ActionLine…Your Board Meeting Update January 14, 2015 Elected officials, community, district honor Board In honor of School Board Recognition Month, a number of elected officials and organizations honored the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees for its leadership and commitment to the community during the Jan. 13 Trustees meeting. U.S. Rep. Gene Green sent a Congressional certificate on his behalf thanking Board members for their service. State Senator Sylvia Garcia’s office presented the Board with a proclamation from the Texas Senate. Staffer Derek Darnell made the presentation. State Rep. Armando Walle’s office presented the Board with a letter of appreciation, while State Rep. Sylvester Turner’s office presented the Board with a certificate from the Texas House of Representatives. Harris County Precinct 2 County Commissioner Jack Mormon’s office presented the Board with a certificate of appreciation. Mormon staffer Chenchy Mireless represented Commissioner Mormon at the meeting. Harris County Precinct 4 County Commissioner Jack Cagle’s office presented the Board with a proclamation on behalf of Precinct 4. Staffer Kent Clingerman made the presentation on behalf of Commissioner Cagle. Reggie Gray, president of the Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce presented the Board with a letter of appreciation, while the Greater Greenspoint Redevelopment Authority also provided the Board with a letter of appreciation. In addition to the presentations made by the elected officials and community organizations, schools throughout the district provided Trustees with gift bags, snacks, banners, posters and hand written letters thanking them for their service. Prior to the start of the Jan. 13 meeting, students from Aldine Middle School served cake and punch during a reception held in honor of the Board members. Aldine ISD’s Board of Trustees consists of President Viola M. Garcia, Vice-President Rose Avalos, Secretary Rick Ogden, Assistant Secretary Patricia Ann Bourgeois, and Members Merlin Griggs, Steve Mead and Paul Shanklin.

Trustee Paul Shanklin sworn in During the Jan. 13 Board meeting, Paul Shanklin was sworn in as a Trustee to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Alton Smith. Dr. Smith resigned from the Board in November after he was elected to the Lone Star College Board. State law prohibits an individual from serving on more than one board with taxing authority. Mr. Shanklin was appointed to the Board in December. Mr. Shanklin is an attorney and an adjunct professor at the Houston Community College Southeast Campus. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston-Downtown. He has volunteered in Aldine schools and

has been a resident of the Aldine community for 25 years. Mr. Shanklin will hold the Position 2 seat on the Board. Aldine Noon Optimist Club recognized for being AEF Diamond Sponsor Judy Hoya, who serves as a consultant for the Aldine Education Foundation (AEF), recognized the Aldine Noon Optimist Club during the Jan. 13 Trustees meeting for being an AEF Diamond Sponsor. The Optimist Club has contributed $30,000 to endow two scholarships for Aldine ISD students to attend any school in the Lone Star College system. Representing the Optimist Club at the Jan. 13 Board meeting were Optimist Club members Steve Mead, who also serves as an Aldine ISD Trustee, Virginia Bazan, Jan Wynn, Stacey Smith and Patti Acosta. The Aldine Noon Optimist Club has been active in the Aldine community for more than 45 years carrying out the Optimist motto, “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.” Some of the programs and service projects the club is involved with include: the C.H.I.C.K.E.N Club, Aldine ISD FFA, the Aldine Pathfinder District, Bounding Against Adversity, Girl Scouts of the San Jacinto Council, the HOBY Foundation, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and the YMCA.

Staff assignments approved During the Jan. 13 Board meeting, Trustees approved four staff assignment. Abel Garza was named assistant superintendent of community and governmental relations after serving as director of community engagement and partnerships. Garza received his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1994 from the University of Houston. In 2001, he received his master’s degree in public administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is certified for this position. He began his career as a community outreach/government affairs representative at the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 1998. In 2000, he moved to the State Senate Department to assume the role of legislative aide. In 2007, he moved to Devry University as director of community outreach. He transitioned to his current position in August of 2014 as director of community engagement and partnerships with Aldine ISD. Garza has 16 years of experience in the field of community outreach and governmental relations. Pamela Jefferson was named director of student services after serving as an instructional technology specialist at Dunn Elementary School. Jefferson received her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 1997 and her master’s degree in instructional technology in 2013 from Sam Houston State University. She is certified for this position. She began her teaching career in 1997 at Dunn Elementary. In 2002, she transferred to Hill Intermediate School and served as a technology applications teacher. In 2012, she moved to Parker Intermediate School and served as a technology specialist before returning to Dunn Elementary School to serve as an instructional technology specialist in 2014. Jefferson has spent all of her 17 years in education with Aldine ISD. Richard Slater was named campus athletic coordinator and head football coach at Nimitz High School after serving as defensive coordinator at Katy High School. Slater received his bachelor’s degree in history in 1991 from Rocky Mountain College. He is certified and meets district requirements for this position. He began his coaching career in 1985 as a receiver coach at West High School in Montana. In 1989, he moved to Skyview High School to assume the role of secondary coach. He relocated to Torrey Pines High School in California in 1990 to serve as the secondary coach before moving to Mira Mesa High School in 1991 to serve as the offensive coordinator/receiver coach. In 1993, he began his teaching career and continued to his coaching career as the defensive coordinator at Northeast High School in Oklahoma. In 1995, he moved to Kansas to work at Stanton County High School as the athletic director/head football coach. He moved to Austin in 1999 and went to work for Crockett High School where he coached linebackers. In 2000, he moved to Port Lavaca to serve as the defensive coordinator at Calhoun High School. In 2001, he relocated to Missouri City where he became the linebacker’s coach at Hightower High School. In 2003, he moved to Kempner High School in Fort Bend ISD to serve as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. In 2006, he moved to his current position as defensive coordinator/strength coordinator at Katy High School. Slater has 29 years of experience in the teaching and coaching profession. James Kowaleski was named campus athletic coordinator and head football coach at Aldine High School after serving as the defensive coordinator at Ridge Point High School in Fort Bend ISD. Kowaleski received his bachelor’s degree in history in 2006 and his master’s degree in teaching in 2007 from Austin College. He is certified and meets district requirements for this position. He began his coaching career in 2006 as a graduate assistant football coach at Austin College. In 2007, he moved to Clements High School in Fort Bend ISD to serve as the junior varsity football coach. He moved into his present position as defensive coordinator at Ridge Point High School in 2010. Kowaleski has seven years of coaching experience.

Employees, students honored During the Jan. 13 Trustees meeting, a number of employees and students were honored for the contributions they make to Aldine ISD on a daily basis.

Richard Delgado, director of athletics, recognized the MacArthur High School boy’s cross country team for earning a trip to the Class 6A State Cross Country Meet. The Generals, under the direction of coaches Kelly Silha and Xang Chareunsab, won their fifth straight district title and finished fourth at the Region III Meet to qualify for the state meet. The team consisted of Francisco Hernandez, Luiz Yanez, Abraham Pena, Santiago Solorio, Eulises Garcia and Gerardo Villareal.

Dani Sheffield, executive director of child nutrition services, named the cafeteria staff at Marcella Intermediate School as her department’s Team of the Month. The staff consists of manager LaToya Reece, and specialists Charlotte Bennett, Sjolanda Eglin, Maria Mancillas, Angelina Ortiz, Pearl Savala and Linda Watson. The CN supervisor is Chandra Shorts and the school’s principal is Kathleen Sandoval.

Emitte Roque, executive director of buildings and properties, named Rayford Intermediate School as his department’s Building of the Month. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Pedro Garcia and principal Brandon Carroll.

Roque named Odom Elementary School as his department’s Yard of the Month. On hand to accept the award were head custodian Maria Arredondo, yardman Jose Maravilla-Gochez and the school’s principal Susan Perry.

Robin DeRouen, executive director of transportation, named Florence Green as her department’s Employee of the Month. Green works out of the east side transportation department as a GAP bus driver.

Grants announced Stacey Smith, program director of resource development, announced a number of grants during the Jan. 13 board meeting. Teachers from Caraway Intermediate School (Joan Furjanic), Carroll Academy (Evelyn Martinez), Hambrick Middle School (Emily Janssen, Daniel Willinsky and Stephanie Clark-Brooks), Harris Academy (Dixie Allen and Tamara Gipson), Kujawa Elementary School (Linda Johnson and Jenita Thomas) and Stehlik Intermediate School (Jeanine Kasem) were awarded grants ranging from $400 to $2,800 from Donors Choose to purchase classroom materials and technology to enhance classroom instruction. MacArthur High School teachers Eva Lanczos and Kujawa Elementary teachers Linda Johnson and Fatimata Lam received a $1,400 grant from Target to fund two separate programs, “Learning About H-Town,” and “A Walk Back in Time.” Music teachers John Ware of Stovall Middle School, Tim Blaha of Drew Academy, Courtnay Holiday of Houston Academy, Tonie Barnes of Marcella Intermediate School and Diana Flores of Plummer Middle School received grants ranging from $700 to $1,000 from the Texas Music Educators Association to purchase music to enhance their music libraries for ensemble competition and performances. In December, the Aldine Education Foundation awarded a number of teaching grants. Aldine Ninth Grade teacher Dillon Holm received a $786 AEF grant, while Julie Nighswander and Barbara Lott-Johnson of Teague Middle School received a $681 AEF grant. Carver High School teacher Kiersten Woodward received a $2,900 AEF grant, while Susan Pitchford of MacArthur Ninth Grade School received a $2,200 AEF grant. Liliya Jagtiani of Stovall Middle School received a $774 AEF grant. MacArthur High School teachers Eva Lanczos and Ruth Wells received a $2,500 AEF grant, while fellow MacArthur High teacher Jennifer Forshee received a $1,000 AEF grant. The grants announced at the Jan. 13 Board meeting totaled $29,735.