Sig 4 55-67 CF July 13_Layout 1 6/24/13 2:46 PM Page 66
B U S I N E S S
B R I E F S
‹Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
Matthew Wells
Irene Ruiz
‹Matthew Wells Cypress Lakes High School science department chair and teacher Matthew Wells has been named vice president of the Science Teachers Association of Texas for the 2013-14 school year. Wells will commence his duties on Aug. 1, serving as a driving force behind an organization advocating the advancement of science teaching and learning. Wells has served as the science department chair at Cypress Lakes since 2008. Prior to that, he was a science teacher at Cypress Lakes from 2003-08 and at Lee High School in Houston ISD from 2001-02. He has served as the president of the Texas Association of Biology Teachers and been an active member of STAT for six years. He has also been active in representing Texas teachers to the State Board of Education, providing public testimony regarding the need for a comprehensive K-12 science curriculum adoption. In 2012, Wells won the TMA Ernest and Sarah Butler Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in the high school category. As a result, Wells was inducted into the 2012 CFISD Wall of Fame class for his statewide services to education.
‹Irene Ruiz Irene Ruiz, an assistant principal at Moore Elementary School, was named the new principal for M. Robinson Elementary School. Ruiz replaces Kathy Dickson, who retired on June 25 following 40 years in education and 32 years in CFISD. Ruiz served as an elementary bilingual teacher in Northside ISD and as a kindergarten and second-grade teacher in Arlington ISD. She also served as an assistant principal at Wimbish Elementary School in Arlington ISD. Ruiz joined CFISD in 2010 as an assistant principal at Moore, serving three years in that position. Ruiz graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. She received her Master of Education in Leadership and Policy Studies with Principal Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington.
66
CY-FAIR LIFESTYLES & HOMES / JULY 2013
Since adding a second da Vinci® Surgical System, Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is now the only hospital campus in Northwest Houston with two robotic surgery platforms. This advanced medical technology is used to treat heart disease, uterine tumors and fibroids, prostate and other cancers, as well as obesity and many common conditions prevalent in today’s society. “We were the first hospital in our area to offer robotic surgery and are now able to provide even more readily available, convenient access by offering a second robotic surgical system,” said Beryl Ramsey, chief executive officer at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital and senior vice president of The Methodist Hospital System. “Since we have a number of doctors who are trained and proficient in a wide range of robotic surgeries, our goal is shorten the wait time for physicians and their patients who are candidates for this type of surgery.” The da Vinci Surgical System provides patients with a less invasive surgical option that can improve surgical outcomes and overall standard of care, as well as reduce recovery time. This advanced medical technology gives surgeons a magnified, threedimensional view of delicate organs and tissue that allows precise maneuvering in the operating field. Fine instruments controlled by physicians from the state-of-theart robotic platform provide pinpoint accuracy and create much smaller incisions and less obtrusive presence for some of the most complex and delicate procedures. Visit methodistwillowbrook.com to watch an informative video about robotic prostatectomy.
CFISD principals celebrate their graduation from the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program.
CFISD’s REEP graduates are Michelle Rice, Copeland Elementary School principal; Crystal Romero-Mueller, Fiest Elementary School principal; Dr. Karen Stockton, Lieder Elementary School principal; Pam Redd, Dr. Carrie Marz, Willbern Elementary School principal; Susan Brenz, Yeager Elementary School principal; and Sarah Harty, Cypress Lakes High School principal. Classmates selected Romero-Mueller to speak during the graduation ceremony.
‹Cy-Fair ISD Seven CFISD principals graduated from the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP), a one-year business training program from the top-25 nationally ranked Jones Graduate School of Business. The 13-month program, which was part of the Houston Endowment Foundation, targeted highly motivated educators committed to leading public schools by applying business theories to the public school setting. According to the REEP website, graduates who complete the business fellowship program are ready to run K-12 schools as effective CEOs.
(L-R) Cy-Fair HS head basketball coach Barry Townley, scholarship recipient Miriam Miles, and Chris and Mary Brandon, longtime family friends of David Boatright.
‹Cy-Fair Educational Foundation The legacy of the late Cypress Falls High School custodian David “Boat” Boatright will live on in the form of the David Boatright Memorial Scholarship. To perpetually fund the scholarship through the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation, a David Boatright Memorial Scholarship Auction was held in June.