SCHOOL VIEWS
Spring 2025
Alamo Heights High School graduation is Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 8 p.m. This year’s ceremony will once again be held at Harry B. Orem Stadium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Seating and parking is first come, first served and families and guests are encouraged to arrive early and carpool.
Overflow parking and shuttle service will be available at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, 825 E Basse Road, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
As a reminder, the district’s clear bag policy will be in effect. No outside food or drinks are permitted.
The ceremony will also be streamed on the AH Mule Tube channel, and the link will be provided to families the week before.
Come celebrate the Class of 2025 as they cross the stage and receive their diplomas.
SPRING STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT
We love our AHISD staff! They were recognized in January during halftime at a Lady Mules basketball game in our first Spring Staff Appreciation Night. Their hard work, passion, and commitment does not go unnoticed. We are so grateful they choose to make their home in AHISD!
A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
This is always an exciting and busy time in Alamo Heights ISD with numerous events and traditions during the last few weeks of the school year. We also are actively preparing for the next school year.
Celebrating Student Achievement
We look forward to honoring the Class of 2025 at graduation at the end of May, and celebrating our kindergarten, 5th and 8th grade students at completion ceremonies that honor the next steps in their AHISD journey.
I know you will join me in applauding the achievements of our students this year as they continue to excel and represent AHISD through academics, fine arts, and athletics. You will learn more about some of these accomplishments in this edition of School Views but rest assured there are so many more at each of our campuses.
As I’ve shared before, this means reductions in several areas with impacts that will be felt district-wide by students and staff.
We cannot lose sight of these impressive accomplishments. Our students are the reason we continue to advocate so strongly for public education and the funding that our students, teachers, and schools deserve.
Budget Challenges
We remain focused on the 89th Legislative Session and hope for clarity on additional funding for public education soon, but we are already deep in the planning process for the 2025-2026 school year budget.
Advocacy
I continue to make this request of our community: reach out on a weekly basis to our elected officials and ask that they support an increase of the per student Basic Allotment for school funding by an additional $1,340 to adjust for the impact of inflationary costs to our schools from 2019. Share the importance of this advocacy with your family, friends, and neighbors and encourage them to be a voice for public school students.
Bond Updates
We are seeing tremendous progress with our Bond Construction at Alamo Heights High School and it’s about to become more visible across AHISD as additional projects get underway these next few months at Cambridge, Woodridge, and the AHISD Athletic Complex at Robbins. Stay up to date by visiting our Bond Updates website - ahisd.net/Bond2023Updates. We are committed to sharing regular updates with our community who overwhelmingly approved School Bond 2023 two years ago.
MULES UP!
Dr. Bashara
BOND UPDATES
Alamo Heights High School
The steel structure is rising on the new three story Alamo Heights High School Academic Building.
June 2025 will mark one year of construction and the project remains on time and on budget. The new building will open in August 2026.
Work on the Visitor’s Bleacher Complex at Orem Stadium is well underway with anticipated completion in the fall. The project includes new bleachers, locker rooms, concessions, and meeting space. In April, the foundation was poured for the new locker rooms.
New Projects Getting Underway
Project 2 of School Bond 2023 is getting underway this spring and summer at Cambridge, Woodridge, and the AHISD Athletic Complex at Robbins.
Construction at Cambridge will include renovations to the current cafeteria space, including acoustical treatments to better manage sound, reorienting service lines and kitchen space, and reconfiguring the dining space to a more open floor plan with additional indoor and outdoor areas. Restrooms will also be added to the cafeteria.
The school will also gain a multipurpose room to serve students and staff, and an addition to the Central Plant with upgrades to plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems.
All classrooms and hallways will be refreshed which includes updated flooring, ceilings, lighting, paint, and millwork. New materials were selected for durability and in the case of upgrades with LED lighting, to be more energy and cost
efficient. The library will also see a refresh.
The timeline for the Cambridge project runs from Spring 2025 until 2027.
Construction at Woodridge will not be as extensive as at Cambridge, but all classrooms and hallways will see a refresh which includes updated flooring, ceilings, lighting, paint and millwork. The library will also be refreshed.
The biggest changes will be to the 5th grade hallway. Classroom sizes will be expanded from their current footprint by reconfiguring walls and adding additional square footage to the end of the building.
The Woodridge cafeteria will also see upgrades to be a more efficient space with serving lines and to better manage sound with acoustical treatments.
The timeline for the Woodridge project is June 2025 until August 2026.
Cambridge and Woodridge families will learn about the impacts of construction from their campus leaders as phasing plans are finalized this spring.
Cambridge Cafeteria
Woodridge Cafeteria
Alamo Heights High School
Cambridge Classroom
The AHISD Athletic Complex at Robbins, currently home to the Tennis Center, Natatorium, and Robbins academic and office building, will include several projects over time including the addition of a softball field/bleachers and locker room/offices/ meeting space and resurfacing of the tennis courts. The current Robbins building will be removed which will allow for additional parking to serve the complex.
The softball project began in April with construction scheduled to end in time for the 2026 softball season.
Design Work
In late March, design work for the new Howard Early Childhood Center building began with a meeting between school staff and architects from LPA.
Construction won’t begin until Spring 2026. The new building will be constructed on the back portion of the property, while the existing building will remain in use until the new facility is completed.
Bond Council
The AHISD Bond Community Council convenes three times annually and consists of staff and community members from all campuses, working together to represent diverse perspectives. They serve as another resource for the community for updates on bond design, planning and construction. They also provide the District with feedback. Members of the Council are listed on the Bond Updates website.
How to stay updated
Regular bond construction updates are provided at Board Meetings, in the School Views publication, on district social media platforms, and on the district’s website, www.ahisd.net. The Bond 2023 Updates website - ahisd.net/Bond2023Updates - has construction timelines, renderings, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and outlines how construction will impact AHISD learners of all ages.
Visitor’s Bleachers Complex
AHISD Athletics Complex at Robbins
#ExtraordinaryAHISD Staff
BRADEN CAIN
History Teacher
Alamo Heights High School
Braden Cain is a history teacher at Alamo Heights High School. He joined Alamo Heights ISD in 2023 and currently teaches World History and US History. He began his teaching career in 2020 in Florida. Though he initially thought of becoming a public defender, it was during his time in graduate school working in youth and young adult ministry that he reconsidered his career path. He comes from a family of educators, including his mother who was a high school principal and his grandfather who was a principal and longtime school board member.
KIMBERLY BRADY
Math Teacher
Alamo Heights Junior School
Kimberly Brady is a 6th grade math teacher at Alamo Heights Junior School. She also serves as the Student Council and 6th grade girls Service Club advisor and as a 6th grade team leader. She rejoined AHISD in 2022 after taking some time to raise her family, but previously taught at the Junior School from 2010 to 2013 and served as a substitute teacher at Cambridge.
Meet the 2025 Alamo Heights ISD Teachers of the Year
KIM HOLLAND
2nd Grade Teacher
Woodridge Elementary
Kim Holland is a second grade teacher and team leader at Woodridge Elementary. She’s been teaching in Alamo Heights ISD for 10 years and has been in education for 19 years. Kim prioritizes building a classroom community and creating engaging lessons that tie into the TEKS and meet the needs of all learners.
3rd Grade Teacher
Cambridge Elementary
Barry Adame-LeMaitre is a third grade teacher at Cambridge Elementary. He joined Alamo Heights ISD in 2022, and has 25 years of educational experience as a teacher, principal and instructional coach in Texas, Florida, and his native Scotland.
JAELEEN FULLEN
PE Teacher
Howard Early Childhood Center
Jaeleen Fullen is the physical education teacher at Howard Early Childhood Center. She joined Alamo Heights ISD in 2023, and spent the previous 7 years of her educational career as a PE teacher and softball coach at high schools in San Antonio.
The 2025 Campus Teachers of the Year are: Braden Cain, Social Studies teacher, Alamo Heights HS; Kimberly Brady, Math teacher, Alamo Heights Junior School; Barry Adame-LeMaitre, 3rd grade teacher, Cambridge; Kim Holland, 2nd grade teacher, Woodridge; and Jaeleen Fullen, Physical Education teacher, Howard Early Childhood Center.
Braden Cain, history teacher at Alamo Heights High School, is the 2025 Alamo Heights ISD Teacher of the Year.
Cain will represent AHISD as the district’s nominee for the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Region 20 Teacher of the Year.
BARRY ADAME-LEMAITRE
New Principal Named at Cambridge
Yvonne Munoz has been named principal of Cambridge Elementary beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
Current Cambridge Principal Jana Hawkins has announced her retirement after more than three decades in public education and the last nine years as principal at Cambridge.
Munoz has been the principal of Howard Early Childhood Center since 2021. Before joining Alamo Heights ISD, she served as a principal at two elementary schools in Judson ISD and as an assistant principal and bilingual education teacher in kindergarten, first, and third grades. She will assume her new role this summer.
2025 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Woodridge Assistant Principal Salena Valdes is the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) Region 20 Assistant Principal of the Year.
Valdes has been the Assistant Principal at Woodridge since 2021. She also served as the school’s Instructional Coach for three years. Prior to joining AHISD, Valdes served as a reading teacher and AVID coordinator at a middle school in North East ISD and as an assistant principal in Somerset ISD Valdes will be honored in June at the annual TEPSA conference. One of the region honorees will be selected to represent Texas in the NAESP National Assistant Principal of the Year Awards.
Young Music Educator Award
TWO AHHS TEACHERS EARN NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
Two Alamo Heights High School teachers have earned National Board Certification, the highest credential in the teaching profession.
Rebeca Marshburn is a Spanish teacher and Dr. Leslie Gautreaux is an English teacher.
Currently less than 1 percent of Texas teachers are National Board Certified Teachers.
As a part of the certification process, they built a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, video, and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. For this incredible accomplishment, each educator will receive additional compensation each year.
Powering the Profile
JAMES ROBLES
Woodridge Think Critically and Creatively
James Robles, fifth grade Spanish Immersion/ Dual Language teacher at Woodridge, was recognized for Powering the Profile and embodying the AHISD Profile of a Learner. He encourages students to “think critically and creatively.”
Carlos Quiroz, Orchestra Director at Alamo Heights High School, is the recipient of the 2025 Marjorie Keller Outstanding Young Music Educator Award. The award is presented annually by the Texas Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and recognizes a young Texas Music Educator for meritorious service and outstanding promise in string education grades K-12. Mr. Quiroz received the award at the annual TMEA Convention in February.
JOSE JUAREZ
Cambridge
Engage Socially and Globally
Jose Juarez, fifth grade Spanish Immersion/Dual Language teacher at Cambridge, was recognized for Powering the Profile and embodying the AHISD Profile of a Learner. He encourages students to “engage socially and globally.”
REUNITE
at Heights
AN ALUMNI & HALL OF FAME CELEBRATION
The Alamo Heights School Foundation was proud to host Reunite at Heights, our annual alumni and Hall of Fame celebration, on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Each year, we present three Distinguished Alumni awards, one Lifetime Educator award, and one Distinguished Service award to former students, faculty, and community volunteers for their remarkable contributions to Alamo Heights and beyond. Please join us in congratulating this year’s outstanding honorees on their induction into the Alamo Heights School Foundation’s Hall of Fame!
Our 2025 Hall of Fame Honorees from left to right: Steve Allison (Distinguished Service), Bob Worth (Distinguished Alumni, Class of 1967), Margaret Johnson Canby (Distinguished Alumni, Class of 1950), Carol & Chad Fenley on behalf of Gaylard Fenley (Lifetime Educator), Susan Dolan Reed (Distinguished Alumni, Class of 1968)
In addition to celebrating our honorees, Reunite at Heights serves as an opportunity for alumni and community members of all ages to reconnect, make new friends, and support AHISD– the heart of Alamo Heights! Thank you to our generous sponsors and underwriters for making this event possible. We couldn’t do it without your support! Special thanks go to our Hall of Fame chair, Lynn Ziegler, and our Reunite at Heights chair, Anne Ballantyne, for their help organizing this event.
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors and Underwriters!
Presenting Sponsor: Hossfam Eleemosynary
Mule Sponsors: Jim & Janie Worth, Worth & Associates
Gold Sponsors: Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge, Stewart/Shaw, The Bob Worth Family
Blue Sponsors: The Steve Allison Family, Anne & Steve Ballantyne, The Canby Family, Former Athletes of Coach Fenley, Friends of Bob & Steve, Friends of The Worths, Frost, Meabon & Goudge Families, Groovy Hues, Luther King
Capital Management, Cynthia O’Connor + Betty & Mike Venson, SAMCO
Capital, The Thad Ziegler Glass Family
Underwriters: H-E-B, Lee Michaels Jewelers, Judge Susan Reed & Travis Reed, Prestige Motorsports
SUBMIT A NOMINATION!
Scan the QR code or visit ahschoolfoundation.org to nominate someone for the 2026 Hall of Fame!
The submission deadline for the 2026 Hall of Fame is Monday, June 30, 2025. All submissions are considered for five years.
Attending our annual gala, Greater Heights Night, is a fun, easy way to support AHISD. Proceeds from this event go directly toward funding teacher and staff salaries, ensuring we attract and retain the outstanding educators our children deserve. Fund teachers, elevate education, and shape futures in one unforgettable evening! Scan the QR code to learn more.
OUR MISSION: The mission of the Alamo Heights School Foundation is to unite our community to invest in our schools, address insufficient state funding, and empower our teachers and staff to help every student achieve their full potential.
OUR VISION: Our vision is to ensure that Alamo Heights ISD remains the undeniable first choice for families and educators — a district driven by a powerful, united community. We’re building a future where every child has access to extraordinary opportunities, teachers are empowered and competitively compensated, and sustainable funding ensures an exceptional education no matter the obstacles. Together, we’re continuing to demonstrate what’s possible in public education.
7101 Broadway, SATX 78209
www.ahschoolfoundation.org (210) 832-5957 ahfoundation@ahisd.net
@ahsf09 @ahsf09 @ahsfoundation
TRUSTEES AT WORK
David Hornberger Board President
The Alamo Heights HS Class of 1950 never set foot in the high school at 6900 Broadway. The last class to graduate from the old high school on Cambridge Oval, they recently celebrated their 75th reunion. Hearing stories from Margaret Johnson Canby and Dick Peacock at their celebratory lunch, I couldn’t help but be thankful for each generation of Mules that has helped establish and perpetuate our tradition of excellence. Our school district has persevered through quite a bit during its more-than-acentury existence. Now, as then, it’s a great day to be a Mule.
We’re home to Bette Nesmith Graham, the creator of Liquid Paper, who built a nine-figure business at a time when society confined women to secretarial roles. Klein Gilhousen graduated from here and went on to co-found Qualcomm, developing the foundational technology that drives every single smartphone in the world today. We’re home to a Grammyaward winning musician, a Super Bowl champion, and a New York Times bestselling author whose books are now blockbuster movies. Some of us have overcome generational odds to be the first in their family to go to college. Our graduates launch restaurants, launch companies, and even launch satellites like the Hubble telescope.
Our basketball team made it to the State Semifinals this year. Our football team now has 5 undefeated district championships…in a row. Cheer, band, and ROTC continue to win accolades at the state and the national levels. Our girls golf team has 3 state titles in the past 4 years. And now it’s our students - not just our graduatesthat are launching rockets in places like White Sands, New Mexico.
As a proud Texas public school district, we accept every single child in our community. Every single one. Over the years, our demographics have changed but our commitment to excellence has not. Our student body now is nearly 50% minority and some 20% of our students are on free and reduced lunch programs. Regardless, when children come into our classrooms, they feel empowered by our high expectations and our transcendent belief that each child is capable of far more than he or she believes.
This tradition of excellence inspires us and drives us forward. This past year we graduated more AP Scholars than ever before, placing us in the top 6% of high schools in the country. Our Early College High School program empowers our students to graduate with an associates degree (some 60 hours in dualcredit courses) while enjoying the extracurricular and elective opportunities typically offered by our high school.
We do all of this in the face of state funding frozen since 2019 amid soaring, inflationary costs. While we have autonomy to levy taxes to finance capital improvements through bonds, we have little ability to significantly change the portion of our taxes that fund operations (to pay for teacher salaries). Unelected state bureaucrats basically control this portion of our tax levy, not your elected board of trustees (taxation without representation, anyone?). This is where things are tight. Statewide. Some 60 percent of Texas public schools districts now have operational deficits- but the state controls the funding, not the schools. We’ve mentioned before that in the 1990s, the debate in Austin was how to fund Texas public schools. Now the debate is whether to fund Texas public schools.
It is unfortunate that our Alamo Heights schools are considered acceptable collateral damage in an existential political fight in Austin. But we know that this place is special, that the legacy here is worth continuing for our children and for our grandchildren. We know in our soul that this community is irreplaceable, and that the schools are its heart.
The Reunite at Heights event in late March captured this spirit. If you’ve never attended, I strongly encourage you to go. We celebrate those who have contributed so much to our schools, to our community, and to our country. They remind us of our better angels, of who we are, and of what we are capable, when we are at our best. Particularly meaningful to many former Mules was the induction of Coach Gaylard Fenley into our Hall of Fame. Despite high hurdles, he helped our community realize our tradition of excellence in new ways. He taught us that just because something looks hard, it doesn’t mean you abandon the cause, it doesn’t mean you give up on your team. If anything, it means you double down. You reach deep in your heart and find the courage to drive forward, fueled by your teammate doing the same. Because, without a doubt, we is the key.
As we confront these difficult times in Texas school finance, you can be sure that the Board of Trustees of this school district, along with our administration and our teachers, our bus drivers, custodians, and staff, know that this generational tradition of excellence depends on our continued, collective efforts. Our community is worth the fight.
Celebrating Grand & Senior Mules! COMMUNITY UPDATES
Earlier this Spring, the District hosted the final Senior/Grand Mules event of the 2024-2025 school year.
It was an opportunity for participants to learn about AHISD schools directly from students and staff and tour classrooms to see learning in action.
The program began two years ago to engage all members of the Alamo Heights ISD community in the efforts of our schools. This year, more than 50 Senior and Grand Mules participated in the Fall and Spring sessions with a “Mules on Wheels” style program that included visits to two campuses.
Participants who live in AHISD receive a Gold Card which grants free admission to AHISD fine arts performances, free admission to regular season home athletic games, and free open swimming at the AHISD Natatorium, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.
Dates for the next Senior/Grand Mules events will be announced in the coming months.
FIESTA ESSAY CONTEST WINNER
Mahalia Hudson, 7th grader at The Junior School, won first place in the public school division of the Battle of Flowers Association’s Annual Texas History Essay Contest.
She was honored at a ceremony at The Alamo, and will ride in the Battle of Flowers parade in early May. Hudson also received a computer as a prize and the social studies department at the Junior School received $2,000.
Her winning essay was titled, “The Angel of Goliad.”
Hudson’s Texas History teacher is Robert Ramos
Award-winning Fiesta Medal!
Congratulations to AHHS Visual Arts student Anjaleen Cruz! She’s the winner of the 2025 Wash Tub Fiesta Medal Design Contest!
Proceeds from the sale of these medals will benefit Haven for Hope. Anjaleen is pictured with her art teacher Colton Hermes
AHHS Visual Arts has partnered with The Wash Tub since 2019.
AHISD Advocates for Public Education
Alamo Heights ISD representatives visited the Capitol this Spring to visit with elected officials and members of their staff about the funding needs of Alamo Heights ISD.
The AHISD delegation included Dr. Bashara, Dr. Frank Alfaro, Trustees Carey Hildebrand, Hunter Kingman and Lauren McLaughlin, Alamo Heights School Foundation Board Member Elizabeth Marceau and two students from the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, Jack Holliman and Ale Zapata.
“The most meaningful part of being asked to take part in this visit was the opportunity to be a voice for students, teachers, and schools that are directly affected by funding decisions,” said Zapata. “I felt a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that the challenges educators face every day - whether it’s overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, or lack of resources - were heard and understood. It reaffirmed my belief that when we come together to advocate for public education, we can push for meaningful change.”
Students walk through the process of being a Graphic Design Artist from beginning to end. The Wash Tub Executive team selects an artist to work with and the artwork is turned into a wearable work of art! Viva Fiesta!
Due to inaction in the 88th Legislative Session to adequately fund public schools beyond the 2019 Basic Allotment, the Budget Committee of the Board of Trustees convened several times last fall to develop a plan to cut the operating budget by $5 million for the 2025-2026 school year.
“It is more important than ever for our AHISD community to be actively involved in this Legislative session through ongoing communication with our state leaders regarding the needs of our students and staff,” said Dr. Bashara, Superintendent. “It is unacceptable to continue to be funded on 2019 allocations as we experience years of increased inflation and operational costs. Our students deserve so much more!”
Visit the AHISD website to learn more about the funding challenges in AHISD and how members of the community can engage with elected officials through the end of the Legislative Session in June- www.ahisd.net/community/legislative.
SCHOOL LIFE
Curriculum & Instruction Updates
By Dr. Jimmie Walker, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Expanding Language Programs
One of the standout features of AHISD is our commitment to multilingualism through Dual Language and Spanish Immersion programs. This year, we proudly expanded dual language instruction into kindergarten and have already seen impressive student outcomes. As a result, we will continue offering two kindergarten sections next year. Additionally, there was tremendous interest in our first-grade language lottery programs, and we’re excited to welcome approximately 140 new students at Cambridge and Woodridge elementary schools.
Gifted & Talented (GT) Program Enhancements
Our Gifted and Talented (GT) program continues to serve students in grades K–12, with 927 students currently receiving GT services. Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, AHISD will transition to a new identification process using MAP testing in reading, math, and science, along with mCLASS for reading in grades K–2. This change enables universal screening three times a yearwithout additional loss of instructional time. While the qualifying benchmark will remain near the 98th percentile on national norms, this approach broadens access and provides more consistent data. Families will continue to receive detailed score reports after each testing window.
New School Start Times
The AHISD Board of Trustees approved the 2025-26 school year calendar last December. It’s available to download on the District website. Based on the feedback received from the community, the school year will begin on a Wednesday instead of a Monday.
In order to accomplish this, and still fulfill the requirements for the minimum minutes of instruction for students and provide staff with work days around school holidays, school start times will be adjusted next year.
For the 2025-2026 school year, start times will be:
Howard - 7:40 a.m.
Cambridge and Woodridge - 8:10 a.m.
AHJS and AHHS - 8:40 a.m.
Please keep the calendar in mind when scheduling appointments and vacations. Every day a student is absent, there is a cost to learning, to the school environment, and to the district.
Dual Credit Course Growth
The Early College High School at Alamo Heights launched this year with around 100 students enrolled. We’re thrilled to expand our dual credit offerings in 2025–2026 with two new courses:
- College Algebra, paired with Algebra II, will earn students three college math hours.
- Fundamentals of Visual Arts will fulfill the high school fine arts graduation requirement and provide three college creative arts hours.
We look forward to welcoming approximately 100 students into the Early College program in August, where participants are on track to graduate with both their high school diploma and over 60 hours of college credit, including an associate’s degree.
February Feedback: Student Voice in Action
Each February, AHISD gathers input from our community—and a key highlight is the opportunity for students to share direct feedback with their teachers. This initiative helps shape stronger, more responsive classroom instruction. Here’s what our students said this year:
- 94% agree or strongly agree their teachers are knowledgeable.
- 90% believe their teachers are organized.
- 87% say class time is used wisely.
- 89% feel their teachers are respectful and caring.
We are proud of these results and grateful to our teachers for creating learning environments where students feel supported, respected, and inspired.
NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST
Mules Up for National Merit FINALIST- Francesco Caffrey! Caffrey was first recognized last fall as a National Merit Semifinalist. The PSAT serves as the initial screener for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Only about 15,000 high school seniors in the U.S. earn the honor of becoming a National Merit Finalist, representing less than one percent of all seniors.
HOW DO YOU SPELL SUCCESS?
Felicidades to Emiliano Ramos! For the second year in a row, Emiliano won the middle school division of the Region 20 Spanish Spelling Bee. The 8th grader from the Junior School now qualifies for the National competition this summer.
Emiliano is pictured with his mother Raquel Ramos and Junior School Assistant Principal Liz Aguirre.
ALL STATE HONORS FOR TOP MUSICIANS
This year, three AHHS Fine Arts students were selected to the Texas Music Educators Association, or TMEA, All-State Ensembles.
Francesco Caffrey was selected to the All State Philharmonic Orchestra. Eli Yun and Andy Le were selected to the All-State Band. Andy played the Alto Saxophone in the 5A Symphonic Band and Eli played Oboe in the 6A Symphonic Band
2025 State School of Character
Woodridge Elementary has been recognized as a 2025 State School of Character by the organization Character.org.
This is the second time Woodridge has earned this honor. The school was first recognized as a State School of Character in 2020.
Character.org certifies schools and districts each year at the state level that have developed and implemented an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach that embeds character into all aspects of school life. This year, 98 schools earned this recognition from across the United States.
All-State recognition is the highest public school award for individual achievement in music that a student can receive and represents the top student musicians in Texas. The process began with over 70,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians. Students were chosen through a competitive audition process held this year across the state at District, Region, and Area levels.
Francesco, Eli, and Andy performed with the All-State ensembles at the TMEA Clinic/Convention in February.
Orchestra instructors are Carlos Quiroz and Jack Nagel Band directors are David Stephenson, Matt Moreno, and Troy Chester.
The State School of Character designation is valid for five years and Woodridge is now eligible to be considered for National School of Character designation. National School of Character is the highest honor bestowed upon schools by Character.org. The 2025 National Schools of Character will be announced in May.
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD
Alamo Heights High School was recognized with the Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to the AP Computer Science Principles course. The College Board recognized 847 schools, both national and international, with this award which honors the work to close the female representation gap in AP Computer Science coursework.
For sophomores Reyna Hull and Molly Sytsma, AP Computer Science Principles is their first exposure to computer science and an opportunity to explore an important field.
“I wanted to take this course because the world is digital,” said Hull. “This introduction is beneficial for future careers. I’ve never done anything with coding and it is like speaking another language. It takes time and practice, but I think I’m getting it.”
According to College Board research, female students who take AP Computer Science courses in high school are more than 5 times as likely to major in computer science in college compared to similar students who did not take the courses. Despite growing demand, women still only earn 21 percent of computer science bachelor’s degrees and make up 34 percent of the STEM workforce.
AHHS also received this honor in 2023.
MULE NEWS
BITS & BRIEFS
Aiming High at Nationals
Logan Watson represented AHISD at the JROTC National Air Rifle Championship in Alabama.
Watson is the first AHISD student to qualify for the event.
In his first appearance on the national stage, he competed in the Army Precision category alongside the top air rifle shooters from across the nation in two days of competition in the kneeling, prone, and standing positions.
All Stars
Gunnar Jones and Sophie Zadel were selected for the 2025 San Antonio Sports All-Star Basketball Game.
Sophie was selected for Team Blue in the girl’s 1A to 5A game and Gunnar played for Team White in the boys 1A to 5A game.
Both games were played March 23.
Boys Basketball Head Coach Andrew Brewer and Assistant Coaches Ben Rost and Bruce McConaghy served as coaches for Team White.
BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM ADVANCES TO STATE SEMIS
It was an impressive season for the 2024-2025 Alamo Height High School Varsity Basketball team as they made a strong push all the way to the UIL State Semifinals.
The team finished 2nd in District 26-5A before an impressive playoff run that saw victories against Leander Rouse, John Jay, Corpus Christi Ray, and Liberty Hill. They lost to Fort Bend Marshall in the State Semi Final game played at Goliad High School.
It was their best season since 2018 when the Mules also advanced to the Final Four. This year was the 18th straight season that the Mules have appeared in the postseason.
“Our district was incredibly tough,” said Head Coach Andrew Brewer. “We did not clinch a spot in the playoffs until the very last game of the regular season. I was not totally surprised by the success we had in the playoffs. We had a group of players this season, especially the seniors, who just wanted to win. To a man, they didn’t care who scored the most - they were all willing to do whatever it took for us to be successful.”
Seniors on the team are Beau Taber, Matthew Munguia, Gunnar Jones, and Bennett Johnson
Head Coach is Andrew Brewer and Assistant Coaches are Ben Rost and Bruce McConaghy.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the entire Alamo Heights community for supporting us through district and into the playoffs,” said Brewer. “Especially Assistant Principal Austin Amaro who drummed up support for student fan buses to attend all of our road playoff games.”
The Mules have a long tradition of excellence advancing to the Final Four eight times and winning the state championship twice, in 1952 and 1954.
CHEER FOR THE CHAMPIONS
Alamo Heights High School cheer won a national championship at the UCA National Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida earlier this spring.
Junior Varsity made history by earning their third consecutive national championship in the Large JV Game Day Division.
“Our athletes’ dedication and hard work have truly set a new standard of excellence, said Taylor Bailey, Cheer Coach.
“Beyond their incredible success, these athletes always made practices fun, fostering an environment of positivity and teamwork. They were always there for each other, offering unwavering support and encouragement, which strengthened their bond and contributed to their success.”
Varsity won fourth place in the Super Large Varsity Game Day Division. They earned back to back national championships in 2022 and 2023.
“Over the past few years, the Varsity Game Day division has become the most competitive in the entire UCA Cheer competition,” said Bailey. “Despite the fierce competition, our team has consistently placed in the top four, an accomplishment that speaks to their exceptional talent and dedication. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and perseverance.”
AHHS cheer also finished in 4th place in January at the 2025 UIL State Spirit Championships in Fort Worth. The team has always finished in the top four since the beginning of the UIL contest in 2015-2016.
Cheer coaches are Taylor Bailey and Carrie Hill
“I am beyond proud of this year’s team, but I have always been proud of this entire program since the moment I started coaching,” said Bailey. “It has been an honor to work with such hardworking athletes who love our community. As an alum, it fills my heart with joy to be part of this incredible program once again, and to collaborate with the amazing Carrie Hill has made this experience truly worthwhile.”
Alamo Heights ISD was represented by one swimmer and one diver at UIL State Swimming and Diving Championships in February.
Freshman Henry Tucker won 5th place in 1 meter diving and senior Beau Henning competed in the 100 yard breaststroke.
Making a Splash at State!
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WRITE: Alamo Heights Independent School District 7101 Broadway San Antonio, Texas 78209
CALL: 210-824-2483
EMAIL: ahisdcommunications@ahisd.net
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WATCH: YouTube: Alamo Heights Mules
School Resource Officers Provide Safety Support to AHISD Schools
Alamo Heights ISD has a strong partnership with the City of Alamo Heights Police Department. Through that partnership there are now 5 School Resource Officers (SROs), one on each AHISD campus.
Pictured left to right are Officer Martinez (Woodridge), Officer Tran (Cambridge), Officer McManis (AHHS), Officer Gonzalez (The Junior School) and Officer Torres (Howard).
