SOAR Magazine - Spring 2023

Practice Makes Perfect

Lindsey Kim leads the way as 20 Allen High School students are named AllState musicians or singers, the highest high school music honor in Texas.

ALLEN ALUM CLIMBS

THE CULINARY LADDER

THE BOLINS: A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT

VAUGHAN SERVICE SQUAD

FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY

Puzzles created by Ana Sofia Ortiz, 11th Grade

SPRING IS IN THE AIR IN ALLEN ISD

A MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT BULLOCK

Each season of the year has a special connection with the school calendar. Fall marks the beginning of a new year, winter sees the closing of one semester and the beginning of another, spring is a time to finish on a strong note, and summer provides everyone a chance to catch their breath before we begin a new school year.

I know opinions will vary, but I consider the spring season to be the best time of the school calendar. The weather is beginning to warm up, students are finishing up another full year of progress in learning, and graduation is on the horizon. Add in special events like prom, field day, and scholarship celebrations and you can almost feel the buzz of excitement throughout the District.

Another great spring tradition in Allen ISD is our end-of-the-year awards banquet for staff members. The banquet, traditionally held in the final weeks of the school year, provides us the chance to celebrate and recognize the outstanding staff members who dedicate themselves to our students.

The District presents a number of awards at this banquet, including recognition of the Teachers of the Year, Paraprofessionals of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Bright Idea Awards (for new and innovative ideas in our District). We also bid farewell to the staff members who have chosen to retire after a distinguished career in education. Having all of those wonderful individuals in the same room creates a special atmosphere that I cherish every year. Our teachers and staff put their students first in everything they do, especially when it comes to celebrations and recognitions. Educators spend so much time honoring the successes of students and are often the last to acknowledge the impact they have made themselves.

This banquet is a chance to slow down, reminisce on a successful school year, and laud many of our award-winning staff.

After we take down the decorations from the banquet, it’s only a few short days until Allen High School’s graduation. If you’ve never witnessed an Allen Eagle commencement ceremony –trust me, it’s truly a sight to behold. The field at Eagle Stadium is brimming with eager seniors in their graduation regalia, and the stands are filled with joyful family members. I have the privilege of shaking hands with each senior as they cross the stage, and the look on each of their faces reaffirms my decision to serve as a lifelong educator. The educational journey of each student is unique, with different classes, different successes, and different struggles creating a one-of-a-kind path for every graduating senior. Regardless of the route they have taken, each graduate will end up with a diploma from Allen High School and limitless opportunities in the future.

Between our awards banquet and Graduation, it’s easy to see why I love springtime. Honestly, it’s a blessing to learn, work, and grow in Allen ISD no matter the time of year.

I look forward to seeing many of you at one of the many exciting springtime events here in Allen ISD. Let’s all finish the school year strong and have a wonderful Summer Break!

Sincerely,

Robin Bullock, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Robin Bullock Allen ISD Superintendent

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THE BOLINS: A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT

By David Hicks, Chief Communications Officer

TAKE A WALK BY BOLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and you’ll likely hear the traditional buzz of a schoolhouse: cars making their way through the carpool lane, bells signaling the start of the school day, and children having fun on the playground. These sounds have created the auditory background of the neighborhood since the school opened in 2000. Prior to the campus’s existence, however, you were more likely to hear pigs, cows, sheep, and plenty of farm equipment from the fertile land of the Bolin farm.

Luther and Anna Mae Bolin are the namesakes of Bolin Elementary School, and their family’s history in Allen is just as rich as the farmland soil where the school currently sits.

Luther Bolin was born in 1904 and graduated from Lewisville ISD before moving to Allen. Anna Mae was born in 1911, graduated from Allen High School, and married Luther in the spring of 1930. When Luther and Anna Mae married, they settled on a farm south of McDermott near where Ereckson Middle School is now located until 1947 when they bought a farm East of Allen Heights and south of Bethany where Bolin Elementary School is now located. Even today, 40 acres are still home to their grandsons, Bobby and Benny.

Luther and Anna Mae passed away in 1983 and 1990, respectively, and never had a chance to see the school that was named in their honor. Their grandson Benny Bolin, a former

Allen ISD School Board Trustee and current Allen High School nurse, has a feeling how his grandparents would have reacted to being the namesakes of an elementary school.

“If my grandparents could see Bolin Elementary today, my grandmother would probably just be silent, because, well, she was the silent type. But I know that my grandfather would be happy and honored beyond belief. I think they would both be glad that their land was being used to educate children.”

So how did Bolin Elementary come to be? In the late 1980s, Allen ISD Director of Operations, Bobby Curtis, approached Kenneth Bolin, the son of Luther and Anna Mae and father to Benny. Bobby asked Kenneth if he would be interested in selling some of his family’s farmland to the school district to build a new school. Kenneth declined the offer because he didn’t believe Allen would reach a population that required another school. Ten years later, Kenneth and his brother Forrest came back to Allen ISD with a new proposal: they wanted to donate a portion of the Bolin family land to build a new school and support the educational needs of Allen’s children. All that the brothers asked for in return was that the school be named in their parents’ honor.

The Bolin name is near synonymous with community support in Allen. Well before Benny served on the Board of Trustees, his grandfather Luther also volunteered on the School Board. It was also a common occurrence for Luther to take extra crops

from his farm and share them with families in the city. Both of Benny’s parents are Allen High School graduates. His mother, Jo, was valedictorian in 1949, and his father, Kenneth, was a founding member of the Allen Band Booster Association. Their grandsons Bobby and Benny and granddaughter-in-law Betty also graduated from AHS as did their children Jerad, Erica, and Brandon.

“If my grandparents could see Bolin Elementary today, my grandmother would probably just be silent, because, well, she was the silent type. But I know that my grandfather would be happy and honored beyond belief. I think they would both be glad that their land was being used to educate children.”

“There have been five generations of Bolins in Allen ISD schools, and we’ve all just wanted to see this community and school district succeed,” Benny explains. “Knowing that our family’s legacy has had a part in this community’s history is special, and it’s great to see the staff at Bolin Elementary support those students every day.”

IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT

By David Hicks, Chief Communications Officer

WORKING IN A MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANT isn’t for the faint of heart. The prestigious ranking system that identifies the best restaurants in the world can create a pressure cooker for the chefs and waitstaff to provide the best possible dining experience for their guests. Restaurants without a star are desperately seeking the distinction, while those with one or two stars are on a quest for the third and final star that would set them atop the culinary world. All the while, each establishment fights to maintain its established excellence and avoid losing a coveted star.

Lucas Trahan, a 2011 graduate of Allen High School, knows exactly what it takes to work for one of the world’s best ranked restaurants. Trahan is the Executive Pastry Chef at Ever Restaurant, a Two-Michelin-Star establishment in Chicago whose dishes could easily double as works of art. It’s an understatement to say that holding two Michelin Stars is a huge accomplishment – only 33 restaurants can claim that honor in the United States – and Trahan knows full-well the exhilaration and stress that goes hand-in-hand with trying to earn a third star.

“There’s no doubt that this can be a demanding job that takes a lot out of you. I arrive at work at 8 a.m. and don’t leave until 8 at night,” Trahan explains. “At the same time, there is a rewarding experience in creating something bigger than you. All of us in the restaurant are pushing for the same goal of earning three Michelin Stars. I won’t lie, this job and this industry can be incredibly hard. At the same time, things that are too easy usually aren’t that rewarding.”

Lucas, bottom right, with his classmates in the Allen High School culinary program.

Despite the challenges, Trahan is exactly where he planned to land. He says he knew from the age of seven that he would either become a chef or an astronaut, and he eventually chose a cooking flame over rocket fuel. While he didn’t make it to space, perhaps it was a bit of serendipitous irony when he earned the Rising Stars Award in 2021 as one of the best up-and-coming chefs in Chicago.

Trahan honed his skills in the culinary program at Allen High School, even before Blú Bistro and the professional-grade kitchen were built inside the campus. Trahan studied cooking as a sophomore in Home Economics, and then utilized a temporary kitchen space during his time in the culinary program in his junior and senior years. It was in this space, under the tutelage of then-culinary teacher Jordan Swim, that Trahan could explore his creativity and learn to “fail safely.”

the time a Three-Michelin-Star restaurant, and one of only two in the Windy City to hold the coveted distinction at the time.

Trahan got his foot in the door at the exclusive restaurant by running food from the kitchen for six months until a spot finally opened in the kitchen. He moved into a food-prepping role that he describes as extremely competitive. “If you didn’t catch on quickly, you were gone. There were plenty of people lined up to take your spot.”

Trahan learned from Grace’s Executive Chef Curtis Duffy for several years until the restaurant closed its doors in 2017. When Chef Duffy opened his new restaurant, Ever, in 2020, Trahan was ready to join the kitchen staff as the Executive Pastry Chef. He currently curates the pastry menu and produces all of the specialty bread items, ranging from a pretzel twist to a tomato focaccia. Trahan oversees a team of five people, and says his current role can prove to be more administrative than actual cooking or baking. Learning to delegate and trust a team to meet a high standard has been a difficult, but important, skillset he’s recently learned.

Despite the pressures of working for one of the highest-rated restaurants in the United States, Trahan chooses not to settle on being good enough. As with his days at Allen High School, he continues to look for new ways to push the envelope, even if success doesn’t come quickly.

“I may try a new dish and fail at it 15 times before I find one that works. Even then, it takes time to refine it and try to perfect it,” Trahan said. “I think about my teachers at Allen during those formative years – Jordan Swim, Lee Ferguson, and Heidi Hughes. All of them had safe classrooms and encouraged self-learning. If you didn’t succeed at something, they would always encourage you to learn and grow from it. That’s a mentality that I carry with me to this day, and I try to share it with my employees, too.”

“I learned many foundational skills in my classes at Allen High School, and it provided me a leg up when I enrolled in culinary school. I still use those skills today in my current role,” Trahan said. “In Allen, we could explore creativity, try new things, and find our palate. This was cooking for the love of it, and learning how to cook without any pressure. Working with my classmates and our teacher, Jordan Swim, was a time that fortified my love for cooking.”

High school culinary classes also provide, in Trahan’s opinion, the opportunity for students to determine if a particular career path is the right option.

“It’s a great opportunity to get in the kitchen and figure out if this is the right option, career-wise,” Trahan said. “Even if it doesn’t lead to a job as a chef, it’s still teaching kids a valuable lesson in how to cook for themselves. You may not need to cook for your job, but you need to know how to cook for your life in general.”

Following graduation from Allen High School, he enrolled in the Art Institute of Dallas and studied Culinary Arts. He eventually made his way to Chicago and worked at Grace, at

A course served at Ever created by Lucas entitled “Grapefruit,” made with candied grapefruit, jalapeno meringue, ginger puree, grapefruit sherbet, and a gingersnap tuile.

“I may try a new dish and fail at it 15 times before I find one that works. Even then, it takes time to refine it and try to perfect it.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR ALL-STARS

By Keith Taylor, Web and Social Media Coordinator

THE OLD JOKE about how to get to Carnegie Hall rings true for Allen High School Fine Arts students reaching their goals of All-State honors.

This year, 20 Allen High School students were named All-State musicians or singers, the highest high school music honor in Texas. To find out how they accomplished these accolades, three of these achievers shared their not-so-secret winning formula – and the punchline to the joke: Practice, practice, practice.

“Oh yes, I try to practice my music at least an hour a day,” said Lindsey Kim, a senior and four-time All-State violinist. “Even if I have to miss some time during the day because of school work or other activities, I try to make up for it on weekends.”

All-State Band member and flutist, Joseph Park, a sophomore, agrees.

“For the All-State competition, we are given short, melodic pieces to prepare for the auditions,” he said, “However, we only play a small section of the music during auditions and we don’t know what that section will be, so we have to know the whole piece.” For Joseph, that means practicing two hours a day. The same goes for the vocal member of the three, All-State Choir member Akhila Rayasam, a senior and a two-time All-State winner.

lot of practice.

So, practice makes perfect, but all three said there are other essential ingredients to All-State success – love of music, the support of parents, peers, mentors, and a little old fashioned competitive spirit.

“I also play in the Dallas Youth Symphony,” Lindsey said, “A lot of the other members are All-State musicians, so that made me want to show them I am as good as they are.”

They all agreed that parental involvement and support were important to their success. Akhila mentioned the support of the AHS choir director Brian McKinney, and Joseph and Lindsey were quick to credit Band Director Philip Obado and Orchestra Director David DeVoto as well as middle school teachers and private tutors. For example, Akhila didn’t begin singing in the choir until her freshman year.

“I became involved in choir because of my childhood piano teacher, Cindy Darland, who helped me build a foundation in music,” Akhila said. She also credited her parents for encouraging her musical ambitions and joining the choir. Joseph also lauded his parents for his All-State journey.

“I’ve always played an instrument,” he said, “My sister plays violin and we both played piano when we were younger. In middle school, my mother asked me to choose band, choir, or orchestra. I wanted to be in the band.”

After considering the clarinet, Joseph decided on the flute the summer before his sixth-grade year and has never looked back. Because of his musical versatility, he often steps in to perform the piccolo with the band when needed.

Lindsey looked to her grandparents as role models in her

musical quest. Her mother’s parents were both musicians and performed in orchestras in Korea.

“My parents are engineers, but my whole family has a love for music,” she said. “They are always there to help me pursue my musical interests.” She also credited her middle school orchestra instructor, Joanna DeVoto, the director at Ereckson Middle School, as a significant mentor and motivator.

Although Joseph has some time to think about his post-high school endeavors, he does intend to hone his musical skills at college. Lindsey and Akhila also want to keep their hand in music as they explore professional careers. Ahkila plans to become a biologist while Lindsey will study engineering.

“I definitely want to continue singing,” Akhila said. “I hope to join a choir or an acapella group. I think acapella would be fun.”

The three agreed that participation in the All-State process was an important learning experience.

“All -State was a fun experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to compete at that level,” Linsdey said.

Opposite page: Lindsey Kim, four-time All-State violinist.

Above: Joseph Park, flutist and All-State Band Member

Akhila Rayasam, two-time member in the All-State Choir ensemble

STEAM LIFE

By Keith Taylor, Web and Social Media Coordinator

THE ALLEN ISD STEAM CENTER is known for promoting innovative thinking and creative problem-solving. However, many may not realize the emphasis on team planning and longterm strategies.

One team of students is setting out to prove the power of longterm thinking by creating a mobile app that can be used by students today and well into the future.

“Our idea was to create a mobile app to help students and teachers keep up with classes, activities, and assignments at the STEAM Center,” said idea developer and project leader Matthew Caldarola.

“STEAM Life gives students easy access to the Center calendar and allows them to see teacher and club schedules,” Matthew said, “Additionally, the app can be used to schedule events and provide easy communications between staff and students.”

The STEAM Life site is viewable at Life.AllenSC.org. It features an informative “About” page, the STEAM calendar, links to STEAM clubs and organizations, and services offered by the STEAM Life project. All of the information is contained on the STEAM Life app which is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

In 2020, Matthew sent the idea to the STEAM Ambassadors sponsor Nathan Storts. STEAM Ambassadors is an organization of student leaders at the facility. That idea eventually resulted in the creation of STEAM Life – a collaboration of STEAM Ambassadors, Computer Science, and Graphic Design students – for students and staff to use as a one-stop service for all things STEAM.

However, the exciting result had to overcome some significant obstacles before coming to fruition. In the beginning when Matthew was a sophomore and first had the idea, he and his young seven-member team – along with staff instructors – soon realized that long-term continuity of the project would be an issue. After all, students graduate every year.

“We decided to implement the project in phases,” said Matthew, now a senior. In the initial phase, the team started with seven members. It quickly grew to 20 and continues at that size today.

STEAM Life Project leaders include Project Manager Aryan Bhuta, creator and Project Leader Matthew Caldarola and Marketing Manager Ria Mahadevan.

“Recruitment is a big part of making sure the project is successful,” Matthew said. “We recruit younger members and find opportunities for them to be involved in all aspects of the project.”

Project manager Aryan Bhuta said he devotes a lot of his time to help younger team members develop the skills to become future project managers.

“We added several manager positions to provide younger members with the experience to become project managers as senior members move on,” Aryan said.

One of the younger members, sophomore Ria Mahadevan, has been tasked with marketing the STEAM Life app and she feels confident about the future of the product.

“By working with these guys, I have gained a lot of experience with and understanding of the project,” Ria said. “I think we’ll be ready to take their places when they graduate.”

Over the past three years and under the mentorship of Nathan Storts and Computer Science teacher David Ben-Yaakov, the STEAM Life Team has developed the coding to make the site and mobile app work, designed the look and feel of the app, and promoted it to students and staff. Now in Phase 3, the project offers an organized and aesthetically pleasing website and a robust and intuitive mobile app.

Matthew, Aryan and Ria all agree the project will be a success for a long time to come.

“The STEAM Life project is a great example of the variety of future-ready skills our students develop to become active and productive members of academia or the workforce after they graduate from Allen High School,” said STEAM Center Executive Director Larry Labue.

VAUGHAN SERVICE SQUAD IS READY FOR MORE

BY J. RENEE CUNNINGHAM, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING SPECIALIST

VAUGHAN ELEMENTARY IS BUILDING the next generation of servant leaders through the Service Squad. This club focused on community service is composed of 5-6 students in grades first through sixth.

Laura Nguyen, GATE Academy first-grade teacher, started the club to “inspire [students] to be servant leaders outside of school and for years after they leave Vaughan.” A wonderfully lofty objective that more than 30 students work to achieve.

The students’ responsibilities were not given nor taken lightly. Ms. Nguyen requires students to apply and receive a teacher’s recommendation to be considered for membership. Students admitted into the Squad commit to participate every year until they leave Vaughan Elementary. Since this is a long-term commitment, Ms. Nguyen requires each child to seriously think before applying. One of the goals of the club is to keep a core service group together and add new first graders each year that will be mentored by existing members. Their mission while serving on the squad is simple - find ways to serve in your home, school, and community.

Once accepted into the club, Ms. Nguyen meets with the Squad once a month after school. She facilitates these brainstorming sessions by guiding students to determine when and where they can serve. Club members work together to complete service projects that may occur during the day, after school or on weekends.

There is an extensive list of projects these budding public servants have successfully completed. Past projects include creating breakfast bags for the homeless at Austin Street Shelter, collecting blankets for patients at Children’s Hospital, making light catchers and hot cocoa gift bags for Victoria Gardens Nursing Home, writing encouraging notes for teachers

at Vaughan, assisting with Open House projects for campus teachers, coordinating a school-wide effort to make valentines and gifts for veterans at the Clyde W. Cosper Veterans Home in Bonham Texas and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, as well as assisting with Allen High School’s Love Week promotion by making signs for Spirit and Dollar Days.

These young learners are developing the valuable lifelong lesson that small acts, when multiplied by millions of people (yes, even little ones), can transform the world. This service lesson is a powerful seed being planted in the hearts and minds of our growing Eagles, preparing them to blossom into excellent, future ready, empowered learners capable of soaring well beyond any hopes and expectations.

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ALLEN EAGLE

THE ALLEN EAGLE RUN, which took place in the spring of 2023, was an enormous triumph! More than 3,000 individuals participated, and an impressive $80,000 was raised for a variety of causes, including scholarships, campus PTAs, teacher tuition support, foundation grants, and more.

EAGLE RUN

If you’re interested in learning more about the Allen Eagle Run and other fundraising events hosted by the Foundation for Allen Schools, be sure to visit AISDfoundation.org.

COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY: COLLIN COLLEGE FIRE ACADEMY RECEIVES NEW FURNITURE FROM COLLIN COLLEGE WELDING PROGRAM

BY AMY Y. GARRISON, COLLIN COLLEGE

THE FIRE IS INTENSE by the time your fire truck arrives. The house is filled with smoke and there’s a report of a child trapped inside. You don’t know the home’s layout and what obstacles are in your way, but you must make your way through. How do you do it with low-to-no visibility?

A partnership between the Collin College Fire Academy and the college’s Welding Technology program is helping firefighter cadets train for this very scenario.

To turn up the heat, cadets go through very intense levels of training which includes maneuvering around furniture while feeling their way through a cloud of smoke. To create a realistic environment, rooms and hallways inside Collin College’s Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) “burn structures” are staged to imitate a house, an apartment complex, an industrial kitchen, and an office building. However, to help better train the cadets, the academy needed suitable furniture.

“This is our fourth year at the Public Safety Training Center, and we’ve always wanted furniture,” said Fire Academy Coordinator Scott Kerr. “We can’t use furniture out of a house because it is flammable. We needed metal furniture, and we needed to figure out a way to do it. We have a few things like some metal

bed frames. The problem with those is they have sharp edges, so they’re not as safe as we’d like. We needed something without sharp edges.”

Meanwhile, at Collin College Technical Campus located at 2550 Bending Branch Way in Allen, the Welding Technology program was looking for challenging new projects to accommodate it’s overflow of capstone classes.

“For the first time, we had five Advanced Layout and Fabrication capstone classes,” said Welding Professor Landon LaRocque. “The previous fabrication students built material racks and the equipment we needed around the shop. We maxed out of tasks for these students and needed some fabrication projects.”

Both programs needed assistance and discovered there was help within the College.

“This building needed a bunch of metal furniture to simulate real-life housing situations,” LaRocque said. “We made a list of all the different stuff they would like to imitate which included bunk beds, tables and chairs, and recliner chairs. In fact, we even have a baby crib as part of the furniture setup.”

According to Fire Science Program Director Pat McAuliff, the furniture allows cadets to identify their location during a fire.

“We want them to be able to engage with their hands, like determining how tall something is” McAuliff said. “Does this feel like a chair? Where do I have a chair? Well, a chair can be in any room, but what if I have four chairs, and they’re all together, I’m probably in the kitchen.”

Although the welding students were given the freedom to design and build the furniture, specifications were given for safety.

“We basically wrote out some stipulations that they needed to follow, such as everything must be watertight and no sharp edges,” LaRocque said. “The students drew numbers and I split all the pieces of furniture between the five classes. We had them

design their own piece of furniture and draw blueprints. They also had to produce a procedure of fabrication as well as a build of materials. So, it’s giving them real life situations.”

As a result of this collaboration, the Fire Academy cadets received new, skillfully designed furniture from their peers, while students from the Welding Technology program discovered how to design and build furniture.

“Our Fire Academy students and Professor LaRocque’s welding students are the ones that are really benefiting from this project,” McAuliff said. “One group gets to practice what they’re learning and that’s producing a product, and the other group is benefiting from having the product at their facility, making their training grounds more realistic. It’s a win all the way around.”

The academy trains at PSTC, which is located at 3600 Redbud Blvd in McKinney. It is a stateof-the-art facility and sits on 25 acres and occupies 128,000 square feet which include the main facility, fire science training grounds, two burn structures, the outdoor pavilion, and police training grounds. The Fire Academy is one of the most highly regarded programs in the state of Texas. Cadets attending the

The Welding Technology Program is rapidly growing because of the need for highly trained welders in North Texas. Students learn all four welding processes in our state-of-the-art facility so that they can pursue careers in manufacturing, aerospace, construction, and other industries critical to our infrastructure. The Advanced Layout and Fabrication capstone course is part of the college’s Welding Technology Program, and it provides students with advanced skill development in layout and

THE MOVE!

AFTER GOING THROUGH AN ATTENDANCE boundary adjustment process, Allen ISD hosted Destination Night, providing an opportunity for transferring students to explore their new school and meet their new teachers. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and enthusiasm as everyone was excited to welcome their new students.

School administration and teachers went above and beyond to make students and families feel comfortable and welcomed. The students were given a tour of the school, which included the classrooms, library, cafeteria, and other facilities. They were also introduced to their new teachers, who were eager to get to know them and help them settle in to their new campus.

FUTURE READY

ALLEN ISD STUDENTS ARE READY FOR THE FUTURE!

Leading up to graduation, Allen ISD spotlights senior students and their future plans with a program called Future Ready Friday. With state-of-the-art technology, high-quality academics, and a wide variety of extracurricular activities, Allen ISD fosters a learning environment that will ensure students are equipped with 21st century skills.

Zoya Tharani - “Allen has taught me to be more outgoing and take advantage of any opportunities that may come my way,” said Zoya. “The teachers at Allen have also guided me and helped prepare myself for college and life’s challenges.” Zoya also has some advice for future Eagles. “Try to make the most of your experience. Enjoy your time with your friends,” she said. “Talk to the people in your classes because chances are they want to talk to you too.”

Zoya is an active volunteer in the community, and member of the Ping Pong Club at AHS, and plans to attend Baylor University after high school.

Kathryn Cross - “Learning at Allen High School prepared me for the real world and its many challenges I will have to face. I learned how to interact with many different types of people and how to communicate with them in varying situations,” said Kathryn.

Kathryn is involved with choir and the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE). She plans to go to college in Oregon and eventually be an elementary school art teacher.

Landen Schertz - “My time at Allen High School has prepared me for many challenges that I might have to face out in the real world such as deadlines, efficient workloads, to ask for help when needed, and remembering to make new friends,” said Landen.

Landen is involved with FFA and plans to attend West Texas A&M University, earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education to one day teach Agricultural Science.

Xolani Chavers - “Being in the Law and Public Service pathway at Allen has allowed me to explore all of the different career paths under the law umbrella. I have even been able to go to the Collin County Courthouse and sit in a courtroom,” said Xolani. “The pathway helped me find what career I want to pursue.”

Xolani is the Senior Class Vice President, African Student Organization Vice President, and a student representative for the AISD Inclusion and Diversity committee. She plans to attend college, obtain a Doctorate in Psychology, and become a forensic psychologist. Xolani feels that opportunities to explore careers at Allen High School helped her choose her path.

Rishi Gandikota - “My time at AHS has prepared me to be an independent thinker,” said Rishi. “It has enabled me to always search for new opportunities and innovative solutions.”

Rishi is involved in Eagle Robotics, Chamber I Orchestra, and Science Honor Society. He plans to study physics in college and eventually obtain a research position.

Prem Kishnani - “Allen High School’s AP classes helped me prepare for the rigors of college classes,” said Prem. “Because of my effort in AP classes, I even have enough college credit to potentially graduate in three years.” Prem is a member of Band and Physics Club. He plans to attend college, study Data Science and graduate early.

Prem has some advice for future Allen Eagles. “If you stay organized, keep your eyes on the goal, and try your best, you will easily have a fun and rewarding high school journey.”

For more Future Ready Friday stories, visit AllenISD.org/Friday

ALLEN ISD EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS

EACH MONTH THROUGHOUT the school year, Allen ISD recognizes employees who exemplify one of the District’s three goals: Culture of Excellence, Future Ready Skills, and Empowered Learning. These are just a few of the recognitions from the 20222023 school year.

CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE

District Instructional Coaches are Building Capacity in Teachers

Facilities and Maintenance Staff Going Above and Beyond

Building capacity in teachers is the primary goal so that all students are able to engage in relevant, challenging and empowering learning experiences. The Instructional Coaches have high expectations for their personal growth as well as the growth of their teachers.

“The Allen ISD Instructional Coaches are a phenomenal group of educators,” said Elizabeth Schultz, Coordinator of English Language Arts, Secondary. “They individually and collectively work to build capacity in the teachers that they serve.”

Allen ISD recently honored members of the Facilities and Maintenance Department for their excellence! Steve Hanner is being recognized for his leadership and support during a department transition. Cameran Gaskins and Randy Toler were also recognized for going above and beyond their duties preparing buildings for the upcoming school year.

FUTURE READY SKILLS

Marion Elementary Kindergarten Team Preparing Students for Future

The Marion Elementary Kindergarten team certainly exemplifies the Allen ISD Strategic Vision as it applies to Future Ready Skills. Before the school year begins, these teachers plan an orientation event to help teachers know each incoming Kindergarten student.

Once the school year begins, every morning, Kindergarten students develop citizenship and friendship skills during daily community circles. Students also work on career and technology skills during play-based center time that incorporates various career fields.

Marion Elementary Kindergarten teachers are working hard to ensure all students succeed today and in the future.

Kerr Elementary 6th Grade Teachers Fostering Future Leaders

Laura Nguyen and Shari Waites are working together at Vaughan Elementary to empower learning in their first grade GATE classrooms. Their students are setting academic goals and meeting with their teachers to create action plans on how to reach their goals. They are also utilizing Depth and Complexity Icons to enrich the learning experiences for their students.

Laura and Shari are empowering their students by allowing them to choose how they deepen their thinking by choosing an icon to connect with and responding to questions through the lens of the icon...all this with first grade students!

Norton Elementary Special Education Team Empowering Students Through Individual Needs

The 6th grade team at Kerr Elementary is working hard to create leadership opportunities for every 6th grader on campus. They have created a leadership academy in addition to many different avenues throughout the campus for assuming a leadership role, including Kinder Buddies. Sixth graders participate each week with their Kinder Buddies on various activities to support learning in the classroom.

The 6th grade team at Kerr Elementary is doing a great job to ensure their students have the skills needed to be future leaders and successful citizens.

EMPOWERED LEARNING

Vaughan Elementary First Graders

Deepening their Thinking with the Help of Two GATE Teachers

The Special Education team at Norton Elementary exemplifies the qualities of empowered learning by personalizing their lessons to the individual needs of their students, supporting them as needed, and empowering them to achieve their goals.

They help students take ownership of their own learning and focus on instilling a growth mindset, giving students the confidence they need to succeed.

“They pour into our students daily, they help each other out when needed, and they do it all with a smile and a great attitude,” said Aimee Cherry, Principal at Norton ES. “We are so grateful for their hard work, dedication, and collective expertise.

To read more and watch Employee Recognition videos, visit AllenISD.org/EmployeeRecognition

ALLEN ISD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALLEN ISD THAN THEY EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE!

THE ALLEN ISD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY is designed to provide community participants a comprehensive overview of the school district by campus and district leadership. Academy members have the opportunity to visit and tour campuses, hear from school principals and district administrators, and engage in Q&A sessions during student panel discussions. The Academy will also work together to complete a capstone project to help better the Allen ISD community.

The Academy serves as comprehensive initial training for those interested in serving on district planning committees, campus improvement teams, or even the Board of Trustees.

The structure of Allen ISD Leadership Academy is a full day, once-a-month workshop for six months. If you’re interested in joining the Allen ISD Leadership Academy, visit AllenISD.org/LeadershipAcademy or scan the QR code below.

These are some photos of past Leadership Academy events.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME FOR STUDENTS to rest and recharge for the next school year, but it’s important for your mind and body to stay active. Try some of these activities with your family to keep yourself active.

Tips for families and students to do over the summer!

• Allen ISD Summer Activities - Allen ISD offers different summer activities, including Community Education camps and Athletics camps. Visit AllenISD.org for more information.

• Read! - Summer is a great time to connect with literature in different ways. This can be through story time, book clubs and different reading challenges. You can get the whole family involved in creating a summer reading plan.

• Hit the trail! - Getting outdoors is a great way to connect with nature, family, and friends. Allen has a variety of parks and trails to explore. Outdoor activities offer ways to physically get moving as well as allow children to explore their natural environment and problem-solve. This also is a great way to connect science with nature by inspecting trees, animals, and bugs in their natural habitat. You can find parks and trails in Allen at CityofAllen.org.

• Play! - Play is vital to developmental milestones in children, no matter what their age. Playing develops important social and problem solving skills that all children need, including teens.

• Play Outdoors! - Visiting parks and playgrounds is a great way to enhance physical exercise and dexterity, along with reaping the benefits of sunlight and Vitamin D.

• Play Indoors! - Break out the board games! Creating space for

family board games helps children learn to cooperate, problem solve, and develop social interactions which include being a good sport, win or lose!

• Plant a garden - An outdoor activity to do as a family is to plant a garden. Invite children to decide what they would like to grow, whether it be vegetables, herbs, or plants. You can purchase inexpensive planter boxes, build them on your own, or repurpose materials to create one. Get to your local nursery for seeds and help children go investigate what it takes to grow their selectionsunlight, water, soil, etc. They can chart the progress, take pictures of the progress, or simply enjoy being involved in watching it grow.

• Unplug - Set time each day for children to be unplugged from electronic devices (phones, computers, video games, TV, etc.). Since summertime is often unstructured, screen time can become elusive. When it’s time to unplug, be sure to help them choose what to do with their time - arts and crafts, outdoor play, board games, recreation, etc.

• Have a Picnic! - Summer is an especially good time to picnic outdoors. With extended daylight hours, evenings can be spent outside. Picnics do not have to be elaborate. You can picnic in your own backyard, a park, or neighborhood. Changing locations to eat outdoors provides time to get out of the house and see new scenery.

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Puzzles created by Emerson Menrath, 11th Grade