NEISD Discover Magazine: Spring 2024

SPRING 2024 MAGAZINE

Congratulations to the class of 2024!

Each ceremony was full of special moments.

NORTH EAST

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

David Beyer, President, District 4

Terri Chidgey, Vice President, District 6

Lisa Thompson, Secretary, District 1

Melinda Cox, Trustee, District 5

Marsha Landry, Trustee, District 7

Tracie Shelton, Trustee, District 2

Diane Sciba Villarreal, Trustee, District 3

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Sean Maika, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Dan Villarreal, CPA, Chief Financial Officer

Anthony Jarrett, Chief Instructional Officer

Rudy Jimenez, Chief of Schools and Leadership

Anthony Mitchell, Ed.D., Chief Operations Officer

Aubrey Chancellor, Executive Director of Communications

Cover: LEE graduate receives his diploma from someone special in his life.

Page 3: Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Photos help capture the excitement of the big day.

Page 4: North East Briefs

Read news and information from across NEISD.

Page 5: MacArthur UNITED welcomes students in the fall.

Find out about our new early college high school.

Page 6:

Meet North East ISD’s Teachers of the Year.

They are two educators who teach from the heart.

Page 7: Once a student, now a teacher in the program that inspired her

Learn more about the new director of the Bradley Mill Springs Cabin.

Page 8-9: NEEF dazzles with $300K raised at the Denim, Diamonds, and Dreams Gala!

Read about the NEEF gala and how it is supporting our classrooms.

Page 10: NEISD students are college bound thanks to highly competitive scholarships.

These are just three examples of students working hard and it paying off big.

Page 11: NEISD Alumni Spotlight: Daniel Pineda

A well-rounded education at NEISD set Daniel Pineda on his impressive career path.

Page 12: Tex Hill student is crowned Food Network champion.

She’s a talented baker making national headlines.

Page 13: NEISD welcomes its military families!

Find out how we support our new families. New partnership prepares NETS students for the workforce.

See how our students are making the rounds.

Page 14-15: Advertisements/Business Partners

Back Cover: NEISD

DID YOU KNOW?

NEISD students earned nearly 2,400 industrybased certifications this year, making them highly competitive in the workforce.

For more great photos from our commencement ceremonies, visit our District Facebook page.

DID

YOU KNOW?

NEISD high school graduates can attend Alamo Colleges tuition free.

If you see something, say something. Online or by phone. North East Police Department

North East Tip Line

neisd.net/ tipline

Emergency Number 210-407-0911

Non-emergency Number 210-407-0925

NORTH EAST

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

To find the latest information on our NEISD Board of Trustees, including maps, policies, meeting dates, videos and agendas, visit: neisd.net/board

NORTH EAST briefs

Free meals for kids this summer!

North East ISD is participating in the Summer Food Service Program, providing free meals to children 18 years of age and younger at several NEISD campuses beginning June 10, 2024.

To find locations near you:

• Call 211

• Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304

• Visit neisd.net/summermeals

Get your senior stars club card

To qualify, you must be 65 years old or older AND live within NEISD boundaries.

• Get free use of NEISD swim facilities and tennis courts, and admittance to athletic and fine arts events.

• Receive 20% discount on community education classes. Call 210-407-0556 for more information.

Whether your talents are in maintenance, food services, education, clerical, transportation, custodial, accounting, counseling, special education, languages or campus leadership, North East ISD welcomes your interest and employment application.

Employee Benefits and Perks:

• Competitive compensation

• Affordable health plans

• Generous vacation/leave days

• Employee perks and discounts

• Professional development

For job opportunities --> CLICK TO LEARN MORE

MacArthur UNITED welcomes students in the fall

It’s been months in the planning, and now we are just weeks away from the opening of North East ISD’s early college high school.

MacArthur UNITED Early College High School, located on the MacArthur High School campus, will welcome 140 students on the first day of school this fall.

In March, the school held a commitment ceremony to welcome this first cohort of students who will have the ability to graduate with an associate degree in 2028.

Their teachers have been working together to plan for the upcoming school year, incorporating AVID and college readiness strategies.

Students will be on track to complete 6-9 hours of college credit by the end of their freshman year, while also getting exposure to the industry in education and business through speakers, career exploration and field trips.

“I’m excited to see our students embrace the opportunities of college preparedness and become skilled learners and future entrepreneurs who can make meaningful contributions to society,” said Sarah Moran, director of MacArthur UNITED.

Our District partnered with Alamo Colleges to allow students to graduate with up to 60 college credit hours and an associate degree that is transferable to a 4-year institution. Students will also be able to earn Industry Based Certifications (IBC) that will make them extremely competitive in the workforce. Thanks to a grant and recent legislation, students will earn these college credits at no cost to them or their families.

This summer, these students will also get to attend a 5-day summer bridge which will include testing prep, college readiness skills, team building, and a trip to our partner institution at San Antonio College.

MacArthur UNITED students will get to focus their coursework on in-demand careers like teaching, accounting and the hospitality industry in one of two degree pathways.

Associate of Arts in Teaching:

Education

to a range of teaching careers, with particular focus on elementary education. This pathway allows for immersive, practical learning in education, with students gaining hands-on classroom experience through lab schools set up at local NEISD elementary campuses. NEISD has also implemented a pipeline to help our teaching graduates secure jobs at NEISD schools.

Associate of Arts with Business Emphasis: The Business Pathway allows students to explore high-demand fields like accounting, finance, hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts. This allows them to gain real-world experience and transition seamlessly into business careers after graduation. Through partnerships with local businesses, we provide internship opportunities and job placement straight out of high school.

The

Degree Pathway opens doors

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Meet North East ISD’s Teachers of the Year!

This year’s North East ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year and Elementary Teacher of the Year lead with their hearts and have made a lasting impact on the lives of their students.

“I want my students to remember that first and foremost that I was there for them, to listen to them, to advocate for, not just their learning, but that I want them to be good people. I want them to treat each other with respect and find the love within themselves.”

Elizabeth Malin, Ed White Middle School/DATA

“I absolutely love my job. I love being with the kids. I love spending time with them and seeing them grow. The responsibilities of what we do everyday have exponentially changed through the years but one thing hasn’t and that is children need a place to work and learn and be loved.”

Marcy Hildebrand, Northwood Elementary School

NEISD Teacher of the Year: Each year, one outstanding teacher from each campus is selected as the school’s Teacher of the Year. Six finalists are selected from these, and two overall District winners are announced at our Teacher of the Year reception held in May. To find out more about all our amazing finalists this year, click the button below.

Once a student, now a teacher in the program that inspired her

The journey to becoming the Texas History Teacher at Bradley Middle School started in the fourth grade for Krystine Ryan. As a fourth grader at Encino Park Elementary School, she has vivid memories of touring the Mill Springs Cabin.

“I came here in fourth grade during the first year that it was open for field trips. I have very strong memories of the cabin, the teepee and the chuck wagon.”

Krystine didn’t realize it at the time, but that visit sparked a deeper appreciation for learning. Learning about Texas history from middle school students struck a chord with her. Looking back, she says that field trip undoubtedly sent her down the education career path.

“I thought it was amazing there were kids teaching me,” said Krystine. “Kids! Not adults. I had never seen that before. I think that visit definitely sparked more of a love of teaching for me.”

Krystine went on to attend Tejeda Middle School and Reagan High School, where she graduated in 2008. She never forgot about the impression that the Mill Springs Cabin left on her. So, when the Texas History job came

open at Bradley, she jumped on the opportunity to apply. She couldn’t believe her luck when she was offered the job. Today, she plays an integral part in running one of her favorite places in the world.

“I love the outdoors so being outside is really what makes it so special. The kids tell me that too – it’s just fun to be outside doing something you love.”

There are so many favorite parts of the job for Krystine. When she isn’t teaching her normal Texas History courses, she’s outside overseeing her docents as they welcome visiting fourth graders on field trips. The cabin program is so popular, it’s now an elective so seventh and eighth graders can both participate.

“It’s been great to have seventh and eighth graders out here learning from each other. It adds a mentorship element to it, so there’s a good balance of maturity and a learning curve.”

As the Mill Springs Cabin celebrates 25 years, it continues to grow and expand. And with Krystine Ryan at the helm, it’s in good hands.

NEEF dazzles with $300K raised at the Denim, Diamonds, and Dreams Gala!

Thanks to our generous community, more than $300,000 was raised for the North East Educational Foundation (NEEF) at the Denim, Diamonds, and Dreams Gala held on March 2, 2024!

Pedrotti’s Ranch was a perfect setting for the event. Guests got the opportunity to witness the success of several past NEEF-funded projects and enjoyed student entertainment, including Bradley Middle School’s Jazz Ensemble, a Sinatra routine performed by Tejeda Middle School students, The Dancing Queens from Johnson High School, an *NSYNC routine from Churchill High School and more!

Talented artists from North East School of the Arts (NESA) painted at the event as well.

NEEF was also excited to have Chuck Cureau emcee the event. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry including working as the arena host for the San Antonio Spurs, he set the stage for a dazzling, fun night.

“One of the best parts of the Gala is getting to see the grants in action and actually see the students that are impacted,” said Allie Watters, NEEF’s Board Chair for the Gala. “We have elementary school kids interested in robotics. We have high schoolers that are interested in the news world with the green screens behind them. We are truly so lucky to have so many students but even more lucky to have talented teachers in this District that want more for their kids and apply for these grants.”

NEEF’s mission is to raise funds to develop and expand educational opportunities in North East ISD schools. During the 2022-2023 school year, $590,000 was given back to NEISD by NEEF, and $259,000 was allocated to teacher grants for innovative educational projects.

“It is such an honor to walk into a classroom and hand a well deserving teacher a check for this idea that they came up with

and worked so tirelessly writing a grant for,” said Kimberly Prater, NEEF’s Board Chair.

Without you, our donors, we couldn’t provide these grants that take NEISD students’ learning to the next level. Thank you to everyone who attended, PTA volunteers, and NEEF board members who helped make this night a huge success.

If you didn’t get a chance to join us at Gala, there are other opportunities to give your support.

The North East Educational Foundation (NEEF) is a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable corporation chartered in 1986. Its purpose is to develop and expand educational opportunities for students in North East ISD. NEEF underwrites projects and programs that enhance the basic required curriculum and broaden the range of students’ educational experiences.

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NEISD students are college bound thanks to earning highly competitive scholarships

Only 750 of the 53,000 Gates Scholarship applications this year were awarded, and two of them are students at Roosevelt High School. Seniors Emmanuel Garcia and Sunny Shen are now headed to college.

“If I didn’t get this scholarship, I would have to stay here,” said Garcia. “This helps me go to the college I want to go to. Getting this scholarship gets me on the path.”

The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for high school seniors. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.

Garcia and Shen have earned Summa Cum Laude designations for their incredible GPAs over 100 and are looking forward to continuing their educational journeys. Garcia will attend Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, and Shen has been accepted to the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Churchill High School student Zoe Crowe is one of 500 students nationwide selected to receive the prestigious $20,000 Dell Scholarship. The scholarship provides $5,000 per semester, a new Dell computer, book money for all four college years, mental health services, and college/career guidance throughout her college experience and beyond.

She credits much of her success to AVID, an immersive college readiness program that stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. After graduation, Zoe plans to study Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.

“I will always fondly look back at my time at Churchill, especially the AVID program that jump-started my new phase in life,” said Crowe.

North East ISD is proud of the men and women who graduate from our District and go on to make a positive impact on the world.

A well-rounded education set

Daniel

Pineda on his course

“My time at NEISD was very important to me and to my career trajectory, and I don’t think I would be where I am without it.”

“Trajectory” is the perfect word for Reagan High School graduate Daniel Pineda. His world now revolves around rockets. He’s an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). His work is hard for most to understand, but for those who do, it’s impressive.

“I manage a laboratory and group of graduate and undergraduate students to develop laser-based and optically-based methods for measurements in extreme environments, like rockets,” said Pineda. “To put it simply, we try to make measurements that couldn’t be made before, and we try to do it in the harshest environments you can imagine, all in the pursuit of more fuel-efficient engines and a reduction in environmental harm.”

After earning his doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, he started working at the University of California, Los Angeles. During his first year, his team broke the collegiate altitude record for a student-built, liquid-propellant rocket. Now, at UTSA, he’s earning grants totaling half a million dollars for his research.

His out-of-this-world talent was cultivated by North East ISD teachers. Pineda attended Hidden Forest Elementary School and Encino Park Elementary School. He was part of the first sixth-grade class at Tejeda Middle School and graduated top of his class at Reagan in 2008. He can still name his teachers from nearly every class and their impact on him.

“Despite pursuing a technical degree focused on STEM, the best preparation I received from NEISD was the comprehensive curriculum covered by my arts and humanities classes and electives, which included Art, Spanish, English, History and Debate. Middle school and high school are critical times for identity development, and I would confidently say that my identity and the idea of what I wanted to do with my life were forged in those classes. An important part of being a professor, an educator, a mentor, and leader is the ability to empathize with others and see collaborators and trainees in a way that acknowledges where they come from, and figure out a way to meet people where they are so that they can then be elevated. These are all things I learned and witnessed directly in my teachers at NEISD, and I am lucky to have had the opportunity to be their student.”

Tex Hill student is crowned Food Network champion

Not many people get the opportunity to be on their favorite TV show. But Lila Smethurst, a seventh grader at Tex Hill Middle School, was able to make her Food Network debut in season 12 of the Kids Baking Championship. Not only was she a contestant, Lila was crowned the season’s champion!

“I am so grateful for the way that my family, my friends, my school and the entire city of San Antonio have rooted for me during my time on KBC,” said Smethurst. “I hope that I made everyone proud and that I represented the city well. This was definitely an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for my time on KBC and every moment thereafter!”

Lila’s journey started in January of 2023, where she was one of 12 bakers from around the country competing on the hit show. She persevered and wowed the judges week by week and was named the champion on the season finale that aired this past February.

As the winner, Lila won $25,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine.

Since being on the show, Lila has enjoyed other perks from her win like being interviewed by multiple media channels and getting honored by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the San Antonio City Council.

“I hope that this inspires kids from San Antonio and everywhere else to just go for it, follow their dreams,” Lila told the city council.

NEISD welcomes its military families!

North East ISD recognizes every April as Month of the Military Child.

Part of our District’s success in helping support our military families is our Student 2 Student (S2S) program.

NEISD is proud to have 65 campuses with Purple Star Designation. This Texas Education Agency designation goes to schools that excel in meeting the needs of military students and their families.

S2S is an award-winning program connecting civilian students with newly-enrolled military children to ease the transition of being the “new kid” at school. They tour the campus together, eat lunch together and answer questions that come with moving to a new place.

Visit neisd.net/militaryfamilies to learn more about the resources and support available for our military families.

A new partnership between North East ISD, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital- Alamo Heights, Texas Workforce CommissionVocational Rehabilitation Services, PCSI, and AACOG is preparing the next generation of workers. It’s called Project SEARCH, and its goal is to help people with disabilities secure employment.

North East Transition Services (NETS) students are thriving in this new partnership. NETS serves NEISD students between the ages of 18 – 21 with disabilities who are seeking the support skills necessary for adult life.

A few of their job rotations include housekeeping, central supply, med surgery, dietary and admissions. They are learning skills in custodial services, customer service, clerical/office, inventory, delivery, stocking, food service, dish washing and so much more.

The NETS students also have classroom time where they focus on interviewing, resume writing, social skills, budgeting, health and safety.

Nathan Conrad is part of Project SEARCH. His mother, Karen Conrad, explains how the program is already making a positive impact in her son’s life.

New partnership prepares NETS students for the workforce

“Thank you so much for bringing Project SEARCH to NEISD. Our son, Nathan, is very fortunate to be in NEISD’s inaugural class of this international program. Everyone at the Christus Santa Rosa Alamo Heights Hospital has been incredibly welcoming and helpful in mentoring and training our students for paid employment upon graduation from NETS and NEISD. Our son has learned so much and we have no doubt he will be able to find employment upon completion of this program.”

Karen Conrad, parent

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Red Wing Shoes San Antonio recently delivered dozens of work boots for students at our Career and Technical Education Center magnet school program.

The San Antonio North Central Rotary Club funded a recharge and relaxation room for teachers at Eisenhower Middle School to take a well deserved break.

H-E-B partnered with North East ISD and the Military Child Education Coalition in April to bring an epic Purple Up Pep Rally to Nimitz Middle School.

Champs Sports donated with more than 1,500 pieces of clothing—slides, shorts, shirts, jackets and athletic equipment to Johnson High School.

ACADEMY OF LEARNING IN RETIREMENT