PA S A D E N A
I N D E P E N D E N T
S C H O O L
D I S T R I C T
ALUMNINEWS
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2
WINTER 2021, JAN 29
FEATURE STORY
IN THIS ISSUE:
ALUMNI FEATURE: Andy Gonzalez, p. 2 ALUMNI NEWS: Community School Success, p. 3 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? p. 6
Community School helps struggling students earn a degree By Reesha Brown Alumni News Editor Happy New Year! Now that 2020 is behind us, I am looking forward to what 2021 has in store. I am happy to announce that our new-ish alumni newsletter is starting to pick up steam and our alumni editorial staff have been receiving some great news tips about graduates who are still connected with the school district either through former teachers or as community members themselves. This newsletter is our way of building and maintaining those connections with alumni because they are a valued member of our Pasadena ISD community. Here are some highlights from this month’s newsletter! Community School Success: Community School has hit the refresh button on their marketing efforts. Through various communication methods, the school of choice, in collaboration with PISD communications, has been raising awareness of its efforts to help struggling students earn their high school diplomas, while working toward increasing knowledge and participation of the school’s programs. Over the past two months, we’ve read stories about multiple graduates who were almost on the verge of giving up due to stressors around them, but the Community School gave them a second chance at earning a degree. We are so proud of these graduates for not (as their slogan says) “throwing away
[their] shot” and crossing the finish line. In this edition, we are also recognizing the talent and brilliance of Pasadena High School alumnus and artist, Andy Gonzalez. Andy creates modern biblical art that “combines Abstract and Cubism in his featured Collection, titled, AGGA,” according to his website. He discovered his passion for drawing and painting while he attended PHS and never looked back. I get many questions throughout the day from people wondering “where is [fill in the blank]?” Many of these individuals are searching for fellow Pasadena ISD alumni who they lost contact with over the years. Some folks just want to know that their old pals are doing well. Well, I am happy to report that our “Where are they Now” feature stories will help to answer this question. Want to know what Andrew Smith has been up to? Well, he’s been making a name for himself as an EMT with the Deer Park Fire Department. Read all about it in this month’s issue. Please be sure to check back next month for more positive news about our alumni! Enjoy!
Reesha Brown, PISD Communication and Alumni Coordinator
feature q&a phs alum and artist andy gonzalez reflects on accomplishments Name: Andy Gonzalez High School and Graduating Class: Pasadena High School, Class of ‘92 Occupation: Studio Owner and Artist. Q: What was your experience at Pasadena High School like? A: I really enjoyed high school and had a great experience while there. I played football for several years. My favorite teacher was Bridget Dixon, an art instructor at Pasadena. She was a huge positive influence on me and encouraged my interest in attending art schools. I was set on attending Parsons Paris. My number one selling painting “Blend the Strengths” was created the summer between my high school graduation and college. I still have the original and have created many reproductions. Q: How did your career begin? A: After I graduated from Parsons Paris my parents told me that I had to get a job, so I became involved in the tech industry. I got my start in the art world by becoming involved with galleries locally and across the country and selling pieces to them. About 15 years ago, in 2006, I reached a turning point. I wasn’t balancing my priorities and I wasn’t as focused on my art as I wanted to be. I became inspired to pay greater attention to my art when my next door neighbor spoke with me about a project at her church. I made a decision to figure it out. Q: What is your life like now? A: I currently work in the tech industry as a business data systems sales representative about 40-50 hours a week. I spend about 30 hours per week on my art. I have four calendars to help me balance my work, art, family and church. Each morning I wake up at around 4 a.m. to begin work at the studio on my property. I spend about 30 minutes to one hour working on my art projects or administrative work for my studio. I also own a studio in the Houston Art
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District. I live in Katy, Texas with my wife and two children. My wife works as a real estate agent. We are both very involved in our church. Q: What are some of your projects? A: I have two collections, FACES and AGGA. The FACES collection features abstract depictions of the faces of people, birds, animals and even, emotions. The AGGA collection is inspired by my Christian faith. They are created in the style of Abstract Cubism and are meant to be a form of modern biblical art. This marks year 13 of what will be a 30 year project. About the FACES collection: “In March 2010, Andy Gonzalez launched a new Collection titled FACES. FACES is an unnumbered collection that depicts close up abstract images of human emotions. FACES also features abstract faces of every living creation on earth in an abstract style. These are faces of humans; famous and not, animals of every kind, insects, flowers, plants and trees. FACES was inspired by his son Noah,” according to Gonzalez’s website. About the AGGA collection: “This collection consists of 242 sketches, drawings and designs for oil paintings he is working on named The AGGA Collection. AGGA was born in April 2008, and is divided into twenty-one series; all with divine inspiration and messages within each piece. AGGA oil paintings are produced on canvas, linen and wood panels. Andy has started the process of producing metal sculptures up to seven feet tall to compliment each of the oil paintings of AGGA three dimensionally,” according to Gonzalez’s website. Q: Do you have a message you would like to send to current Pasadena ISD students, particularly those interested in art? A: Don’t give up on your dreams. I hear people say things like, “I used to draw” or “I used to paint” and it makes me sad. I remember being in a similar situation. I encourage artists to take time each day to invest in their artwork.
communiy school success stories Q: What made you decide to come back to Community School? What did you do differently this time? A: Some things happened in my family and my perspective was changed, it made me motivated to complete my high school education. This time around, I worked hard. I didn’t let myself get distracted and I was focused on the goal of graduating. I tried hard not to be tardy or miss any days. If something happened and I was late or had to miss a day, I gave Community School a call to let them know. I acted more mature and didn’t have an attitude.
Eddie herrera By Kadey Heidrich Alumni News Writer Eddie Herrera, 19, is a recent Community School graduate. Like many students, the road to graduation was not a straight line for Herrera. After he was no longer able to attend his traditional high school in Pasadena ISD, Herrera decided to try Community School. Community School is a high school of choice in Pasadena ISD that empowers students to reach their full potential by providing self-paced classes in a blended environment. Community School, fondly referred to as the district’s hidden gem by its staff members, gives students at risk of not graduating from high school another chance to earn their high school diploma. The small school prides itself on providing a personalized experience for each student, calling this personalization their “hidden curriculum.”
Q: What have your experiences at Community School been like? A: Everybody here is wonderful. At Community School, the teachers interact with every single student. It is almost like a family, they try to get to know you and want you to know them. Some of my favorite teachers were Ms. Brown and Ms. Payne. The teachers treat you like more of an adult here. They treat you with respect and expect for you to treat them with respect, too. I think that you have to be mature to attend Community School and to be willing to take care of your own stuff. Even if you don’t get along with all the teachers right away, at the end of the day, they really do just want to help you and see you do your best. Q: Would you recommend Community School to others? A: I would recommend this place to everybody, especially if they want to graduate early. It’s a good place for people who work hard and might need a second or a third chance. Q: What do you want to do with your education? A: I want to become a mechanic. I’m considering trade school or college and my parents are supportive of that. They just want me to be happy, I want to make them proud. I’m proud to have graduated from high school. Herrera began attending Community School at the beginning of August 2020 and graduated on December 17, 2020.
Herrera attempted to earn his diploma from Community School two times before graduating on December 17, 2020. He talks about why he decided to return to Community School and the importance of second chances. Q: Why Community School? A: I decided to come to Community School because I wasn’t finished with high school and I wanted to earn my diploma. I couldn’t go back to my old campus, so I decided to try this option. This was my third time attending Community School. I met with the principal, Ms. Capra, to see if she would give me another chance. When we first spoke, she said she wasn’t sure about letting me enroll again, but when we met in person, she said she could tell that I had changed. I’m grateful she decided to give me another chance.
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CHRISTOPHER SERETTI A: My start at Community School was slow, but once I got used to the students, staff and teachers, it was good. The teachers and staff helped me by keeping me focused and on task. To help me stay motivated, they reminded me that one day I’ll achieve something great. Some of my favorite teachers were Ms. Slatterly, Ms. White and Ms. Walker. They encouraged me to keep my goals in mind. Another teacher I liked was Mr. Perkins. He had an interesting style of teaching, he’s funny but also business-minded. He engaged with students and tried to form connections with them, many of the teachers here did that. Q: Do you think Community School changed your perspectives on what school could be like? A: Yes, it was different. The staff are more involved here, I feel like each of them has worked to get to know me personally. It feels like a family at Community School. I just loved it here, it was a great experience. I felt like I made friends with other students and became close with the staff as well. By Kadey Heidrich Alumni News Writer Recent Community School graduate Christopher Seretti wanted to earn his diploma on time, but struggled while attending his traditional high school campus. After falling behind, Seretti decided to research other ways to complete his education. During his research, he learned about the programs available at Community School. Community School is a high school of choice in Pasadena ISD that empowers students to reach their full potential by providing self-paced classes in a blended environment. Community School, fondly referred to as the district’s hidden gem by its staff members, gives students at risk of not graduating from high school another chance to earn their high school diploma. The small school prides itself on providing a personalized experience for each student, calling this personalization their “hidden curriculum.” Seretti talks about why he chose Community School and what his experiences were like with the program. Q: What led you to choose Community School? A: I was really struggling at my old school. Before I came to Community School, I was still classified as a sophomore based on my credits and I’m 18. I have a health condition, so in the past, I have been in and out of school. Ms. Elliot, the assistant principal at Community School, has helped me a lot. When I spoke with her, she told me about the program there and that I could graduate on time. I thought that sounded great because I wanted to start my career. Also, I thought it was better to have a high school diploma rather than a GED. Q: What have your experiences at Community School been like?
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Q: Would you recommend Community School to others? A: 100%. 100%. At Community School, you get to work at your own pace and the teachers encourage you to challenge yourself to work faster. I refer a lot of my friends to this program. I think without Community School, I wouldn’t have graduated yet. Q: What do you want to do now that you have earned your high school diploma? A: I want to become a welder. My cousin has helped me learn more about that career and I think it is a good choice. Right now, I have a part time job and soon, I hope to begin working full time as an independent commercial welder. Seretti began attending Community School in the fall of 2020 and graduated on January 15, 2021.
shantel mcneal So, this summer before school started, I called Ms. Elliot, a counselor at my old school. She told me about the program here and has been a constant in my transition from my old school to Community School.
Q: What was your first week like at Community School? A: It was good! I can’t tell you how happy I was. It felt like a low pressure environment and I liked my homeroom teacher Ms. Brown. During homeroom, we would set our goals for the week to help us keep focused, I liked that. I also liked the homeroom activities. You don’t expect to make friends with the people in your homeroom, but you do. They host icebreakers and you find out you have things in common with the other students, “like oh you have a brother, I have a brother too.”
By Kadey Heidrich Alumni News Writer Shantel McNeal is a recent Community School graduate. Similar to many students, after facing instability in her home life, McNeal was faced with adult responsibilities, followed by the need to make choices for her future. Prior to enrolling Community School, McNeal attended one of the district’s traditional high schools, but soon found that the combination of a tough situation at home and an increasing workload at school, led her to experience an increase in stress and consider other options for completing her high school education. McNeal decided on Community School, a high school of choice in Pasadena ISD that empowers students to reach their full potential by providing self-paced classes in a blended environment. Community School, fondly referred to as the district’s hidden gem by its staff members, gives students at risk of not graduating from high school a second chance to earn their high school diploma. The small school prides itself on providing a personalized experience for each student, calling this personalization their “hidden curriculum.” McNeal describes what led her to Community School and why she recommends the program to others. Q: What led you to Community School? A: I was really struggling at my old school. I had my credits and was making B’s and C’s, but I was still struggling. I had problems with some of the teachers and students, on top of problems at home. With every progress report, I felt pressure building on me. At Community School they pressure you, but it’s positive because you know they care about you. I also chose Community School because I felt like I needed to start my life and get things going. I didn’t want to wait until May to graduate.
Q: What was your experience at Community School like and why did you enjoy it? A: At Community School they push you, but you can work at your own pace. In the rooms we work in, you don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. You face a wall and do your work. I don’t have to worry about someone looking at the back of my head. (laughs) They push you, but they’re friendly about it. They build a relationship with you and you build a relationship with them, you can tell they care about you. It’s like a family here, they always have my back. They wanted to get to know me, they want to get to know everyone who comes here. Ms. Capra (the principal) knows everyone here. Past students will come back to Community School to say hi and talk about their lives. Ms. Jocelyn with the McKinney-Vento program has also helped me a lot. She helped me stay on track with my work. She made sure I completed my work on time! (laughs) Q: Do you recommend Community School to others? A: Yes, I have recommended Community School to so many people, I’ve lost count. I have friends who are considering dropping out and I tell them about the program here. It lets you work independently and at your own pace. I like that it is like a small school experience. Sometimes it can get overwhelming when there are a lot of other kids around. This way, there is more of a focus on you. Once they hear about the program, a lot of my friends are like, “sign me up!” Q: What do you want students who are considering Community School to know? A: They’re going to love it here! The relationships you build here, you can tell people care about you. They want to help mold you into who you want to be. They help you transition to the adult stage and teach you how to think about what’s next. For example, if you have to miss school for any reason, they expect you to call like you would at a job. Even if you think you’re going to be tardy, you need to call. It’s important because it helps prepare you for work.
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At Community School there is a slogan, “I’m not throwing away my shot.” When I saw that painted on the wall, it almost made me cry, because that’s what Community School was. It was my shot. Throughout the school there are encouraging quotes on classroom doors and on the walls. They say things like, “Don’t Give Up” or “Keep Going.” Whenever I would let my mind wander, I would see one of those signs and think, “I’ve got to get back to work.” Q: How does it feel to be a graduate? A: I feel free! I feel like after earning my diploma I have more opportunities. Now I get to think about where my life is going to go. It’s a positive feeling, but it’s also sad because I got close with the staff here. This was
a great experience for me, especially with everything going on. Q: What do you want to do now that you have earned your diploma? A: I’m not sure yet. I’ve thought about being a registered nurse or a physical therapist. I have a part-time job right now, but I want to do more. I really like animals, I think animals are the best things ever. (laughs) If there was a job that would just let me be with horses all day, I would do that. McNeal began attending Community School at the beginning of August 2020 and graduated on November 20, 2020. CONTINUED FROM P. 5
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MEET ANDREW SMITH, FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD EMT of Smith’s friends, a fellow San Jac. student inspired him to take a paramedic class. In 2008, Smith registered for an EMT course at San Jacinto. Once he obtained his EMT certification, Smith proceeded to take an EMT-Intermediate course. During this time, Smith joined the Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department and then received his EMT-I certificate in February 2009. By the end of 2009, he received a part-time position at the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department. In 2010, he returned to the Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department as a part-time EMT-I, then he was hired on as a full-time staff member in 2011. Smith earned his paramedic certification in 2013. In 2018, he was promoted to Assistant Chief where he oversees the entire EMS department for Deer Park. Throughout his career, Smith has received many awards and recognitions including Supervisor of the Month, Advanced Life Support (ALS) Provider of the Year, American Legion EMS Provider of the Year and the Lifesaving Award. By Rebeca Lazo Alumni News Writer
Smith plans to continue to practice his craft and share his knowledge with individuals interested in pursuing a career in the paramedic field.
Giving back to the community is a top priority for this 2007 Pasadena Memorial High School graduate.
“I hope to continue my experience with public service and hope to inspire the next generation of emergency services professionals,” says Smith. “Serving the public is very rewarding, and I feel honored to be able to dedicate my life to this work.”
Pasadena native Andrew Smith devotes his time as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the City of Deer Park Fire Department, where he has dedicated years of service to the community. The path to becoming an EMT started with his mother, Mary Ann Smith. Smith had discovered his interest in the medical field due to his mother’s long-time career as a nurse at Turner Elementary School. After graduating from PMHS, he continued to weigh his options regarding his career path and enrolled at San Jacinto Community College to complete his basics. Discovery of the EMS field evolved into passion after one
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Smith comes from a legacy of Pasadena ISD graduates. His mother is a Sam Rayburn High School 1973 graduate. His brother, Adam, graduated from SRHS in 2001 and currently serves as the branch manager of Gulf Coast Educators Credit Union in League City. His sister, Megan, is an ABLE ASSET teacher in the school district and his younger brother, Austin, a PMHS 2009 graduate, is an Asst. Band Director at South Houston Intermediate in the district.
editorial staff click here to submit your alumni tips! EDITOR
Reesha Brown, PISD Communication & Alumni Coordinator
WRITERS
Kadey Heidrich, Communication Specialist
Rebeca Lazo, Communication Intern
Email rbrown1@pasadenaisd.org or call (713) 740-0000 and ask for alumni relations
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