.
Joyce Lyons, executive director of child
nutrition services, named the child nutrition
office staff as her department’s Team of the
Month. The team consists of assistant director
Jackie Hill-Green, Quentrella Cain, Jessie
Cardenas, Lynn Delk, Patricia Evans,
Sheryl Fisher, Ofilia Garza, Kathy Golden,
Maria Gomez, Earlene Martinez, Lou Ray
Padilla, Felicia Scott and Debbie West.
Dr. Margaret Byrd, area superintendent of
Magnet Schools, announced that Aldine ISD
recently hosted the Magnet Schools
Conference of Texas and that a number of
AISD schools were recognized for operating
outstanding campuses. Schools honored at the
conference were Anderson Academy, under
the direction of Stephanie Rhodes, Carver
High School, under the direction of Willie
Pickens, Grantham Academy, under the
direction of Kenneth Hodgkinson, Harris Academy, under the direction of Connie
Leday, Raymond Academy, under the direction of Dr. Linda Miller, Reece Academy,
under the direction Sherrie Batro, Reed Academy, under the direction of Gina Rigsby
and Stovall Academy, under the direction of Acquenette LeBlanc.
Dr. Jeff Laird, director of secondary
performing arts education, singled out a
number of Aldine ISD students who have
excelled in choir and band during the fall
semester. Nimitz Senior High junior
JerMarcus McGowen was recognized for
being named to the Texas Music Educators
Association (TMEA) area choir. His director
is Scott Surface. Fellow Nimitz Senior High
junior Cameron Wolfe was named to the
TMEA area band. His director is Stephen
Jones. MacArthur Senior High jazz band
students, sophomore Alex Milam and seniors James Murphy and Cory Cox, were
singled out for being named to the TMEA area jazz band. Their director is Jose Diaz.
The students competed against fellow band and choir students from across the state of
Texas and had to successfully complete three auditions to be named to the TMEA area
band, choir or jazz band. They will compete for state honors in January. Additionally, Dr.
Laird announced at the board meeting that Cox has been selected to perform with the
Grammy Jazz Combo in Los Angeles in February of 2006. Laird and Colleen Riddle,
program director of elementary performing arts education, also honored Carver High
School dance instructor Sarita Salinas for the contributions she has made to the
performing arts program during her tenure in Aldine ISD.
A+ For L earning S cholarships,
A+ Gran t r ecipien ts announc ed
During the Dec. 13 board meeting, Ben Wilson, assistant superintendent of community
and governmental relations, announced the recipients of the A+ For Learning
Scholarships and A+ Special Project Grants.
Employees receiving A+ Scholarships were Dayren Carlisle of Carter Academy, Janeia
Biggens of Raymond Academy, Elizabeth Schiche of Stovall Middle School, Marlene
Jackson of Shotwell Middle School, Aisha Alex of deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center, Vicki
Bradley of deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center, Bernadette Islas of Parker Intermediate,
Tammy Gorski of deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center, Cristina Gutierrez of Thompson
Elementary School, Billy Huntsman of Aldine Middle School, David Walden of Stovall
Middle School and Robert Henry of MacArthur Ninth Grade School. The scholarship
committee consisted of Bridgett Wofford of Gray Elementary School, Staci Santa Cruz
of Parker Intermediate, Christie Weaver of Aldine Middle School, Kimberly Daniels of
Eisenhower Senior High School, Chris Neil of Smith Academy, Lavetta Mills of Calvert
Elementary School, Connie Benavides of Northwest Intermediate School, Cynthia
Juarez of Hambrick Middle School, Jennifer Celbourn of Nimitz Ninth Grade School,
Dora Lopez of the tax office, Emitte Roque of buildings and properties, John Thames
of maintenance, John Wilson of transportation, Thomas Lucas of central receiving,
Joyce Lyons of child nutrition and Brian Allen of the police department.
Employees receiving A+ Grants were Susan Guy of Northwest Intermediate School,
Dorcie Wides of Oleson Elementary School and MaryElla Neely Stevens of Carter
Academy. The committee consisted of Rosetta Simpson of Thompson Elementary
School, Ramona Tillman of Thompson Elementary School, Robin Anderson of
Escamilla Intermediate School, Cathy Shepeard of Escamilla Intermediate School,
Carolyn Milton of Plummer Middle School, Lynn Bachellor of Plummer Middle
School, Carolyn Grimble of Eisenhower Senior High School, Jo Ann Stone of
Eisenhower Senior High School, Mel McGowen of Eisenhower Ninth Grade School,
Watson Wright of Stovall Middle School, Maggie Doran of Parker Intermediate, Ruby
Allen of Carroll Academy and Mark Malo of Smith Academy.
Gran ts announc ed
During the Dec. 13 board meeting, Judy Hoya, program director of resource
development, announced a number of grants the district recently received.
Pat Adams, principal of Ermel Elementary and teacher Jesselyn Holden teamed up to
secure a $40,000 CASE grant from the Harris County Department of Education.
Doris Delaney, area superintendent of the Nimitz vertical, and Luis Pratts, principal of
Plummer Middle School, teamed up to secure a $20,000 grant for Parent Literacy
Projects at the school.
Margarita Byrum, area superintendent of the MacArthur vertical and a number of her
schools recently received grants for Parent Literacy grants. Worsham Elementary
principal Kristen Fox Craft received a $5,000 grant, while Todd Davis, principal of
Aldine Middle School, received a $2,500 grant. Luis Lucio, parent liaison from
MacArthur Senior High School, helped the school secure a $5,000 grant for the school’s
Parent Literacy program. Charlotte Benson, principal of Hinojosa EC/Pre-K Center and
staff members Sandra Arrendondo and Sally Gonzales teamed up to secure a $5,000
grant for the school’s Latino Family Project. Suzon Martin from MacArthur Ninth
Grade School secured a $2,500 grant for the school’s Community Partnership proposal.
Additionally, Dr. Rebecca Hoyt, principal of Johnson Elementary School, secured a
$1,000 grant from Best Buy.
The grants announced at the Dec. 13 board meeting totaled $81,000.
Audit appro v ed
Dr. Keith Clark, assistant superintendent of finance, presented the district audit report to
the board during the Nov. 16 meeting and it was unanimously approved. The audit report
found that the school district was in compliance in all areas.
Program pres en t ed
During the Dec. 13 board meeting, Dr. Jeff
Laird, director of secondary performing arts
education, and Colleen Riddle, program
director of elementary performing arts
education, presented the program. Prior to the
board meeting, board members and others
were treated to the sounds of the holiday
season from the Houston Academy choir,
under the direction of Judy James and
Jonathan Williams, Houston Academy string
and guitar students, under the direction of Dawn Braxton and Jason Schermerhorn,
Houston Academy piano students, under the direction of Robin Goff and Houston
Academy dance students, under the direction of Michelle Schroeder. The students
performed selections from the Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky. During the board
meeting, students from Reece Academy performed a program centered on the important
role performing arts plays in the academic curriculum. The Reece choir students were
under the direction of Sharla Rogers, while the drama students were under the direction
of Twanda Smith. The Reece string students were under the direction of Tiffany Goins,
while the dance students were under the direction of Rebecca Prichard.