La Porte ISD Insider Magazine

IN

SIDER LA PORTE ISD Summer 2022

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF LA PORTE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

PK-12 STEM What we are planning for 2022-2023?

Page 9 La Porte Elementary School fifth-grade students collaborate on their Mars Rover project, which was built from recycled materials. Several such local projects received honors from the University of Houston. Pictured (L-R) are Samir Nthusi, Brayley Sparks, Marissa Vasquez and Carter Allee.

Diploma or College Degree?

Earn both at no cost in La Porte ISD Page 6

Best Music Education

Find outstanding commitment to music education in LPISD Page 8

The credit union for

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES Trusted by School Employees Since 1948

CONTENTS LEADERSHIP

Dr. Walter G. Jackson Superintendent of Schools

Board of Trustees

David Janda, President Dee Anne Thomson, Vice President Russell Schoppe, Secretary Melissa Crutcher, Trustee Danny Hanks, Trustee Jeff Martin, Trustee Chris Murdock, Trustee 1002 San Jacinto La Porte, Texas 77571 281-604-7000

lpisd.org

La Porte ISD Insider is a community magazine published by the La Porte ISD Communications Department to inform community members about La Porte Independent School District and its campuses.

Adam J. Holland Director of Communications & Community Relations Kimberly Culver Communications Coordinator Becky Debbrecht Technician Diana Solis Secretary to Director of Communications & Community Relations Luisa Rodriguez Clerk/Receptionist Communications

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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ATHLETICS

CAMPUS TEACHERS & ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

PRINCIPALS OF THE YEAR

MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

PRE-K-12 STEM PROGRAM

PLANETARIUM

ASSOCIATE DEGREES FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADS

NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS

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NEW ADMINISTRATORS

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10 12 AWARD-WINNING BUSINESS OFFICE

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We would like to acknowledge and publicly offer our thanks to everyone who assisted in the production of our inaugural issue of the La Porte ISD Insider. In addition to the La Porte ISD team, we were also assisted by Kathy Clausen, retired Goose Creek CISD Director of Communications; Terri Cook, retired La Porte ISD Director of Communications; and Stephanie De Los Santos, Director of Marketing & Client Engagement at the Harris County Department of Education.

The La Porte Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Title IX Coordinator is the executive director of human resources, 1002 San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas 77571, Telephone (281) 604-7113. The Section 504 Coordinator is the executive director of special programs, 1002 San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas 77571, Telephone (281) 604-7034.

La Porte ISD Insider • 1

Leadership

Greetings from the Superintendent

S

ummer greetings, La Porte ISD stakeholders. Today is a great day to be a Bulldog!

Choose La Porte! is our district’s theme for the 2022-2023 school year, and the reasons are plentiful.

First, we know that parents can choose where their children receive an education, and we believe La Porte is the best choice. Our district offers innovative programs such as group piano classes in our piano laboratory and a comprehensive Pre-K-12 STEM program. In addition, every La Porte high school student takes the SAT and has the opportunity to attend the Accelerated College Education (ACE) Program at San Jacinto College. We are committed to delivering instructional programming taught by brilliant and caring teachers in an engaging classroom environment.

Dr. Walter Jackson Superintendent of Schools

Our hope is that you will choose: • Our summer camps and activities for their innovative programming, which provides students with opportunities to explore their interests.

• Our STEM programs because we are working to provide students with the critical thinking skills necessary to develop into talented scholars who use problem-solving to make our world better.

Our athletics programs. Our students compete at the UIL 5A Athletic Competition level where winning and teamwork are part of the La Porte tradition.

• Our visual and performing arts programs because they are the finest in the state. Recently our district was named a “Best Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants.

We hope that you will choose La Porte for the world-class education we provide in a school district where every student’s success is our number one priority. We hope that you will choose to work with and partner with us. We are building something bigger than all of us – we are preparing our students for the future! We offer an education that is personalized and focused on the whole child. La Porte is an open enrollment district, and we welcome non-residents to apply to attend our outstanding schools.

Secondly, we are an innovative district, always seeking ways to provide our students with cutting-edge technology, while preparing them to solve the complex challenges of today and the future. Students in La Porte ISD are prepared for success after high school. Our graduates attend college, earn industry-based certifications, or enter the workforce ready to compete in a global marketplace.

We value your contributions to our community and want to partner with you as we strive to make La Porte ISD the shining star in the Greater Houston area. Together, our students will lead our city, state and nation to greatness both present and future.

In your service, Walter Jackson, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools 2 • La Porte ISD Insider

David Janda President, Pos. 5

Dee Anne Thomson Vice President, Pos. 7

TEAM OF EIGHT: BETTER TOGETHER Russell Schoppe Secretary, Pos. 1

Education, business and law enforcement are all represented on La Porte ISD’s Board of Trustees. Our Board members are also mothers, fathers and even grandparents who work to help ensure that La Porte ISD continues to offer the best educational opportunities for our students.

Melissa Crutcher Trustee, Pos. 6

What does a school board do?

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Adopts goals and priorities and monitor success

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Adopts policies and review for effectiveness

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Hire and evaluate the superintendent

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Adopts a budget and set a tax rate

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Communicate with the community

What is a Team of Eight?

Danny Hanks Trustee, Pos. 2

Source: TASB

You might have read the term or heard it mentioned. Team of Eight simply describes a team of seven elected school board members and the superintendent of schools, who work very closely together.

Did you know?

Jeff Martin Trustee, Pos. 4

School Board members in Texas are not paid for their service to the school district and community. All Board meetings and hours upon hours of training are strictly voluntary.

Every student ‘s success is our number one priority!

Chris Murdock Trustee, Pos. 3

La Porte ISD Insider • 3

Athletics

2022 Varsity Football Schedule Aug. 26 Deer Park Sept. 2

Alief Elsik

Sept. 9

Goose Creek Memorial (Homecoming)

Sept. 16 Baytown Lee Sept. 23 Barbers Hill Sept. 29 Kingwood Park Oct. 7

Port Arthur Memorial

La Porte High School welcomes new head football coach Kevin Berneathy became La Porte High School’s head football coach in February, and hit the ground running to prepare the Bulldogs for the 2022 season. We caught up with him on the practice field recently and asked him a few questions.

Tell us a little about you. Where are you from, and how did you land in La Porte? Your background?

I grew up in Galveston, Texas, and graduated from Ball High School in 2002. I played football and gained my bachelor’s degree from Southern Arkansas University in 2006. I have had coaching stops at the following places, and I’m really happy to be back in La Porte.

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Offensive Line Coach (La Porte HS)

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Defensive Line Coach (Dickinson HS)

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Offensive Coordinator (La Marque HS)

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Offensive Coordinator (Angleton HS)

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Head Football Coach (Dobie HS)

Oct. 14

New Caney Porter

Oct. 21

Baytown Sterling

Oct. 28

Crosby

*Orange - Home

What is your football philosophy, and how will it affect our student-athletes?

Little things take care of big things. When you take care of the small tasks, the big tasks take care of themselves.

It lets our athletes understand that no job is too little. Take pride in all jobs.

What is your ultimate goal as head coach of the La Porte Bulldogs, and how do you plan on accomplishing that goal?

Produce a football program that our community can be proud of at all times.

Who is your football mentor ... or someone that you pattern yourself after?

My father; he coached for many years. I am a product of every coach in my past who has poured any knowledge in me.

Bulldog Nation is the home of the CHAMPIONS! 4 • La Porte ISD Insider

2021-2022 ATHLETIC SUCCESSES

Bulldogs water polo teams swim to inaugural UIL-sanctioned season Water polo is nothing new at La Porte High School, but when the Bulldog boys and girls cap-up this August, they will hit the WATER POLO SEASON STATS pool as members of official water polo teams. About 150 Texas Girls Club Sport schools, including La Porte, have played water polo for years as a 3 named to All-District Team club sport. The University Interscholastic League, which governs Boys Club Sport academic, athletics and music competitions in Texas public 3 named to All-District Team schools, approved it as an official sport beginning with the 20222023 school year. Water polo districts have yet to be determined, but La Porte will compete locally. The UIL start dates, which are still listed as tentative, have the season beginning in early August, with the state playoffs happening in October. Being an official sport not only means water polo will have its own interschool play and state playoffs, but it also equates to the possibility of college scholarships for exceptional student-athletes. Currently, there are 42 collegiate water polo programs in the U.S., including Austin College, which competes in NCAAA Division III. Baylor and Texas State offer water polo as a club sport.

Congrats!

CROSS COUNTRY (GIRLS) Regional Qualifying Team, State Qualifying Team (BOYS) District 22-5A Champions, UIL Region III Champions, State Qualifying Team GOLF Regional qualifying team; Individual state medalist STRENGTH & CONDITIONING NHSSCA National Program of Excellence SWIMMING (GIRLS) 8 individual regional qualifiers and 2 relay region qualifiers; 8 All-District Team; 1 AllRegion Team (BOYS) District Runner-Up; 7 individual region qualifiers; 3 relay region qualifiers; 8 All-District Team; 1 All-Region Team TRACK & FIELD 12 regional qualifiers

BASEBALL Bi-District & Area Champions*

SOFTBALL

Bi-District Playoffs; 8 named to AllDistrict Team; 4 named to Academic AllDistrict Team

FOOTBALL

4 selected to THSCA Academic All-State Team *As of publication date

TENNIS

3 named to AllDistrict Honorable Mention Team members; 4 named to Academic AllDistrict Team; 2 named to TTCA Academic All-State team.

VOLLEYBALL 7 named to AllDistrict Team; 11 named to Academic All-District Team

BASKETBALL (GIRLS) CoDistrict/Bi-District Champions; Area Finalists; 9 AllDistrict Team; 8 Academic AllDistrict Team

(BOYS) Bi-District Playoffs; 4 AllDistrict Team; 1 District Defensive MVP; 1 TABC All-Region Team and Free Throw Champions (team/ individual); 1 HABCA All-Star Team

SOCCER

(GIRLS) Goalkeeper of the Year; 8 All-District Team; 2 TASCO Academic AllState; 2 Academic AllDistrict Team (BOYS) Bi-District Playoffs; District Defensive Player of the Year; 7 All-District Team; 3 Academic AllDistrict Team

La Porte ISD Insider • 5

College Ready 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian will enter college as juniors

Congratulations to Sara Adnane and Anthony Zambrano, La Porte High School Class of 2022 salutatorian and valedictorian, respectively. Both students were also honored as being among the Top 100 Academic Achievers for the 2022 graduating seniors.

The 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian point to the opportunities offered by La Porte ISD as a big secret to their success. Because of that, they also put the district on an academic pedestal.

“I put a lot of value on my La Porte education because it has given me experience,” said Zambrano, who was also named a National Merit Scholar. “Not many kids get the opportunity to experience college before going to a university.”

Zambrano and Adnane will receive an associate degree from San Jacinto College when they walk across the stage to receive their diploma at the end of May. In the fall, they will enter college as full-time juniors seeking engineering degrees.

Adnane, who will attend the University of Houston for chemical engineering, credits La Porte ISD’s strong emphasis on math and science, for spawning her interest in the field.

“I was presented with many opportunities, from competing in science fairs to creating a 3-D print in calculus,” she said. “These experiences were a challenge and allowed me to think critically and outside the box, thus stemming my love for engineering and facilitating my path to reach my goals in the field.”

Earn a

FREE

associate degree from San Jacinto College through our ACE program.

6 • La Porte ISD Insider

Call 281-604-7500 for information.

Free College!

Our Finest La Porte ISD campuses named their Teachers of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year. Campus honorees are chosen by their peers for their ability as skilled teachers and a love for teaching and learning, among several other characteristics. A committee of community volunteers will select the 2022-2023 elementary and secondary District Teachers of the Year from the group, and district superlatives will be announced at the annual La Porte ISD Service Awards ceremony on May 19.

Elementary Campus Teachers of the Year

Anne Eadie Bayshore Elementary

Audra Mazariegos College Park Elementary

Marisol Guevara Heritage Elementary

Kelly Leonard La Porte Elementary

Jacquelyn Lee Lomax Elementary

Krystal Ramos Jennie Reid Elementary

Debbie Alli Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary

Secondary Campus Teachers of the Year

Francis Auguste James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus

Pamela Swain La Porte Junior High

Jason Woytek Lomax Junior High

Tiffany Heasley Academy of Viola DeWalt High School

Peter Becnel Lee Martin Wayne Drastata Core Subjects Non-core Subjects Secondary District La Porte High School La Porte High School Alternative Education

Principals of the Year

Dr. Alicia Upchurch James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus

Rookie of the Year

Diane Weeden Jennie Reid Elementary

Dr. Alicia Upchurch and Diane Weeden are the 2021-2022 La Porte ISD Principals of the Year.

Honorees are selected by district administrators based on criteria that contribute to staff and student success.

Julia Cadriel started LPISD last year as student teacher and then received her first tea ching job at La Porte Elementary School. We are proud to recognize her as La Porte ISD’s Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Our merchants of hope . . .

La Porte ISD Insider • 7

Quality Programs La Porte ISD’s music program earns national recognition La Porte ISD has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

“We put an emphasis on the arts from the time students enter school, and the vast majority of our students have received at least some level of music education in La Porte ISD,” said Matt Burke, La Porte ISD’s director of performing and visual arts. “We are pleased to be recognized with this designation.”

To qualify for the designation, La Porte ISD was required to meet certain thresholds in music funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas reviewed the submissions. All La Porte ISD elementary students receive music education. More than 80 percent of La Porte students between grades 6-12 are being educated in music.The district’s latest music education offering is an innovative piano laboratory, which was unveiled for the 2021-22 school year at James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus.

2021-2022 FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS 2022 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Art Supershow Award & Hall of Fame UIL Sweepstakes LPHS Varsity String Orchestra LPHS Non-Varsity string orchestra LPHS Sub-Non-Varsity String Orchestra LPHS Marching Band LPHS Concert Band LPHS Symphonic Band LPHS Wind Ensemble LPHS Varsity Treble Choir LPHS Varsity Mixed Choir Lomax Junior High Varsity Band Lomax Junior High Varsity Orchestra Lomax Junior High Varsity Choir La Porte Junior High Varsity Band One-Act Play District Advancement Chatos Regional competition award Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (2) 8 • La Porte ISD Insider

LPISD prepares for big plans for PK-12 STEM Mission of STEM education in La Porte ISD

In La Porte ISD, we believe strongly that education grounded in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is the key to a student’s future success in an ever-changing, global economy. In keeping with our mission of success for each student in LPISD, and as part of a community integrally connected to STEM-related jobs in industry, maritime, oil and gas, health science, and aerospace, our project aims to equip our earliest learners with the skills they will need to succeed and excel in a future workforce through STEM Academies at each elementary campus.

STEM Academy Program Design

The STEM Academies at LPISD elementary campuses will center on two core principles in our inaugural year: unified STEM design challenges for every student in grades 3-4 and celebration of learning (and mistakemaking!) through the engineering design process. Led by a STEM facilitator, students at each campus will be provided opportunity to complete 4-5 design challenges throughout the year. These challenges will align to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) of each grade and will use the engineering design process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Improve) to solve a real-world problem. Each campus will designate a STEM lab space that is uniformly configured and equipped under the supervision of the STEM facilitator. This space will become the hub of STEM learning on each campus and where students will execute design challenges. Teachers will also have the ability to use the STEM lab for their own design challenges as they facilitate STEM learning into their content curriculum if they so choose. Our goal is to provide consistency in STEM learning through the engineering design process across all campuses through the work of the STEM facilitator and instructional team. They will set the standards, provide professional learning, teach STEM concepts, and model implementation with all campuses, so that we can build sustained implementation that crosses all contents and grades as we build our program.

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When students explore learning through STEM experiences, they will develop skills that will allow them to choose any future course of study and be successful.

Julie Abram, La Porte ISD Executive Director of Teaching & Professional Learning

La Porte ISD Insider • 9

Quality Programs

Summer Planetarium Nights We are pleased to announce two summer Planetarium Night dates for the public to come check out the stars!

June 23 & July 21 Featuring...

‘The Stars at Night’ LPISD’s Pemberton Planetarium, a unique experience for students They say the stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas, but these days that is not always the case if you live near a large, brightly lit city. Despite being just 28 miles away from the center of Houston, La Porte ISD has been bringing the stars to its students since 1964, thanks to one of the few school-owned planetariums in Texas.

However, La Porte’s original planetarium, built back when Beatle Boots were all the rage, was starting to show its age as technology eclipsed what the older planetarium could do. Fortunately, the community and the Board of Trustees agreed that the mission of the planetarium was timeless, and in 2014 approved a $260 million bond program that included a total rebuild of La Porte High School, including the Jack Pemberton Planetarium.

The new Jack Pemberton Planetarium is among the most technologically advanced school-based planetariums in the country, and it is one of only a small handful of operational school-based planetariums in the state.

Texas School Business magazine honored La Porte ISD for the new Pemberton Planetarium in its 2017-2018 Bragging Rights edition.

While it can “transport” students anywhere in the night sky, it is also used for history, aquatic biology and literature classes.

Cassandra and Night Sky: A children’s story about an evil king who stole the night sky and the brave princess who released the stars back into the night sky.

2 Small Pieces of Glass: This show describes the development and applications of telescopes.

From the Earth to the Universe: Take a trip through the solar system and galaxy to explore the wonders of the universe.

A Short Trip Through the Solar System: In this interactive show we explore the solar system and many of the celestial bodies found orbiting our sun.

Scan for the latest information about our summer camps and activities.

Educators are the architects of the future, the master builders of our democracy.

10 • La Porte ISD Insider

TOP 100

LPHS CLASS OF 2022 TOP 100 ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS RECOGNIZED La Porte High School’s top 100 Academic Achievers were recognized at a ceremony at the La Porte High School Bulldog Centre on March 20. This annual event was sponsored by the Bill and Helen Crowder Foundation, which provided a personalized sweatshirt and a $50 Gringo’s gift card to each student. La Porte High School principal Carlin Grammer presented certificates, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Walter G. Jackson and members of the Board of Trustees congratulated the Academic Achievers.

Karyme Acosta, Sara Adnane, Valeria Aguilera Rangel, Shaun Allen, Hannah Alphonse, Jaden Avila, Sebastian Ballesteros, Tyler Beardsley, Nicholas Canales, Amethyst Castaneda, Elize Cepeda, Jeralyn Chaddock, Tommy Chan, Abigale Chavez, Celeste Cody, Timothy Copeland, Emily Curry, Amy Davis, Brianna Dawson, Kaitlyn Dominguez, Beau Evans, Adriana Faustino, Luis P Fuentes, Esabella Garcia, Savannah Gilmore, Samantha Gonzalez, Saige Gough, Jada Greenidge, Isabella Guerra, Matthew Guerrero, Madisyn Hanks, Emily Harris, Zane Hayman, Adrianna Hernandez, Andrea Hernandez, Levi Hilborn, Victoria Hinojosa, Logan Horak, Rebecca Hutson, Vinh Huynh, Tayton Johnson, Ethan Johnston, Justin Kay, Zachary Lau, Emily Lechuga, Hunter Lee, Isai Linares, Kylee Loftin, Chloe Markland, Abigail Marks, Aliya Martinez, Carly McCarthy, Kayla McCulloch, Ricardo Medina, Emily Mosley, Micah Mott, Tammy Nguyen, Peyton Oliver, Mercedes Palmerin, Aryssa Parham, Adam Parrish, Josue Pena, Diana Perez, Gilbert Perez, Dominik Puente, Tristen Ramirez, Joshua Ramos, Sarah Ricks, Magda Rocha, Alize Rodriguez, Brandon Rodriguez, Elliana Rodriguez, Kennedy Rosales, Madilyn Ryzewski, Elizabeth Shawley, Caitlyn Simms, Dakoda Small, Shane Summers, Kylie Sutphin, Daniella Swihart, Mia Terry, Alexis Theiler, Emma Thompson, Emily Toguchi, Madison Torres, Arleth Torres DeLeon, Caleb Urbano, Danna Vasquez-Bazan, Austin Venable, Garrett Villa, Hazel Villagran, Ashley Villarreal, Michael Villeda, Madeline Wagner, Shelby Ward, Josiah Watson, Ethan White, Kelsi Young, Anthony Zambrano and Victor Zapata.

More than $2.6 Million Awarded and Counting!

Since 1993, thanks to generosity of our donors, the La Porte Education Foundation has funded classroom grants for teachers to help increase student achievement.

HELP US CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXTRAS FOR CLASSROOMS BY MAKING A GIFT TODAY AT LPISDEF.ORG OR TEXT LPEF TO 50155.

Call 281-604-7038 for more information.

The La Porte Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

La Porte ISD Insider • 11

In the Classroom La Porte ISD is quite proud to offer a free world-class public education in a private school setting.

We not only offer exceptional academics, our fine and performing arts programs are award-winning and innovative, and our athletics program is renowned. In 2021-2022 alone, our high school music programs earned 13 coveted UIL Sweepstakes awards, while six of our athletics teams advanced to the playoffs – including two that advanced all the way to state.

We are a Pre-K-12 STEM district that offers Gifted & Talented, Advanced Placement, and bilingual programs, as well as an opportunity to earn an associate degree – for free – through our partnership with San Jacinto College. Our award-winning Career and Technical Education program offers pathways to a variety of immediate careers, including

12 • La Porte ISD Insider

digital communications, veterinary science, and healthcare.

La Porte ISD has been proactive in addressing mental health and social emotional learning in our district. We realize that we must address students’ most basic needs before we can help them achieve at their highest potential. Behavioral struggles existed prior to the pandemic, but they have only increased since then. La Porte ISD has one of the strongest mental health teams in the state! We are actively using Character Strong, Emotional Backpack and Restorative Practices to meet the needs of all students and staff in La Porte ISD! We invite even non-district residents to come experience all of the great things happening in La Porte ISD. Want to come grow with us? Call 281-604-7000 for more information.

New Faces

INTRODUCING LA PORTE ISD’S TWO NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS

Dr. Rebecca Brown and Dustin Bromley are succeeding two deputy superintendents who are set to retire in June.

Brown comes to La Porte ISD from Spring, where she has served as Assistant Superintendent for High Schools.

She takes the reins from Dr. Linda Wadleigh as Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. Bromley, who is Crosby ISD’s Executive Director of Operations, takes the helm from Mike Clausen as Deputy Superintendent of Administration and Support Services.

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I believe that a quality education is the foundation of success and is a lifelong learning process. I am passionate about being a part of each child’s learning experience, and to help students understand that with knowledge comes power.

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Dr. Rebecca Brown Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

Rebecca Brown, Ph.D. Dr. Rebecca Brown has more than 27 years of experience in education with 20 of those years in educational leadership roles in districts that include Aldine ISD, Houston ISD, and in Spring ISD, a district of 34,000 students.

“Everywhere Dr. Brown has worked, she has made the system better,” said Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson.

“She has earned a remarkable reputation in the academic community for her laser-focus on datadriven decision making and school turnaround leadership to improve learning for all.”

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Learning

There is not a moment in our students’ day that doesn’t involve the support services division.

I believe the details in our work, the obsession with great customer service, and the expertise our employees possess will place La Porte ISD in a category of its own.

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Dustin Bromley Deputy Superintendent of Administration and Support Services

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Growing

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Dustin Bromley Bromley began his career as a teacher and coach at Galena Park North Shore Senior High School. He has worked as an assistant principal at Galena Park High School, and he served as Crosby High School Principal.

“Mr. Bromley possesses a wide range of knowledge and experience that will allow him to be a major contributor to the future success of La Porte ISD,” Dr. Jackson said.

“His expertise lies in successfully developing and implementing new processes, significantly expanding current practices, and managing all programs to maximize efficiency and realize consistent growth.”

.

Playing Together

La Porte ISD Early Childhood Center

High quality childcare services for children 6 weeks to 5 years For children and grandchildren of LPISD employees and families who live in LPISD’s attendance zone

Call today! 281-604-2620 La Porte ISD Insider • 13

New Faces Meet La Porte ISD’s newest administrators The La Porte ISD Board of Trustees on April 3 unanimously approved the hiring of four administrators, including three at the district level.

Billye Trader

Paula Jackson

Ralph Wilkins

Hannah Brooks

Trader currently serves in the role of assistant director of Secondary Special Education in Clear Creek ISD. She has served in education for 21 years, including 10 years of teaching experience and 11 years as an administrator.

Prior to her service in Clear Creek ISD, she served as the special education/504 coordinator, assistant principal, and instructional specialist in Texas City ISD.

Jackson was the La Porte ISD director of human resources for two years before accepting her current position.

She previously served as a principal in Hardin ISD, an academic dean and an assistant principal in Barbers Hill ISD. Additionally, she served as an elementary classroom teacher in both Crosby and Goose Creek CISD. She has 28 years of experience in education.

Mr. Wilkins has served as the La Porte ISD coordinator of school nutrition for the past seven years. Prior to this role, Mr. Wilkins served as the nutrition supervisor and dietitian in Texas City ISD. He also served the community in the nutrition departments of Memorial Hermann Southeast and Texas Children’s Hospital.

Brooks currently serves the Dean of Instruction at Hallsville High School in Hallsville ISD. Prior to this role, she served as the assistant principal at Pine Tree Junior High in Pine Tree ISD. Additionally, she has served as a STEM teacher, math teacher and elementary teacher.

Executive Director of Special Programs

Executive Director of Secondary Education

Director of School Nutrition

Associate Principal La Porte High School

Thank you

For your many years of stellar service and dedication to the students of La Porte ISD, we offer our sincerest gratitude to:

Mike Clausen, Dr. Linda Wadleigh, Cynthia Anderson, Danette Tilley and Yvonne Bennett.

We hope you enjoy your much-deserved retirement.

14 • La Porte ISD Insider

Some Important Summer Dates No matter your interest, La Porte ISD is likely offering a summer camp that will enrich your skills while keeping your summer fun!

Scan the QR code below for information on athletics camps.

Meanwhile, La Porte ISD is adding camps regularly as they are finalized. Check lpisd.org for the most up-to-date summer camp information.

Scan for online applications to our Summer Athletics Camps

May 30 May 31 June 1 June 6-10 July 1 July 4 July 25 July 25 July 29 Aug. 1 Aug. 1 Aug. 2 Aug. 2 Aug. 5-6 Aug. 5-7 Aug. 9 Aug. 11 Aug. 11 & 13 Aug. 12 Aug. 15 Aug. 16 Aug. 17

Memorial Day (District offices/campuses closed) LPHS Band Marching Camp begins Summer School begins Summer schedule begins (District offices closed Fridays) First day of registration (for returning students) District offices/campuses closed Full Band returns for summer practice Chato Camp begins Last Friday District offices and campuses are closed Renewal for Season Football tickets begins Volleyball / Chato practices begin Football practice begins La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce New Teacher Luncheon High School Volleyball scrimmages Texas Tax-Free Weekend Volleyball @ Barbers Hill La Porte Education Foundation “Breakfast with the Stars” JV & Varsity Volleyball Tournaments Volleyball vs. Deer Park New purchase of Season Football tickets begins First Day of School for La Porte High School 9th Grade First Day of School for Prek - 8th, 10th - 12th Grades

Visit lpisd.org for updates and changes.

Business Matters

Efficient. Transparent. Award-Winning.

The walls of the La Porte ISD Business Office are covered with more awards than most athletics programs. They are testaments to our outstanding stewardship of taxpayers’ dollars.

Texas Education Agency FIRST Award: For 19 straight years La Porte ISD has earned an “A” for “Superior Achievement” for financial accountability and reporting.

GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting:We have been honored seven straight years by the Government Finance Officers Association of the U .S. and Canada for our comprehensive financial reporting.

TASBO Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations: In 2022, only 58 Texas school districts (of more than 1,000) earned this prestigious award for being efficient in our purchases. La Porte ISD is among those 58 school districts! We have won this award multiple times previously.

Texas Comptroller’s Transparency Star: Traditional Finances: This honor is bestowed upon governmental entities that make their financial records crystal clear and easily available to anyone who wants to view them. La Porte ISD has won this award for several consecutive years.

Texas Comptroller’s Transparency Star: Debt Obligations: We all have debt. For school districts, this is bond debt used to maintain buildings, and purchase buses, furniture, technology and equipment. We have won this award for several consecutive years because of our crystal-clear descriptions of our debt obligations and everything related to them.

View our financial records 24/7 at lpisd.org/departments/business-office.

La Porte is the best-kept secret in the Bay Area.

La Porte ISD Insider • 15

La Porte Porte ISD La ISD A LA LC ACLAELNEDAR 2 02 20222- - 22002233 II N NSSTTRRUUCCTTI OI ON N N DA R

Important Dates

Aug. 16 Aug. 17 May 25 May 26 Feb. 20 Apr. 7

Aug. 16 Important First Day of Instruction – 9th Grade Dates Aug. 17 First Day of Instruction – PreK - 8th, First Day of Instruction – 9th Grade 10th - 12th Grades First Day Instruction – PreK - 8th, May 25 LastofDay of Instruction 10th - 12th Grades Graduation – The Academy of Viola Last Day of Instruction DeWalt High School May 26 Graduation Graduation La Porte High School – The–Academy of Viola Feb. 20 DeWaltInclement Weather Day High School Apr. 7 Graduation Inclement Day School – LaWeather Porte High

Inclement Weather Day Student Holidays Inclement Weather Day

Sept. 5 Labor Day Oct. 7 - 10 Student Holidays StudentElection Holidays Nov. 8 Day Sept. 5 Nov. 21 - 25Labor Day Thanksgiving Break Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 Winter Break Oct. 7 - 10 Student Holidays Martin Nov. 8 Jan. 16 Election DayLuther King, Jr. Day Student Holidays Nov. 21 -Feb. 25 16 - 20Thanksgiving Break Mar. 13 17 Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 WinterSpring BreakBreak Apr. 7 Good Friday

Jan. 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day State Assessment Feb. 16 - 20 Student Holidays Dates Mar. 13 -Dec. 17 6 - 9 Spring Break STAAR Eng I, Eng II, Alg I, Apr. 7 GoodU.S. Friday History, Bio I EOC Retest

Apr. 4 & 6 STAAR Eng I, Eng II EOC State Assessment Dates May 4 & 5 STAAR 8th Science, Social Studies 12 STAAR U.S. History, Bio I EOC Dec. 6 - 9May 9 - STAAR Eng I, Alg EngI, II, Alg I, May 16 U.S. - 19 History, STAARBio 3-8 ELA, Math, 5th I EOC Retest Science June 20 - 23 STAAR Eng I, Eng II, Alg I, Apr. 18-20 STAAR 3-8 RLA, Eng I & II EOC U.S. History, Bio I EOC Retest

Apr. 25-May 5 STAAR 5 & 8 Science, 8 Social Studies,Campus U.S. History & Bio EOC Schedules May 2-12High Schools STAAR 3-8 Math, Alg I EOC June 20 -7:00 23 a.m.

STAAR – FirstEng Bell I, Eng II, Alg I, U.S. History, 7:10 a.m. – Tardy Bell Bio I EOC Retest

2:35 p.m. – School Days Ends Campus Schedules Early Dismissal 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Junior Highs/James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus High Schools a.m. Bell – First Bell 7:00 a.m.8:25 – First 8:30 a.m.

Tardy Bell 7:10 a.m. – Tardy–Bell 4:00 p.m. – School Days Ends 2:35 p.m. – School Days Ends Early Dismissal 8:25 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Early Dismissal 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Elementary Schools Junior Highs/James H. Bell Baker Sixth Grade Campus 7:40 a.m. – First 8:25 a.m.7:50 – First a.m. Bell – Tardy Bell 8:30 a.m.3:15 – Tardy p.m. –Bell School Days Ends 4:00 p.m. – School Early DaysDismissal Ends 7:40 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

Early Dismissal 8:25 a.m.

Student Days– 12:10 p.m.

Elementary TotalSchools Number of Student Days 174 7:40 a.m. – First Bell 7:50 a.m. – Tardy Bell 3:15 p.m. – School Days Ends Early Dismissal 7:40 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

July 2022

July 2022 S

S

M

M

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T W

3 H 5 6 10 11 12 13 3 H 5 6 17 18 19 20 1024112512 13 26 27 173118 19 20

T

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7 14 7 21 14 28

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S

1F 2S 8 9 1 2 15 16 8 9 22 23 15 16 29 30

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 October 2022 S

M

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October 2022

2 3 4 5 M T W 9 H 11 12 16 (17 18 19 223 324 25 4 26 5 930 H31 11 12

S

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6 T 13 20 6 27

F

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1 H 8 F S 14)15 1 21 22 H 298 28

13 14)15 16 (17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 January 2023 30 31 S

M

T W

T

F

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1 H H (4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 January 2023 15 H 17 18 19 20 21 S M T W T F S 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ( 129 H 30 H 31 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 H 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 April 2023 29 30 31 S

M

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2 3 T 9 10 11 April 2023 16 17 18 S23 M T 24 25 30

T

5 T 12 13 19 20 W 27 T 26

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1 H* 8 14 15 21 22 28F 29S

August 2022

S M T 2022 W T August

S 1 M2 T3 W4 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 3 14 15 16 (17 18 7 8 9 10 21 22 23 24 25 14 15 16 (17 28 29 30 31

S

S

5 T 12 4 19 11 26

6F S 13 4 5 6 20 11 12 13 27 18 18 19 20 25

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

November 2022

M T W T 2022 F S September

S M T1 W2 H 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 E 4 H 6 7 19 20 21 22 23 11 12 13 14 26 27 28 29 30

3T 10 1 17 8 24

F

S

2 9 15 E 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30

3 10 17 24

December 2022

S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 November 2022 December12022 6 7 H 9 10 11 12 4 5 T T T T 10 S M T W T F S S M T W T 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 E) 17 1 2 3 4 5 1 20 H H H H H 26 18 H H H H H 24 T 27 628 7 29 H 30 9 10 11 12 25 H 4H 5H TH TH 31

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2 3 T 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 E) 17 18 H H H H H 24 20 H H H H H 26 25 H H H H H 31 27 28 29 30 February 2023 March 2023 S

M

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1 2 5 6 7 8 9 February 2023 12 13 14 15 H S M T W 19 H* 21 22 23 1 26 27 28

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3 4 10 11 H 18 T F 24 25

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10) 11 March 2023 12 H H H H H 18 S S M T W T 19 (20 21 22 23 24 25 4 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2

2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 H H 18 12 H H H H 19 H* 21 22 23 24 25 19 (20 21 22 23 May 2023 June 2023 26 27 28 26 27 28 29 30 S

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1 2 3 T T 6 7 8 T T T T 13 14 15 T T T T 20 May 21 22 2023 23 24 E )2627 S 282930M 31 T W T F

1 T T T 2 3 4 5 6 H* 8 7 T T T 9 10 First 11 &12 13 of14 15 14 15 16 T17 Last Day Instruction H ) Elementary Period 16( 17 T T and T Secondary T 22 Grading21 22 23 *24 23 T T T T T 29 282930 31 E 30

Every Student's Success is Our #1 Priority

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September 2022 F

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4 11 18 S 25

T W

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1 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 June 19 T 2023 T T S T 26 27 M 28 29

2 9 16 T W 30

3 10 17 24

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3 4 10) 11 H 18 24 25 31

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T T 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T T 13 State Assessment Dates 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Holiday 18 19 DayT T T T 24 E )2627 Inclement Weather Make-up Early Dismissal 25 26 27 28 29 30 Revised 4/5/22

Printed by LPISD Communications

First & Last Day of Instruction Elementary and Secondary Grading Period

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T H * E

Board approved 1/11/22

State Assessment Dates Holiday La Porte ISD Insider • 16 Inclement Weather Make-up Day Early Dismissal

Student Days Total Number of Student Days 174

Revised 4/5/22

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We aim to develop critical thinkers, futuristic innovators, bold and imaginative life-long learners who will in turn, impact the world in positive and meaningful ways.

La Porte Independent School District 1002 San Jacinto Street La Porte, Texas 77571

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OPEN ENROLLMENT! La Porte ISD is accepting K-12 applications for non-residents.

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Call 281-604-7000.