MEET & GREET

My Jarrell Monthly's New Community Liaison

Along-time Jarrellinian, school district volunteer, substitute teacher, city assistant, development partner, consultant, good neighbor, and now community liaison for My Jarrell Monthly, Janet Hage is on a mission to unite the whole 76537 community. “I don’t look at Jarrell as, here’s old Jarrell and Sonterra. I want to look at it as a community of everyone coming together, no matter which side of the highway they’re on,” she says. Having lived here and befriended newcomers, many who helped build Jarrell for nearly 30 years, Janet is excited to use those connections to help My Jarrell Monthly spotlight the people, places, and activities that make living in this community great.

Janet’s daughter, Abby, says those relationships evolved because “[Mom is] genuine with people and makes you feel like you’re the most important person in

the room—like you matter. Everyone should have the chance to feel like they are

truly important, and that’s exactly what she does. Serving the community of this once-tiny town is just a small percentage of all the people’s lives she’s touched.”

Jarrell was indeed a tiny town when Janet and her family moved here in 1994. All the kids in town went to the same school, and Janet remembers being able to walk for an hour down FM 487 with her children and never see a car. She fell in love with the tight-knit community, which reached out to her when she didn’t know anyone and led to her volunteer and professional involvement. She sees her new role as My Jarrell Monthly's community liaison as a way of giving back to that community. “Whether it’s for the My Jarrell magazine, the school district, or the mother next door who just moved in and doesn’t know anyone, I want every person when they come here, to feel like they’ve come home,” she says.

Nurse Practitioner

Jarrell Medical Clinic’s Newest Bilingual Team MemberLeslie Casachahua is a bilingual, Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Jarrell Medical Clinic. She was born in Lima, Peru, moved to the U.S. in 2010, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Southern Maine in 2015. She received her

Master of Science in Nursing from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts, and earlier this year, was certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

With extensive nursing experience in family medicine, cardiology, women’s health, and pediatrics, she will be a great asset to Jarrell Medical Clinic. As excited as she was to be Dr. Peña's student, she is equally happy to be his Nurse Practitioner and says she is honored to follow Dr. Peña's steps serving the amazing community of Jarrell and surrounding areas.

Leslie’s goal is to be an essential team member in an environment where she can provide quality care, dignity, concern, kindness, and respect for the diversity of our community.

When she is not working you can find her spending quality time with family and friends. She enjoys biking, hiking, and camping with her husband.

Make an appointment with her today by calling 512.588.1501 www.jarrellmedicalclinic.com

We've all heard of successful people who didn't graduate college. The Class of 2021 is the story of successful graduates, some of whom never actually went to school—okay, they didn't go to the school *building*.

These 117 Jarrell High School graduates are the first to graduate having spent a full school year under pandemic conditions and the community could not be more proud of them for their tenacity, perseverance, and characteristic joy as they walked across the field.

JHS Graduation

But no matter what might be going on in the world, some things never change. Students grinned broadly, waved, and showed off mortarboard messages, leis, and cultural flair from start to finish. Congratulations, Graduates!

Note: Citing privacy and safety concerns, Jarrell ISD asked that My Jarrell Monthly not include students' names and not publish the "yearbook" style format featuring all the graduates as was done in previous years. My Jarrell Monthly was pleased to attend the graduation ceremony and still have the opportunity to share the accomplishments of the JHS Class of 2021 with the community.

MAY 27, 2021

EDUCATION FOUNDATION INNOVATION CELEBRATION

End-of-year means many things to many people and, thanks to Jarrell Education Foundation classroom grants, for 18 teachers and instructors, it means greater resources in the next school year. On May 28, the Foundation awarded nearly $20,000 for 12 projects across the District for innovation in learning, arts, fluency, and sensory needs. Once these programs are set in motion, they will serve and benefit 90 staff members and 2,900 students.

The Jarrell Education Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2019 to enhance student learning through innovative opportunities that promote academic excellence. The board of directors represents many dedicated parents and partners in Jarrell who share a vision for excellence in our schools. The board is deeply committed to partnering with parents, teachers and the community to support and enhance the education of all students in the Jarrell Independent School District.

Foundation Board Chair Tammi Cooper explains, “The mission of the Jarrell Education Foundation is to enhance student learning through innovative opportunities that promote academic excellence.”

Bridget Jarrett, who received $3,000 to sponsor An Amazing Day with author Chris Barton said, “I can’t wait to bring an author—in person—after a year of Covid regulations. As a kid, my school had authors visit yearly and it was always such a memorable experience. I want to provide those same types of memories for our students. I want them to realize that authors were kids like them once who grew up to love stories and want to share them with others.”

Mahaley Walker won a $2,500 grant for new picnic tables for outdoor learning. She says, “Everything we do is for our kids and having this grant will help us give them a comfortable, relaxing place to learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally. It will be great to have an alternate location for learning that includes fresh air and sunshine.”

2021 Grant awardees

Pathways to Success - $3,000, Kadie Tibbetts and Jocelyn

Zajicek, Igo Elementary • This unique project will provide students at Igo Elementary with appropriate outlets to self-regulate their emotions and sensory needs. An Amazing Day with Author Chris Barton - $3,000,

Bridget Jarrett and Jennifer Nachtwey, Igo Elementary and Jarrell Elementary • This grant will pay to bring the award-winning author to Jarrell ISD for assemblies with 2nd , 3rd , 4th and 5th grade classes. Efficiency Apartment for FAC Students – $2,541.00,

Mary Ellen Burton and Yanelis Mora, Jarrell High School • This grant will help create a furnished apartment-like environment for students to learn independent living skills. New Picnic Area – $2,500, Mahaley Walker, Jarrell Elementary • This project will add additional outdoor seating in the Jarrell Elementary garden area, allowing for more outdoor activities including classes, lunches and community building time. Dyslexia Fluency Program – $459.40, Dina Mellor, Jarrell

Middle School • This program addresses online curriculum with reading fluency strategies specific for students with dyslexia. Sensory Smart Space to Learn – $589.64, Carrie Klepac,

Occupational Therapist, Igo Elementary and Jarrell Elementary • This project provides fun and educational outlets for self-regulation and skill-development in a special education setting. Music Notation Software – $1050.00, Ashton Jung

and Stephen Grant, Jarrell Middle School • These funds will provide software that will allow music instructors to create improved lesson illustrations, exercises, and rehearsal aides. Don’t Think Inside the Box - $1,899.99, Wes McCar-

ley, Jarrell High School • This grant will provide additional support for gun safety instruction as part of the Jarrell ISD wildlife, fisheries and ecology management courses. Flexible Seating – $350.00, Karen Massar, Jarrell Middle

School • This grant will provide flexible seating and create unique reading spaces in classroom settings.

Choir Microphones – $800.00, Ashton Jung, Jarrell Middle School • This project will fund condenser microphones for choir performances, enhancing the experience for choir students and audience members.

Pre-K Class Traveling Reading Buddy and Its

Journey to Literacy – $ 929.00, Aubrey Custodio,

Jarrell Elementary • This grant will fund a project that promotes literacy and fluency at home to raise ready readers.

Creating Leaders – A Cut Above the Rest

$2,374.01, Kaila Coolidge, Carissa Adkins, and Angela Dismukes, Jarrell High School • This grant will fund Cricuts and supplies for students in the Family and Consumer Science classes.

Shaping Minds, Stewarding the Future

Jarrell ISD Names Teachers of the Year

Being named Teacher of the Year may not be why most choose the profession, but the distinction is a clear validation of years of personal sacrifice and hard work in the classroom by those who receive it. It is also the highest honor the State of Texas bestows upon teachers. It recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching—going above and beyond regular duties to truly make an impact on a school, district, or community.

Each spring, Jarrell ISD campus staff vote on campus-level Teachers of the Year. A committee of community volunteers then reviews the finalists. Nominees are typically experts in their fields who guide students to achieve excellence; collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success; deliberately connect the classroom and key stakeholders to foster a strong community at large; demonstrate leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embody lifelong learning; express themselves in an engaging and articulate way. This year’s recipients, announced by Jarrell ISD Superintendent Dr. Toni Hicks are:

TARA GRANBERRY

SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Tara Granberry has taught at Jarrell High School since February of 2020. She also taught and led the theatre program in Greenwood ISD.

Dr. Hick’s said, “Ms. Granberry has already made a mark at Jarrell High School with her positive attitude and cheerful demeanor. Her first turn at directing the UIL One-ActPlay, And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson, made Jarrell ISD history and advanced to Regionals. One of the reasons she’s so special is that she goes out of her way to support students involved in other activities, as well as her JHS colleagues. She’s phenomenal.”

MICHELLE WEST

ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Michelle West has taught in Jarrell ISD since 2006. Before coming to Jarrell ISD, she supported her family’s business and taught at the Episcopal School in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Dr. Hicks said, “Ms. West is one of those special, dearly loved elementary teachers no one ever forgets. She’s sweet and treats everyone, students and staff alike, with the utmost respect. She radiates joy and impacts everyone in her orbit. At Jarrell Elementary, she’s known as a servant leader and is willing to take on any challenge with her characteristic grace and humor.”

As district winners, Michelle and Tara may also submit applications for the regional recognition program, with the opportunity to advance to State and receive even greater accolades from the Texas Association of School Administrators. Best of luck, Ladies!