ActionLine...Your Board Meeting Update December 14, 2005 Dr. Alton Smith named to succeed Emmet t W. Hill on AISD 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.

Employees 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 Learning Scholarships, A+ Grant recipients announced 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.

Grants announced 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 approved 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 presented

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.