M A G A Z I N E
G A M E , S E T, C H A M P
NOVEMBER • 2023
Contents 1 Message from the Superintendent
2 Fort Bend ISD Engages Senior Citizens
3 Voters Approve
Tax Rate Election
4 Homegrown 5 ABC13’s Briana Conner 6 Noey Do 8 Vet Med 10 Mobile Planetarium 11 Iron Man Helmets 12 Small Business 13 Instructional Aides
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Front cover: Noey Do, Kempner HS, 11th Grade
2 10 11 Stay connected with us to get the latest district news and events. Visit fortbendisd.com and connect with us on social media.
The FBISD Magazine is produced by the Fort Bend ISD Communications Department. Use the QR code to provide feedback on this issue of the magazine and what you’d like to see in upcoming issues.
Message from the Superintendent
Dr. Christie Whitbeck
GRATEFUL During this season of joy, peace, giving and gratitude, I want our community to know how truly grateful I am that you chose to support our district’s hardworking teachers and staff by supporting the VATRE Prop A election. The November 7th election passed with 57% of the vote! We can now offer more competitive salaries to help retain and recruit high quality teachers and staff, and we can meet the state mandate to have armed security personnel at all our elementary campuses. We already have our Fort Bend ISD Police Department officers at our middle and high school campuses. Please read more about the passage of Prop A in the article featured in this edition of the magazine. Without a doubt, FBISD is one of the best public school systems in Texas and worthy of the wonderful community support it continues to receive. Our students continue to excel academically as demonstrated by the fact we have 82 National Merit® Scholarship Program semifinalists this year, more than any other school district in the entire region! FBISD athletics include some of the most highly regarded programs in Texas. Among them are the reigning state champs in track and boys’ tennis. (That’s Noey on the cover!) In Fine Arts, we have three middle schools and one elementary school headed to
prestigious national and state conferences. They are Fort Settlement Middle School Varsity Treble Choir, First Colony Middle School Select Treble Choir, Sartartia Middle School’s Honors Orchestra and the James Neill Elementary School Rockin’ Longhorns. These are just a few of the many great things our students are achieving thanks to the support of their teachers, parents and this great community. To further maximize student achievement, our Board of Trustees approved engage2learn to guide our district through strategic planning. We call it Vision 2030. On the back page of this magazine, you will see a web address where you can contribute your thoughts and stay informed about the future of FBISD. Now in my third year as the “Proud Supe” of Fort Bend ISD, I remain extremely honored and humbled to serve as the leader of this district, and I know even bigger and better things are just around the “Bend.”
Dr. Christie Whitbeck Fort Bend ISD Superintendent
FORT BEND ISD ENGAGES SENIOR CITIZENS,
BUILDS BRIDGES ACROSS GENERATIONS
In Fort Bend ISD, age is not a barrier. It’s a bridge to a more connected future. That is why the district has started “Go for the Gold”, a new active seniors initiative which aims to strengthen the bond with the FBISD senior citizen community by hosting events and offering them opportunities to stay active, connected, and contribute their valued time and talents to the district. Fort Bend ISD residents aged 62 and older are able to obtain a VIP pass, a Gold Card, to district athletic and fine arts events completely free of charge.
Special events for Active Seniors Coffee and Conversations was the first event of the year-long active senior initiative. Held at the James Reese Career and Technical Center, attendees 62+ enjoyed, breakfast student performances and some even walked away with great prizes. They heard updates on district happenings, information on how
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to become a volunteer and mentor, and details about job opportunities. Turnout was good, about 80 attended. Senior Night took place at six high school varsity football games. The active seniors were not just spectators but also honored as special guests.
More events on the horizon The district will host more events designed specifically for its senior citizens such as a game night and a sock hop to dance the night away. Also, they will continue to attend athletic events plus theatrical performances.
Fort Bend ISD offers its senior residents several ways to get engaged If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, community education classes or part-time work opportunities, visit fortbendisd.com/activeseniors.
Fort Bend ISD’s Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) Proposition A was approved by 57% of voters in the November 7, 2023 election. The approval enables the district to receive $35 million in new tax revenues and state funding to provide competitive salaries for teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians, bus drivers, custodians and all other benefits eligible staff members among FBISD’s 12,000-plus employees.
57% of FBISD Voters Approve Tax Rate Election,
PROP A
The funds will also be used to comply with the state mandate to have armed security at all FBISD elementary schools. The district’s middle and high schools already have district police officers on campuses. The district will contract with security firms to place armed personnel at elementary campuses. Fort Bend ISD’s starting teacher salary of $59,500 will now increase to $62,000. This will make the district more competitive with nearby Lamar CISD and Katy ISD. Further, a “step” pay scale will now reward years of service at key milestones. Teachers with 0-9 years of experience will receive $2,500; 10-14 years will receive $3,250; 15-19 years will receive $4,250; 20-24 years will receive $5,500; and those with 25 years of experience or more will receive $7,000. The payments are based on overall years of experience, whether in Fort Bend ISD or another district. Police officers will receive an average 9.6% raise to address the current difficulty in hiring qualified officers, the scarcity of available candidates, and the fierce competitive wage landscape. Classroom aides will get an average 8.8% bump. Bus drivers will receive an average 7.6% raise, auxiliary staff will receive 5.9%, and non-classroom paraprofessionals will receive an average 4.5% raise. All other benefitseligible staff will receive a 3% increase based on the midpoint of their salary range. The superintendent is not receiving a salary increase as part of the pay adjustments. Employees will receive raises retroactively on December 15, 2023, based on the start of their contract year. FBISD’s new voter-approved tax rate of just under 99-cents ($0.9892) per $100 of property valuation is the lowest in district history. It will generate $22 million annually in new tax funding plus $13 million provided by the state. With the record low tax rate and with voter approval of the state’s $100,000 homestead exemption, FBISD property owners’ taxes will now go down by $1,041 a year (based on an average home value of $378,000).
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Amber Whitley and Aunt Carol Rodriguez To Amber Whitley, Fort Bend ISD is family both literally and figuratively. Amber graduated from the Medical Academy at Hightower Highschool in 2014. She also attended Burton Elementary and was in the first class at the district’s new Gifted and Talented Academy at Quail Valley Middle School. She currently works as the receptionist at Ferguson Elementary and prior to that she worked at Malala Elementary. Amber’s mother Norma Perez currently works in FBISD’s Department of School Leadership and has worked for the district for 23 years. Amber said she chooses to work for the district because she loves the environment, which has always felt like her second home. “Growing up, there was never a time that I wasn’t at school, if it wasn’t programs or clubs that I participated in, then it was helping my mom out at work,” she said. “The staff at both campuses I have worked at welcomed me with open arms, and it feels like that everywhere in the district.” Amber’s mom isn’t her only family tie to FBISD. Her aunt Carolina “Carol” Rodriguez is the receptionist at the James Reese Career and Technical Center. The two are very close. Carol served as Amber’s matron of honor last year in her wedding. Carol, by the way, is a 2010 graduate of Willowridge High School.
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Amber with Aunt Carol at Amber’s wedding
ABC13’s
Briana Conner
Briana Conner joined ABC13’s news team in 2021, returning to her hometown as an award winning journalist and fulfilling a dream she had as a high school student nearly 20 years ago. Conner graduated from Hightower High School in 2006. She was a member of the Hi-Lites, the school’s dance team, and PALs (Peer Assistance and Leadership), a mentoring program where high school students work with elementary and middle school students. She was also voted class favorite as a freshman and “most likely to be a millionaire” during her senior year. Though she was a member of the engineering academy in high school, the experience helped Conner realize that it was not what she wanted to do with her life. “I started taking a serious interest in journalism my senior year, and that’s when my dreams of becoming a TV news anchor in Houston formed,” she said. Two teachers at Hightower – Dr. Douglas Street, who taught English and Ms. LaKeisha McGowan, director of the Hi-Lites – were truly inspiring to Conner. She credits Street with helping to develop her writing and communication skills, directly impacting her work as a journalist, and credits McGowan with growing her as a dancer and young woman. As a proud FBISD alum, Conner’s hope is that students take advantage of every opportunity they can in the district to pursue their passions and goals. A diligent student and a talented dancer, she credits her teachers for placing her on the path to the success she enjoys today. “The education and guidance I received on Hurricane Lane helped lead me to the anchor desk at ABC13,” she said. “The mistakes I made were only opportunities God gave me to learn from. Everything happens for a reason!”
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State champion tennis player excels on and off the court
“ Noey is well supported by his teammates. Many of the seniors see him as a younger brother . The team realizes that what he is doing is historic and they appreciate all that he has accomplished.” Anne Southard Kempner Tennis Coach
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Kempner High School junior Noey Do made school history his freshmen year as the first Kempner player to win a Class 5A boys’ singles tennis state championship. As a sophomore, he earned his second consecutive state championship. But tennis is not the only area in which Do excels. He is enrolled in Advanced Placement courses, does volunteeer work and still manages to spend time with family and friends. Family is an important part of Do’s life. He credits his dad with molding him into the individual he is today. His father motivated him to begin playing tennis when he was eight years old, and it quickly became a passion.
“The biggest inspiration in my life is my dad,” he said. “He ignites within me the strength to transcend my own limitations.”
“Nothing is better than having friends and a community that is willing to celebrate my goals and achievements,” Do said.
Kempner Tennis Coach Anne Southard said Do is determined to continue playing the very best he can. He works extremely hard and is a team favorite.
After high school, he wants to play tennis at the collegiate level and study economics and finance.
“Noey is well supported by his teammates,” Southard said. “Many of the seniors see him as a younger brother. The team realizes that what he is doing is historic and they appreciate all that he has accomplished.”
Do will vie for his third state title this year. Follow his journey on the district’s social media channels this spring.
And the feeling is mutual.
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VET MED
and more
New this year! Veterinary medical training added to district’s diverse offerings of career-focused courses
Students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary science can now enroll in Veterinary Medical Applications, an advanced course in the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Animal Science Program. A hands-on lab allows students who complete the course to earn the industry-recognized Licensed Veterinary Technician certification. Kempner High School senior Jezebel Vargas, shown at left, enrolled in the class. “I was very excited to learn the district offered this course my senior year,” Vargas said. “This certification will help me accomplish my goal of becoming a veterinarian.” Whether students decide to further their education after high school or choose to enter the workforce, the certification makes them marketable for college acceptance or starting their career. Lessons taught in the hands-on lab simulate real world experiences and prepare students for a variety of jobs. Students learn how to administer CPR to animals, prepare medications, assist healthcare practitioners during
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exams and treatments, administer basic healthcare and maintain medical equipment. “I believe the hands-on activities enforce our learning and better prepare us for real life practice,” Ridge Point High School senior Carma Monroe said. “I’m so glad this program was offered to me as a supplement to what I’ll be learning in college. I feel way less overwhelmed now.” Austin High School senior America Hernandez said, “When we do hands-on activities with tools or with the dummy dog ’Jerry,’ I visualize what I will probably do later on, like save a dog’s life.” The course is offered at FBISD’s Reese Career and Technical Center, which is open to juniors and seniors throughout the district.
Secondary Courses for High School Credit 9th Grade
10th Grade 11th Grade
rinciples of Agriculture, P Food, and Natural Resources Small Animal Management (Fall)
Equine Science (Spring) Livestock Production/Lab (Advanced CTE Course)
Advanced Animal Science (Advanced CTE Course)
12th Grade
or Veterinary Medical Applications + Lab (Advanced CTE Course)
Something for everyone Fort Bend ISD provides innovative programs to address every student’s unique needs and interests. High school students can earn college credit and industry-recognized certifications and licenses through a number of programs. Students can earn up to two years (60 hours) of tuition-free college credits or an associate degree through the Early College High School or Pathways in Technology programs while simultaneously earning their high school diploma. Those interested in digital media, engineering, global studies, international business and marketing, math and science, and medical science can attend one of six high school academies that provide career-focused courses, and a middle school academy that serves gifted and talented students. High school students can also earn certifications and licenses through the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offered at every campus. Juniors and seniors from across the district receive real world experience when they attend the district’s state-of-the art CTE Center which houses student-run businesses that are open to the public. Students begin exploring careers through the district’s 14 CTE program pathways in middle school then continue through high school. These pathways include: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Arts, A/V Technology and Communications; Business, Marketing and Finance; Education and Training; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Human Services; Information Technology; JROTC; Law and Public Services; Manufacturing; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.
Our youngest learners A full day prekindergarten program is available on 39 elementary campuses, and two early literacy centers equip the district’s youngest learners with grade-level reading skills by the end of first grade. Additional specialty programs available to all students include gifted and talented, special education and multilingual education.
Award winning fine arts More than 77% of Fort Bend ISD students are enrolled in fine arts courses. The district’s exemplary program continues to earn prestigious awards. Four music ensembles received special invitations to perform at prestigious state and national music education conferences next spring. Nine Fort Bend ISD music programs were named recipients of 2023 Mark of Excellence honors, given by The Foundation for Music Education to outstanding middle and high school bands, choirs and orchestras across the nation.
Fort Bend ISD earned a Texas Educational Theatre Association “Awards of DistinctionOutstanding Level” for its commitment to theatrical excellence and dedication to the educational growth of its students.
Expanding aquatics program Last year, the district broadened its aquatics program with the addition of water polo. During May 2023, voters approved a bond program that includes the construction of a third swim center that will support the growing demand for aquatics in the district and community by providing swim lessons, competitive swim and diving events, and more. This summer, FBISD’s Athletics and Extended Learning departments piloted a program that provided learn-to-swim lessons to students in grades K-5. Students will begin selecting courses for 2023-24 early next year. For more information about FBISD’s selection of programs, visit fortbendisd.com.
Meet Jerry!
Veterinary Medicine’s CPR training “manikin” FBISD MAGAZINE
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MOBILE PLANETARIUM Students at Bhuchar, Blue RidgeBriargate, Dulles, Ferguson and Patterson elementary schools enjoyed a special treat at their campuses this semester, a mobile planetarium! In partnership with FBISD’s Collaborative Communities and Sewa International, the portable planetarium dome allowed a total of about 3,000 students to take a galactic tour of our solar system. In lessons tailored to grade levels, students learned about planets, stars and constellations - witnessing the night sky in brand new ways.
Lakeview and Barrington Place elementary collected 435 pairs of socks during “Socktober.” Teacher Toni Kelleher coordinated the drive and the socks were donated to Fort Bend ISD’s Shared Dreams program that provides students and families in need with essential necessities including clothing, shoes, toiletries, food, and school supplies.
Austin High School students Viraj Sheel and Arnav Gopinath were recognized by Fort Bend Family Promise, a non-profit organization that supports local families in need, for creating a mobile version of the organization’s board game “A Home of My Own.” The game gives individuals a look into the challenges families may face when homeless. For their effort, the students earned the organization’s Programming Award.
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IRON MAN
HELMETS
Austin High School engineering students collaborated with YouTube sensation @FranklyBuilt using 3-D printers to replicate functioning iconic Iron Man helmets as seen in MARVEL movies. AHS engineering teacher Daniel Anderson learned about the project from a video on @FranklyBuilt’s YouTube channel. After engaging with him on his channel, @FranklyBuilt took an interest in working with Anderson and his students on the project and traveled from North Carolina to Sugar Land to lend his expertise. @FranklyBuilt, is known for his impressive engineering skills and has a massive following of more than one million subscribers. At the completion of the project, @FranklyBuilt arranged a generous donation of 15 state-of-the-art 3D printers by Elegoo to the district’s Career and Technical Education Engineering Program. The donation significantly enhances the resources available to students enabling them to have hands-on learning experiences. The Iron Man mask project challenged students to apply their knowledge of engineering principles, 3D printing technology and creativity. Students gained valuable insights into the design, prototyping and assembly processes involved in such a complex project. More information about the district’s engineering program can be found at fortbendisd.com/cte.
Watch the @Frankly Built video on YouTube.
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small
Business Program Creates Network of Support
Fort Bend ISD’s Small Business Enterprise Program has become a model in the greater Houston area for building and nurturing relationships with business owners and community partners.
operations. Wingard said she and Hightower ATS teacher Judy Phillips now attend SBEP events, meeting with small business owners to open more doors for ATS students.
The program known as SBEP, ensures that at least 25% of the contracts for district construction projects are awarded to local small businesses. SBEP was established after voters approved the district’s 2014 Bond.
The FBISD Board of Trustees established that 25% of district contracts be awarded to small enterprises, but Boleware said the rate is presently at 28% for construction projects and 35% for architectural and engineering projects, far exceeding the goals set forth in 2014 by the FBISD Board and by Boleware herself.
The program is led by Jeanette Boleware, a champion of small businesses and a proponent of FBISD students. Boleware has lived in the district for more than two decades. While her children are now grown, she’s always had a passion for supporting youth, and served as a substitute teacher in several FBISD schools before applying to serve as the coordinator for the SBEP in 2016. Early in life, she was very involved in the faith-based community and worked with her father, meeting important local leaders like the late Congressman Mickey Leland and the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. Later, she worked for the City of Houston, City Council and the Mayor’s Office, building relationships as a community liaison. “I just love working in the community,” Boleware said. “I’m a people person. My personality is to be a servant leader and to think, ‘what can I do to serve our students?’” The SBEP primarily serves small businesses by educating owners about the district’s procurement process through vendor workshops, focus groups, one-on-one meetings and partnerships with local advocacy organizations. They learn the supplier registration process and how to obtain their small business certification. “When people hear about working with the district, they think that’s on the academic side, but it’s also on the community side and the construction side when you’re building schools, because that environment has to 12
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be perfect for our students to succeed,” Boleware said. Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Houston Tim Jeffcoat met with Boleware during the early days of the SBEP to support her goals. He manages SBA programs in more than 30 counties. “We were impressed that Jeanette was willing to consult with us, and grateful that she seriously considered our input,” Jeffcoat said. “Fort Bend ISD makes a point of purchasing locally from small businesses, which has an immeasurably profitable impact on local hiring and commercial investments.”
Adult Transition Service One beneficiary of the SBEP has been FBISD’s Adult Transition Services (ATS) team, which is part of the Department of Special Education. ATS serves students who are approximately 18 years old and making plans for life beyound high school. Boleware’s support of the program is personal. One of her children, her late son, lived with special needs. She hopes that by supporting ATS students, she can help them and their families realize dreams of success and independence. Dulles High School ATS Teacher Debra Wingard has worked in FBISD for decades and began partnering with Boleware in 2019. “She has a passion for our children, especially our children who have special needs,” Wingard said. The collaboration with Boleware and the SBEP has resulted in a huge advantage for her students because of the nature of small businesses and the flexibility of their
She said she is proud of the fact that business owners regularly express gratitude for the lessons learned about district processes, and there have even been cases where some of them provided support to students who sought to open their own businesses. FBISD’s SBEP has been recognized numerous times with dozens of industry awards and honors in the last 10 years. There are now approximately 15,000 businesses in the district’s database for potential project bidders compared to just a handful when SBEP started. The program has become the model for other school districts across the state, with Boleware helping Austin ISD and San Antonio ISD establish their programs following a recommendation from the SBA. “We’re excited about what we’re doing,” Boleware said, “and my passion is serving the community, serving the district and serving our children. I don’t look at challenges. I don’t look at obstacles. I don’t look at hurdles. I look at the big picture, and that’s our students. We must lead by example. I’ve instilled that in my children and my grandchildren as well.”
Instructional Aides
make a difference Erika Salinas lights up as she describes the pride she feels for her school in her role as a bilingual aide at Ridgemont Elementary. She has spent eight years as an instructional aide in Fort Bend ISD, supporting classroom instruction and working directly with kindergarten and first graders at Ridgemont’s Early Literacy Center. “I describe my job as supporting kids who need to grow in their reading levels,” Salinas said. “We do different activities depending on what they need.” For some of FBISD’s instructional paraprofessionals, the position is a pathway to teaching certification. Martin Ha, a former instructional aide at Ridgemont Elementary, is now serving as an instructional apprentice in FBISD and teaching first grade while he pursues certification. “I had this wonderful group of children and I really connected with them and they truly, the class itself – the whole
fourth grade class – were the ones that made me want to become a teacher,” he said. “It was the kids. It was because I saw the impact of what we could do, and I truly wanted to continue that.” Fort Bend ISD employs more than 1,000 instructional aides, also known as instructional paraprofessionals or “paras” who support both teachers and students. Fort Bend ISD is actively hiring instructional aides, who work during the academic year and are eligible for benefits and paid time off. To be considered, candidates must have at least 48 hours of college credits or successful completion of a paraprofessional assessment. Positions are available at both the elementary and secondary levels, though the greatest need is for special education aides who work with students in specialized programs, as well as provide in-class and resource support.
To learn more and apply, visit:
fortbendisd.com/aides Interested in Becoming a Classroom Teacher:
fortbendisd.com/ instructionalapprentice
We want you here – or at least your ad! The FBISD Magazine is accepting ads from area organizations and businesses. The magazine is distributed to nearly 150,000 households, which means that your organization or business can be seen by a wide cross section of area residents.
Contact advertising@fortbendisd.com for rates and more information.
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Fort Bend ISD 16431 Lexington Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77479
The district is actively engaging current Fort Bend ISD stakeholders to design, create and implement the community-inspired 6 year strategic plan, centered on a vision for learning and anchored on the highest hopes for FBISD students. The district is calling this overall effort “Vision 2030.” There will be four phases in the strategic design process that will lead to the development of Vision 2030: Phase 1: Engage
Phase 3: Create
Phase 2: Design
Phase 4: Lead
Fort Bend ISD staff will develop detailed actions that will serve as integral components in the plans defined across organizational divisions and departments. The district is also committed to keeping stakeholders informed about the progress toward implementing Vision 2030.
Learn more at
fortbendisd.com/ vision2030