TSB—May 2010

THE INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN TEXAS FOR 56 YEARS

Paths to principal retention

LEAD

May 2010

LEAVE

In the Spotlight Pat Pringle ESC Region 13

TASSP President Benita Noiel-Ashford Dallas ISD

Preserving History

The Story of Godley Intermediate School

new addition

Historical scHool Building In 1939, a new school facility was constructed through the Works Progress Administration in Godley, Texas. Following the Great Depression, the WPA was instituted to generate public jobs for the unemployed. The construction of the new school created hundreds of local jobs and served many generations of students in Godley.

In 2008, the Godley community joined together and voted to invest $12 million into preserving this historic school building that, over the past 70 years, has served all grade levels in the district.

Although it still may look like the old, rock school building on the outside, inside, it is a facility with state-of-the-art technology, large classrooms and durable materials that will extend the life of the building for another 70 years. The original facility was completely renovated, and a new 41,000-squarefoot addition was constructed.

The most notable original design feature, as well as the most challenging feature to incorporate in the new design, was the rock exterior. The design team searched rock quarries around the state to find a suitable match. Today, there is a seamless transition from old to new.

The transformation of the facility, known today as Godley Intermediate School, has restored a sense of pride that reaches beyond just the teachers and students; it reaches out to the entire community, paying tribute to a building that has given fond memories to so many.

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CONTENTS In the Spotlight: Region 13’s Pat Pringle leaves legacy of relationships

13

by Jennifer LeClaire

Cover Story: Experts explore motivations behind principal turnover rate

14

by Raven L. Hill

Dallas ISD principal raises the bar for all

25

by Whitney Angstadt

photo FEATURES TAGT members rally for annual event ATPE gathers at Austin Convention Center TAHPERD hosts conference in March

DEPartments

17 29 33

COLUMNS

Who’s News

16

TSB Professional Development & Events Calendar

19

In Memoriam

23

Advertiser Index

34

From the Editor

5

The Law Dawg — unleashed

7

by Katie Ford

by Jim Walsh

Tech Toolbox

11

The Back Page

34

by Terry Morawski

by Riney Jordan

Above photo: Region 13 Education Service Center leaders discuss budgetary matters. Pictured are Academic Services Director Wade Labay, Executive Director Pat Pringle and Associate Director Frank Haby.

The views expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or Texas School Business advertisers. The publisher also makes no endorsement of the advertisers or advertisements in this publication.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

3

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From the Editor Napoleon Bonaparte once said that “a leader is a dealer in hope.”

He must have run around with a bunch of school principals. The principals we feature in the May issue are bringing hope to their students and staff members every day, through servant leadership, quick thinking and resourcefulness. It’s a job that can prove challenging with state mandates and limited funding forever blocking pathways to progress.

For our cover story, we talked to principals and university researchers about the dilemma of principal turnover in Texas and what they suggest needs to be done to resolve it.

I also invite you to check out our President Profile on Dallas ISD Principal Benita Noiel-Ashford, who serves at the helm of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. You’ll also find a great feature on Pat Pringle, ESC Region 13 executive director, who retires in August after a prolific career in public education.

Our Who’s News section is packed with announcements this month, and you might see some of your peers in our May photo features. We covered three spring events, hosted by the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented.

If you have feedback or story ideas, I welcome them! Please send your thoughts to katie@texasschoolbusiness.com.

Katie Ford, editor

(ISSN 0563-2978 USPS 541-620) May 2010 Volume LVI, Issue 8

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1601 Rio Grande Street, #441 Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512-478-2113 • Fax: 512-495-9955 www.texasschoolbusiness.com Publisher Ted Siff Editor in Chief Jim Walsh Editor Katie Ford Design Phaedra Strecher Columnists Riney Jordan, Terry Morawski, Jim Walsh Advertising Sales Manager Jim Johnson Business Manager Debbie Stover Director of Marketing and Customer Relations Stephen Markel Digital Media Manager Maira Garcia ISSN 0563-2978 USPS 541-620 Published monthly, except for July/August and November/ December, and for the Bragging Rights issue published in December (11 times a year) by Texas School Business Magazine, LLC, 1601 Rio Grande Street, #441, Austin, TX 78701. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, Texas and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas School Business,1601 Rio Grande Street, #441, Austin, TX 78701. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $28 per year; $52 for two yrs; $72 for three yrs.

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THE LAW DAWG – unleashed

by Jim Walsh

The face of public education

M

y sister-in-law is now retired from a long career teaching music to middle school kids in various school districts in Texas. I vividly remember her comment one day at a family gathering when the subject turned to public education and its many problems.

“Well, all I know,” said Shirley, “is that I save the world every day in my classroom.”

I wanted to stand up and cheer.

There was not a hint of grandiosity in that statement — just a simple truth. We only save the world one child at a time, one day at a time. And Shirley — like tens of thousands of teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians, administrators, bus drivers and cafeteria workers — was doing her part.

Somebody needs to speak up for people like that. Somebody needs to represent the tens of thousands of teachers who care deeply about each child they teach.

Somebody needs to remind the cynics that teaching is a noble calling, a vocation in every sense of the word.

Well, somebody is. Friends of Texas Public Schools (FOTPS) recently completed its first Ambassador Training Academy, preparing 50 — count ’em, 50 — educators to serve as “ambassadors” for public education.

You know about FOTPS. The brainchild of Scott and Leslie Milder, FOTPS is probably best known for those colorful billboards that you are certain to pass if you drive on our major highways. FOTPS, like this magazine, is a counterweight to the negative publicity that draws a disproportionate amount of media attention. And now FOTPS has gone into the people-training business.

Birdville ISD was the inaugural class in the first-ever Ambassador Training Academy.

The Ambassador Training Academy takes place in four two-hour sessions, spread out over the school year. Birdville ISD identified potential ambassadors from each of its campuses and each of its administrative departments and sent the 50 chosen ones to the training.

Leslie points out that educators could learn a lot from other service professionals — such as firefighters.

“Firefighters are united,” she says.

“They watch each other’s backs. And, most importantly, they tell people they have a cool job, that they love what they do. Our actions as educators are often just the opposite.”

See LAW DAWG on page 9

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LAW DAWG continued from page 7

It’s probably easier for firefighters to maintain positive PR than it is for educators.

Firefighters have a common enemy — the fire — and all of us want to see the firefighters win that battle. Firefighters don’t have to choose cheerleaders, inform parents that their kids are not reading well, or assign kids to the DAEP. Firefighters don’t have to give TAKS tests. So, it is no doubt harder to maintain positive PR in the public school environment.

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But that’s all the more reason for good ambassadors. An ambassador loses credibility if she denies that problems exist.

A good ambassador addresses problems thoughtfully and intelligently. Moreover, a good ambassador provides balance in a world where the negative draws so much more attention than the positive.

There is a huge industry just waiting for someone in your school district to make a mistake. One stupid decision by a school principal can produce a week’s worth of one-liners for the late-night comedians.

Bloggers need material, and there are few things juicier than a public school scandal. Public education is a humongous enterprise full of flawed human beings who will sometimes behave badly. We can be sure that someone out there is eager to report on any mistakes we make.

The Ambassador Training Academy won’t make those problems go away, but it will give your district some key communicators who can carry the message about the many good things happening in public education that too often go unnoticed. Here’s hoping more districts follow Birdville ISD’s lead and develop a cadre of ambassadors.

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JIM WALSH is editor in chief of Texas School Business. Also a school attorney, he co-founded the firm of Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos and Green PC. He can be reached at jwalsh@wabsa.com.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

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Tech Toolbox

by Terry Morawski

The internal social network

I

nternal social networks, or ISNs, are invitation-only online communities in which participants are able to exchange ideas, information and materials in real time. ISNs promote relationship building and open communication within an organization, such as a company or a school district. Research conducted by Enterprise Study Group tells us that up to 75 percent of a company’s intellectual capital is “locked away” in emails and email attachments — and thus not available for the whole organization’s benefit. Also, a McKinsey study found that 79 percent of executives felt that their organizations were poor at cross-departmental collaboration.

School districts face the same challenges in finding ways for administration, departments and schools to effectively communicate and collaborate for the greater good. If you can relate to this, perhaps your district or campus is ripe for an ISN. The pros You control your network. As opposed to an open social network like Facebook or MySpace, you retain a significant amount of control in an internal network.

You will be able to control who has access to the network and what type of content they share.

You can customize it. You can create an internal network for any purpose.

These networks also can exist for a specific amount of time. As an example, an internal social network could be an excellent way for an ad-hoc committee to communicate while it addresses a particular challenge.

ISN providers offer tools for growth.

Keeping a social network fresh can be a challenge, but many ISN providers offer incentives to help clients grow their networks, because they benefit when your networks thrive. There are incentives for filling out user profiles or for being an active community member. These promotions can be a fun community builder for your network.

The cons It’s closed. One of the greatest features of open networks, like Facebook or Twitter,

is that they yield comments, questions and collaboration that are unexpected because you’re pulling from an endless resource of participants. This type of serendipity is less likely in a smaller, controlled environment.

This is why, as with any initiative, the strategy and underlying goals of your social network initiative must be considered part of the planning process.

It’s one more account to manage.

Many people are beginning to limit how many networks to which they belong. The network you create will be one more place they will be required to log in and interact.

The challenge is to create a network that offers enough value and interesting interaction to keep the audience engaged.

Network providers to consider Ning (free or pay to have an advertisement-free interface): A network can be set up quickly and easily at www.ning.com.

Via Ning, anyone can set up a network.

There is advertising on the free version of Ning; the advertising can be removed for a small fee per year. The user experience will be similar to that of Facebook, although the network is fully customizable.

Cubeless (paid): Several school districts have chosen to launch internal social networks via an online community platform called Cubeless. Cubeless was originally developed as an internal social network for employees of Sabre Holdings, the company behind Travelocity. Recently, it began selling its internal social networking platform. You can learn more at www. cubeless.com.

I would encourage you to, at the very least, experiment with internal social networking. The opportunities and interactions that will be created within the network can be invaluable to your staff.

TERRY MORAWSKI is the assistant superintendent of communications and marketing for Mansfield ISD. He writes about technology and other topics at www. communicationsjetpack.com. He can be reached at terrymorawski@gmail.com.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

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Texas School Business • May 2010

In the

Spotlight

Pat Pringle leaves legacy of relationships

by Jennifer LeClaire

W

hen you talk to Pat Pringle, two themes often weave their way into the conversation: effective leadership and relationship building — both of which comprise the foundation for his 39-year career in education.

“I believe when you have the right people doing the right things, everyone’s strengths shine,” says Pringle, who began his career in 1971 as a classroom teacher and will retire in August as the executive director of the Region 13 Education Service Center. ESC Region 13 supports teachers and administrators in 60 school districts in 17 counties, including 18 charter schools, 19 private schools and eight institutions of higher education.

“We’ve built a team of people who know a lot about school financing, human resources, facilities, curriculum and other areas,” Pringle says. “That allows me to do what I may do best as a leader — work on relationships and model the way for our 350 employees.”

His vision for Region 13 has been to set the standard for excellence in educational service through leadership, responsiveness to client needs, and quality products that improve student performance.

“I’m most proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish here as a team of people who work hard together,” says Pringle, who admits hard work is not the ultimate definition of a successful team. “I think laughter in any organization is extremely important, because it signals happy employees.

“It is important to the leadership team and to me that our team members are relaxed, spontaneous, and enjoy the workplace and with whom they work,” he continues.

Three times each year, ESC Region 13 employees gather for Center Connection, an event that recognizes team successes and employee excellence. It’s also about having fun. The Center Connection programs sometimes include employee parades, karaoke, game show spin-offs —

and even an animal act or two, Pringle says.

“Center Connections are events that no one wants to miss,” he says. “If Center Connections sound like a strange way to spend time together, that’s OK. We are an informal and fun organization of people who really like each other.”

According to Pringle, good leaders in public education must (Pictured from left to right) ESC Region 13 Executive Director Pat Pringle and Senior Coordinator of Executive Services Janet Basey possess team-building welcome Jeff Conovan of Burnet CISD and Rosie Hernandez of skills. He says when Flatonia ISD. he passes the torch in August, he will advise his successor to state. We have been able to combine our give people a chance to take risks, to hold resources to make that a very attractive, people accountable, to set big goals and productive and successful product.” to avoid hiring people who think exactly Pringle says he would like to be remembered as a leader who cared about his alike. staff and who really knew his employees, “We have been able to recruit people their children and their interests. More here that bring different skills to the job. than anything, though, Pringle says, “the People are free to speak out; it’s OK to most important thing to me in life is to be disagree,” says Pringle. “We still walk a good dad.” away respecting each other and each othPringle is married to Carol Crozier, er’s opinions.” a retired art teacher who is currently Pringle knows well what it takes to supervising student teachers at Texas lead. His career path includes serving as A&M University – Corpus Christi. They a principal and assistant superintendent at have five sons, ages 26 to 36, and four Gonzales ISD, a superintendent at Poth grandchildren.

ISD, an associate commissioner for the In his retirement, Pringle wants to Texas Education Agency, and an associcontinue to contribute to Texas public ate executive director at the Texas Assoeducation in some way. ciation of School Administrators. In many “I’m hoping to teach some graduate of these capacities, Pringle faced the same school courses and write a book. Any book challenge: funding limitations. At Region I write will be very thin,” Pringle quips. “I 13, Pringle and his team have met this feel good about where Region 13 is right challenge through collaboration. now.

Every organization needs a new set “We look for the most efficient ways of eyes, some new approaches, different that we can provide services, and someskills from time to time.

This is the best times that involves consolidating our efjob I’ve ever had.” forts with other service centers,” Pringle JENNIFER LECLAIRE has written for says. “For example, we have a big curThe New York Times, the Associated Press riculum consortium that involves almost and The Christian Science Monitor. every one of our service centers across the May 2010 • Texas School Business

13

Leading vs. leaving Experts explore motivations behind principal turnover rate

by Raven L. Hill

F

rom the moment in 2004 when Patrick Patterson became principal at Austin ISD’s LBJ High School, the clock started ticking.

Patterson has kept a pretty strict timetable when it comes to his professional life, opting to stay at a campus for no more than five years. The strategy helps him to avoid job burnout and motivates him to act swiftly in turning around campuses.

He spent four years as principal of an elementary school, three years at a middle school and five years at the high school he led before arriving at LBJ. Now, six years later, time has run out again. Patterson plans to retire from the northeast Austin school in June to take a job in higher education.

Patterson’s run as a principal is remarkable in that he has mostly stayed on campuses long enough to watch a freshman class walk across the stage on graduation day. That can’t be said for most principals across the state.

A recent study of principal turnover

by University of Texas researchers Ed Fuller and Michelle Young revealed low retention rates from elementary school to high school, with high schools reporting the lowest five-year average — only 31 percent. Various factors are to blame for the high rates, according to Fuller and Young, such as inadequate funds and resources, poor working conditions and

14

Texas School Business • May 2010

the pressures of the state’s accountability system.

The issue of principal retention is gaining attention among researchers and experts on school reform — and with good reason. A “revolving door” pattern among principals makes it difficult for most reform efforts to gain traction. For high-needs schools, the average principal needs to remain in place for four to five years at the elementary level and five to seven years at the secondary level, Fuller says, adding that it takes a minimum of three years on average for principals to make a “substantial, lasting difference.”

“The larger the school, the longer it takes,” Fuller says. “The longer the school has been without a stable principal, the longer it takes. The greater the teacher turnover, the longer it takes. The lower the achievement, the longer it takes.”

The study also revealed the characteristics of principals who are more likely to remain at the same school. Female elementary school principals; principals at predominantly white, high-performing schools; and principals at research or doctoral institutions were all more likely to stay.

Patterson has served as a principal for 18 years in Austin ISD and is considered the “dean” among Austin’s high school principals. His decision to stick it out for six years at LBJ, a high-needs school with

many at-risk students, was personal.

“I always wanted to go into environments that were underdogs and make a difference,” says Patterson, who grew up in a rough neighborhood in Chicago. “I want that for other people who have grown up in similar environments.”

He found success as an elementary and middle school principal, achieving double-digit gains in reading and math passing rates at one school, and taking another school from low-performing to “acceptable” under the state accountability system. After working a few years at another Austin high school, he decided take the helm at LBJ. Patterson says in his early years at LBJ, he was able to operate fairly autonomously as a school principal.

“It was more of what I consider a principal to be; being in charge of a building, the buck really stops at your desk,” Patterson says. “There was a lot of accountability, a lot of responsibility, but a lot of authority to do what you thought was right.”

However, he now compares his job to that of a “middle manager,” saying, “It’s very easy to circumvent a principal’s authority. You can’t take a hard-line stance. You’re working more in a gray area for every issue.”

Many principals leave not because of low pay, but because they feel “micromanaged” by central office staff or they lack resources, such as additional staff, to be successful. They also report frustrations with a rigorous — many argue punitive — accountability system.

“When that happens, then principals get really frustrated,” Fuller says. “They don’t have the tools and autonomy to do their jobs well.”

Not all negative However, several principals consider themselves among the lucky ones, thanks to the mentoring, support and training they receive along the way.

Daniel Garcia became principal of Connally High School in Pflugerville ISD in December 2005.

“I knew the research. I’d read the tenure of a high school principal is three years,” he says. “But I would like to be here a lot longer.”

Garcia credits Pflugerville ISD with recognizing the challenges he faces at the 2,000-student campus, which continues to incur rising numbers of at-risk students

and those coming from low-income families. Connally is also in its third year of a high school redesign initiative, which Garcia says has posed some challenges in restructuring staff.

All the while, Pflugerville ISD has encouraged Garcia to pursue professional development opportunities and has provided the school with other necessary resources, he says. He also found two mentors in the central office who have helped him navigate the difficult terrain.

“They have contributed to my longevity at the campus,” Garcia admits.

Benita Noiel-Ashford, president of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP), has been a principal for eight years, the last five spent at Pearl C. Anderson Middle Learning Center Benita Noiel- in Dallas ISD. She says Ashford the three years she spent as an assistant high school principal were invaluable to her success as a principal.

“You’re able to learn about the various aspects of management — facilities, working with parents and the community, working with various components of instructional leadership, safety,” Ashford says. “Being in that role does prepare you for [being a principal] because you have hands-on experience.”

Fuller and Young’s recommendations for achieving better principal retention include ensuring that principals receive “clinical” experience, improving working conditions and restructuring school leadership.

TASSP offers networking and mindshare opportunities, as well as training workshops, to boost a principal’s capacity to lead, says Executive Director Archie McAfee.

A new principal academy is held annually in San Antonio, in addition to workshops about instructional leadership, student discipline and legal issues. The group also plans to form a closer working relationship with colleges, universities and other principal certification programs.

The networking piece is crucial, says Barbara Paris, principal of Canyon Vista Middle School in Round Rock ISD. “I have always felt that I could pick up the phone [and call a TASSP peer] and say, ‘I haven’t a clue what to do,’” she says.

When McAfee compares the challenges that principals face today to those he encountered in his 19 years as a principal in the 1980s and 1990s, he says he has nothing but empathy.

“The demands on the principal’s time have become greater than back when I opened Plano East as the first principal,” McAfee says. “The challenges today are greater than 30 years ago, even 20 years ago.”

Fuller and Young also recommend adding a growth measure to the state accountability system to encourage principals to take assignments in highneeds schools — the very campuses that are least likely to have high retention rates.

Other recommendations for state policy changes include: • holding district leaders accountable for providing resources and support, • more funding, • better identification of the factors associated with low student performance, • improved quality of assistance provided to novice principals

and principals at low-performing schools, and • limiting the number of off-campus mandatory district meetings.

“Accountability systems are supposed to have carrots and sticks,” Fuller says, “but we dropped all of our carrots and picked up bigger sticks.”

As he wraps up his final semester at LBJ, Patterson is working through the school’s accountability issues. LBJ was rated “academically unacceptable” for the first time this year. It’s not all dire, though.

His next assignment as the director of the Department of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas is waiting in the wings.

“If I were a younger principal, I don’t know if my desire to go into the tougher schools would be as robust,” he admits.

“The research says you need three to five years to turn an organization around. With the accountability system, you can be out of a job in two years.”

RAVEN L. HILL is a freelance writer and former education reporter for the Austin American-Statesman.

Lyndon B. Johnson High School Principal Patrick Patterson in Austin ISD has served as a principal in Austin ISD schools for 18 years. According to a recent study that revealed high rates of principal turnover in Texas, he is an exception to the rule.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

15

Who’s News Angleton ISD Mark Comneck has been named assistant superintendent.

A native of Brooklyn and Long Island, N.Y., he earned his bachelor of arts degree in education from Bethany College in West Virginia and arrived in Brazosport ISD in 1981, where Mark Comneck he taught and coached for seven years. He came to Angleton ISD as assistant principal of Angleton Middle School, and then he served in the same capacity in Spring Branch ISD for a year. He returned to Angleton to take the principal position at Angleton Middle School and Angleton Middle School East. In 2005, he accepted his first central office administration role as director of secondary education, where he remained until accepting his new responsibilities. Comneck’s master of science degree in school administration is from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

Arlington ISD The new assistant principal of Houston High School is Dwane Chappelle. He began

16

Texas School Business • May 2010

his career as a resource teacher in Richardson ISD in 2004, moving to Plano ISD in 2007 to serve first as dean of students at a secondary campus and later as an assistant principal. He was also a juvenile detenDwane Chappelle tion officer for the Dallas County Juvenile Probation Department from 2003 to 2009. Chapelle’s bachelor’s degree is from Louisiana’s Grambling State University and his master’s degree is from Texas A&M University at Commerce.

Trent Fuller will lead the Lamar High School Vikings as head football coach. His career began in 1999 in Coppell ISD, where he taught high school world geography and coached football and basketball, serving as the passing coordinator and coaching quarterbacks, Trent Fuller receivers and defensive backs. He transferred to Colleyville’s Heritage High School in 2005 to teach world geography and act as quarterback and track

coach. He arrived in Arlington ISD in 2006, teaching world geography at Bowie High School, where he was also the football offensive coordinator and junior varsity soccer coach. Fuller’s bachelor’s degree is from Emporia State University in Kansas.

Austin ISD Ramona Trevino is the district’s new chief academic officer. She will oversee curriculum, bilingual education and special education and direct the planning, development and administration of academic programs. Trevino, who is the chief executive officer Ramona Trevino and founding principal of The University of Texas Elementary School, is also an assistant professor with The University of Texas College of Communications. She is the former principal of Austin’s Zilker Elementary School.

Avinger ISD The new superintendent is Jacquelyn Smith, who comes to Avinger ISD from See WHO’S NEWS on page 22

TAGT members rally for annual event

Dolly Adams and Robin Atchison of Comal ISD.

Allison Gray, Avery Troquille and Marie Hamblen of Bastrop.

Karen Maples and Erika O’Connor of Marble Falls ISD.

Jennifer Smith and Tracy Rogers of Comal ISD.

Lynette Breedlove of Spring Branch ISD and Debra Taylor of Clear Creek ISD. TAGT’s Tracy Weinberg with Janis Harris of Fort Worth ISD.

Krystal Goree of Baylor University, Marcy Voss of Boerne ISD and Kay Stotts of North East ISD.

Mary Ann Clark and Bev Given of El Paso ISD.

Brenda Chapel and Kara Lynn Greenfield of Kennedale ISD with Debra McGehee of Wink-Loving ISD. May 2010 • Texas School Business

17

The 23rd Annual

TASSP-LEGAL DIGE S

T

Au s

tin

Conference Agenda

Conf e

Edu renc e on c Co a tion nv Au f en st o r Pr Law tio in, n C Tex inci en as pals ter Tuesday

Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs: The Legal Issues

Jim Walsh – Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos & Green, P.C., Austin

June 8, 2010

Navigating the Minefields of Family Legal Battles Jeana Lungwitz – Lungwitz & Lungwitz, P.C., Austin

What Principals Need to Know About Title IX

Shellie Hoffman Crow – Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos & Green, P.C., San Antonio

Avoiding Legal Claims During the Hiring Process Lisa McBride – Thompson & Horton, Houston

The Principal’s Role in Handling Cyberbullying by Students On Your Campus

Robb D. Decker – Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos & Green, P.C., San Antonio

Legal Currency in Special Education Law: Zirkel’s Top Ten Court Decisions and Other Legal Developments for School Leaders Perry A. Zirkel – Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The Latest on Religion in Our Schools

David Backus – Underwood Law Firm, Lubbock

A One-Day Conference on Current Issues Involving Legal Duties and Liabilities of Public School Principals Cosponsored by: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals and Texas School Administrators’ Legal Digest

REGISTER ONLINE AND SAVE! www.legaldigest.com 18

Texas School Business • May 2010

TSB Calendar

Professional Development & EVENTS WEEK OF MAY 31 June 1-4

Texas ASCD District-Wide Mini Conference Ector County ISD For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723. www.txascd.org

June 2

Get a Grip on the Family and Medical Leave Act TASB offices, Austin For more info, (512) 467-0222. www.tasb.org

Cost: Early registration (by May 18), $180; after May 18, $230.

June 3

MIA: Managing Inevitable Absences TASB offices, Austin For more info, (512) 467-0222. www.tasb.org

Cost: Early registration (by May 19), $180; after May 19, $230.

WEEK OF JUNE 7 June 8

Annual TASSP/Legal Digest Conference Convention Center, Austin For more info, (512) 478-2113. www.legaldigest.com

Cost: Early registration (by May 9): Members, $130 online; $145 offline.

Nonmembers, $180 online; $195 offline.

Regular registration (after May 9): Members, $155 online; $170 offline.

Nonmembers, $205 online; $220 offline.

June 9-10

Texas ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy III Pat May Center, Hurst-EulessBedford ISD For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723. www.txascd.org

Cost: $1,500, six-day academy.

June 9-11

TASSP Summer Conference Convention Center, Austin For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $365; student nonmembers, $95.

June 9-11

TEPSA Summer Conference Renaissance Hotel, Austin

For more info, (512) 478-5268. www.tepsa.org

Cost: Early registration (by May 12): Members, $221; nonmembers, $460.

After May 12: Members, $246; nonmembers, $485.

June 10

Three Ps: Payroll, PEIMS and Personnel Rockwall ISD For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $50; nonmembers, $90; guests, $25.

June 17-19

TASB Summer Leadership Institute Omni Hotel, Fort Worth For more info, Kathy Dundee, (512) 467-0222, ext. 6171. www.tasb.org

Cost: Members, $180; nonmembers, $220.

Cost: Option 1 (programs Thursday through Saturday afternoon), $335; option 2 (programs Friday morning through Saturday afternoon), $275.

June 10-12

June 17-19

TASB Summer Leadership Institute Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio For more info, Kathy Dundee, (512) 467-0222, ext. 6171. www.tasb.org

Cost: Option 1 (programs Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon), $335; option 2 (programs Friday morning through Saturday afternoon), $275.

June 11

Hot Ideas for Kool Physical Education Maverick Activity Center, UT Arlington For more info, (512) 459-1290. www.tahperd.org

Cost: Professional members, $25; professional nonmembers, $80; student members, $20; student nonmembers, $40.

WEEK OF JUNE 14 June 14-15

Training of Trainers: Quality Questioning to Develop Engaged, Responsible and Reflective Learners TASA offices, Austin For more info, (512) 477-6361. www.tasanet.org

Cost: TASA members, $495; nonmembers, $625; teams (3 or more of the same organization), $495 each.

June 17

Personnel Skills Workshop ESC Region 11, Dallas For more info, (512) 494-4353 or (800) 346-4111. www.taspa.org

Cost: $75; $15 late fee after June 10.

June 17-18

TASBO Summer Conference Tivy High School, Kerrville For more info, (512) 462-1711.

TREA Summer Conference DFW Marriott Hotel and Golf Club, Fort Worth For more info, (512) 423-0293. www.txrea.com

Cost: Individuals, $150. Team of five, $650; each additional person, $130.

Registration deadline: May 28.

WEEK OF JUNE 21 June 22-24

ASCD Summer Conference Gaylord Palms Resort and Conference Center, Orlando, Fla. For more info, (800) 933-2723. www.ascd.org

Cost: ASCD members, $429; nonmembers, $493.

June 23-26

NAEOP/TESA Summer Conference Embassy Suites, Frisco For more info, (512) 477-0724. www.tesatexas.org

Cost: $210, includes President’s Luncheon and banquet; $130, conference only.

June 24

Personnel Skills Workshop ESC Region 4, Houston For more info, (512) 494-4353 or (800) 346-4111. www.taspa.org

Cost: $75; $15 late fee after June 17.

June 24-27

New Principal Academy Trinity University, San Antonio For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

Cost: Early registration (by June 1), $775; after June 1, $875.

See CALENDAR on page 20 May 2010 • Texas School Business

19

TSB Calendar

Professional Development & EVENTS

Summer Conference and UT/TASA Summer Conference on Education, $310; student registration for TCWSE conference and UT/TASA conference, $185. On-site fees for above categories, respectively: $220, $155, $165, $335 and $210.

CALENDAR continued from page 19

June 25-27 TCWSE Summer Conference Renaissance Hotel, Austin For more info, (512) 477-6361. www.tcwse.org

WEEK OF JUNE 28

Cost: Preregistration (through June 18): conference registration and 2010-2011 dues, $195; student conference registration and dues, $130; one-day registration and dues, $140; joint registration for TCWSE

June 27-29

UT Austin/TASA Summer Conference on Education Renaissance Hotel, Austin

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Cost: $175.

June 28-30

Texas ASCD Summer Conference: Integration of 21st Century Skills Across the Curriculum Sheraton Hotel, Dallas For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723. www.txascd.org

Cost: $575.

WEEK OF JULY 5 July 11-13 Annual TAHPERD Summer Conference Embassy Suites, Frisco For more info, (512) 459-1290. www.tahperd.org

Cost: Early registration (by May 15): professional and associate members and out of state, $75; student and retired members, $35.

Preregistration (by June 15): professional and associate members and out of state, $85; student and retired members, $35. Late registration (after June 15): professional and associate members and out of state, $95; student and retired members, $45.

WEEK OF JULY 12 July 12-16

Summer Coaches Clinic Convention Center, Arlington For more info, (512) 708-1333. www.austintgca.com

Cost: Early registration (before June 15), $70, includes $40 membership fee; after June 15, $35, includes $40 membership fee. TGCA members only.

July 16-18

Texas Educational Theatre Association SummerFest Texas State University, San Marcos For more info, Gloria McLuckie, (979) 826-5533. www.tetatx.com

Cost: Early registration (before May 15), $90; after May 15, $125.

July 18-21

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877-696-2122 20

Texas School Business • May 2010

Texas High School Coaches Association Convention and Coaching School Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio For more info, (512) 392-3741. www.thsca.com

TSB Calendar

Professional Development & EVENTS

WEEK OF JULY 19

WEEK OF AUGUST 2

WEEK OF AUGUST 16

July 19

No events listed.

No events listed.

WEEK OF AUGUST 9

WEEK OF AUGUST 23

August 9-10 TASBO: Focus On Leadership Workshop Location TBA For more info, (512) 462-1711 or (800) 338-6531. www.tasbo.org

No events listed.

Intermediate Governmental Accounting, Part 1 Beaumont ISD For more info, (512) 462-1711 or (800) 338-6531. www.tasbo.org

July 20

Intermediate Governmental Accounting, Part 2 Beaumont ISD, Beaumont For more info, (512) 462-1711 or (800) 338-6531. www.tasbo.org

WEEK OF AUGUST 30 No events listed.

TSB

July 21

TASPA Law Conference Doubletree Hotel, Austin For more info, (512) 494-9353. www.taspa.org

Cost: $75.

July 21-23

TASPA Annual Summer Conference Doubletree Hotel, Austin For more info, (512) 494-9353. www.taspa.org

Cost: Members, $150; retired members, $75.

July 22-24

ASCD Leader to Leader Event Lansdowne Resort, Lansdowne, Va. For more info, (800) 933-2723. www.ascd.org

Cost: $100.

WEEK OF JULY 26 July 26

Basic PEIMS Workshop Location TBA, Fredericksburg For more info, (512) 462-1711 or (800) 338-6531. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $180; nonmembers, $220.

July 27-28

Texas ASCD: Jumping Hurdles and Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science Northside ISD (San Antonio) For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723. www.txascd.org

Cost: One-day institute, $150 for nonmembers, $125 for members; two-day academy, $295 for nonmembers, $249 for members.

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May 2010 • Texas School Business

21

Who’s News WHO’S NEWS continued from page 16

Maud ISD, where she spent two and a half years as principal of the middle school and high school.

Prior to taking on administrative responsibilities, she was a classroom teacher for 15 years. Smith earned Jacquelyn Smith her master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University at Texarkana.

Brownsville ISD

Tony Fuller has been appointed chief financial officer. He has spent his 26-year career in the district’s business office, starting out as an accountant after earning his accounting degree from Pan American University in Brownsville (now The Tony Fuller University of Texas - Pan American). He worked his

IIn ns su urra an nc ce e P Pu urrc ch ha as siin ng g P Po ow we err R Riis sk k M Ma an na ag ge em me en ntt C Co on ns su ullttiin ng g

Property Auto Worker’s Comp Educator’s E&O

Joe Blasi, ARM, CPCU (713) 940-6565

way up in the district, serving next as accounting supervisor and subsequently as a budget administrator, interim payroll administrator and interim chief financial officer.

Clint ISD (El Paso) Leticia M. Salas will serve as the district’s director of elementary education when the new school year begins.

She began her career as an educator in 1990 as a third grade teacher at Our Lady of Assumption School in El Paso. She then taught Leticia M. Salas for a year at Dolphin Terrace Elementary in El Paso’s Ysleta ISD, before leaving El Paso to teach for two years in Taylor ISD. She returned to El Paso as a fourth grade teacher at Clint ISD’s Montana Vista Elementary before joining Socorro ISD, first as a classroom teacher at Martinez Elementary and then as assistant principal at Horizon Heights Elementary. Her first principal assignment came in 2003 at Campestre Elementary, where she served for three years.

In 2007, Salas became principal of Horizon Heights Elementary, where she will continue to serve through the end of this school year.

She received her bachelor’s degree in education and her master’s degree in educational administration from The University of Texas at El Paso.

Clint ISD’s new math and science coordinator is Kimberly G. Williams, who began her career at the Elizabethtown Alternative Center in Elizabethtown, Ky., where she taught math, chemistry, earth sciences, biology, English, and arts and Kimberly G. sciences. She arrived in Williams El Paso in 2005 to teach math at Socorro High School. Two years later, she became the curriculum coach at Sanchez Middle School in Socorro ISD. In 2008, she became dean of instruction and assistant principal of the school, her most recent assignment. Williams earned her bachelor of science degree in secondary education/mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and her master’s degree in education/administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix. She is working on her doctorate at Liberty University.

College Station ISD Greens Prairie Elementary School, set to open in August 2011, will have Donna Bairrington as its principal. She will See WHO’S NEWS on page 24

22

Texas School Business • May 2010

In Memoriam

Tex. Lic. #10138

R

etired Highland Park ISD Athletic Director Robert “Bo” Snowden died on Feb. 21.

Snowden coached junior varsity basketball and football in Highland Park ISD in 1967 and 1968. He also served in the Dallas Cowboys Scouting Department from 1969 until 1982. He became Highland Park ISD’s varsity head basketball coach in 1968 and held the position until 1984, when he was named athletic director. He served in that position until his retirement in 1996.

At Highland Park ISD, Snowden was known for his skill as a basketball coach and for his ability to mentor young people on his teams.

Guy Kerr, a former player for Snowden says: “He was truly a molder of boys and girls, men and women, and a shining example of humility and integrity in all that he did.”

Linda Salinas, a former assistant principal at Highland Park High School, says: “Athletes and coaches alike were motivated by his enthusiasm, his insight and his dedication. He ensured the athletic program met the level of excellence expected by the tradition of Highland Park. In addition to being the consummate professional, Bo was the kindest, most likable person to be around.

He had a great sense of humor and a talent for making even the worst situation into a workable one.”

Following his retirement from Highland Park ISD, Snowden took on the role of athletic director at Providence Christian School of Texas.

Snowden graduated from Paris High School in Paris, Texas. He received his bachelor of science degree from Auburn University before earning his master’s degree from East Texas State University in 1966.

He met the love of his life, Judy, in the summer of 1965, when she was working on her master’s degree at Texas Christian University. The next summer, they were married and moved to Denison, where Snowden taught American History while coaching both football and basketball.

Snowden is survived by his wife and three children: Juliana Snowden, Melissa Snowden Turner and Travis Snowden, all of whom graduated from Highland Park High School. TSB

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23

Who’s News WHO’S NEWS continued from page 22

complete this school year as principal of Pebble Creek Elementary and begin her new job this summer, working on the finalization of the new school’s building details, assembling a staff and Donna faculty and developing a Bairrington PTO. Bairrington has been with the district for 16 years, having spent five years as academic coordinator at Pebble Creek before becoming its principal in 2007.

She has also been academic coordinator and a science teacher at Prairie Rock Elementary, and was an elementary teacher for four years in Bryan ISD. Bairrington has a bachelor of science degree in education from the College of Charleston and a master of science degree in adult and extension education from Texas A&M University.

Coppell ISD Rhonda Carr will be the district’s new director of assessment, K-12. She has been with Coppell ISD since 2008 as assistant principal of Coppell Middle School West. She has a bachelor’s degree in deaf education from Texas Tech UniversiRhonda Carr ty and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of North Texas. Her principal certification was earned from Texas Woman’s University.

Melody Paschall, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, was named School Library Administrator of the Year by the Texas Association of School Librarians. Her nomination noted that she is an advocate for the disMelody Paschall trict’s library department and a leader who promotes the vision for developing libraries best suited for 21st century learning.

Kelly Penny, chief financial officer, was elected to serve on the board of directors of the Texas Association of School BusiKelly Penny ness Officials. She came to Coppell ISD in 2007.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Kandy Bond has been tapped to serve 24

Texas School Business • May 2010

as principal of Reed Elementary, moving to her new position from Frazier Elementary, where she has been assistant principal for the past two years. An educator with 15 years’ experience, 11 of those Kandy Bond with Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, she began her career as a teacher at Houston ISD’s Wesley and Smith elementary schools. Upon arriving in Cypress-Fairbanks, she taught for two years at Horne Elementary, was a math helping teacher at Lieder Elementary for two years and then spent a year as the instructional specialist at Frazier. Her first assistant principal position was at Copeland Elementary, where she served for a year before spending three years in the same role at Hairgrove Elementary. Bond has a bachelor of science degree in criminology and corrections from Sam Houston State University and a master’s degree in education administration and supervision from the University of Houston.

Gina Guidry has been named principal of Sheridan Elementary School, where she has been assistant principal for the past 15 years. An educator for 27 years, 26 of those with the district, her first teaching assignment was at Lieder ElemenGina Guidry tary, where she taught for six years before spending a year as the school’s assistant principal.

She then was named an assistant principal at Sheridan. She moved to Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico, and taught English for a year before returning to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Sheridan. Guidry’s bachelor of science degree in elementary education and her master of arts degree in education are from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is certified in midmanagement and supervision.

Heather Motzny, currently assistant principal of Swenke Elementary School, will take the reins at Sampson Elementary School as its principal. An educator for 19 years, she has spent her career with the district. She was a teacher at Adam ElHeather Motzny ementary for seven years before accepting her first administrative position as an assistant principal at Ault Elementary, where she served for 11 years. She is a graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor of science degree in education. Her master of education degree

in administration is from Prairie View A&M University.

Crystal Romero-Mueller will be the principal of Fiest Elementary School when the new school year begins. Currently serving as assistant principal of Emmott Elementary, she has 15 years’ experience as an educator, 12 of those Crystal Romero- in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Mueller She began her career as a teacher in Deer Park ISD, coming to Cypress-Fairbanks in 1998 to teach special education at Copeland Elementary.

She became an instructional specialist at Holbrook Elementary in 2002, staying there for one year before taking on her current position at Emmott. Romero-Mueller has a bachelor of science degree in elementary curriculum and special education from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a master of education degree in administration from Sam Houston State University.

Ector County ISD The new principal for Goliad Elementary School came out of retirement in February to take on the job. Martha Mitchell, a former principal of Burleson Elementary and Ector Junior High, is the school’s new leader.

She began her career in Martha Mitchell 1971 as a health and physical education teacher and gymnastics coach at Permian High School, where she remained until 1992. At that time, she took on the responsibility of magnet program director at Blackshear Magnet Elementary. In 1994, she was appointed principal at the school. From 2002 to 2005, Mitchell was principal of Ector Junior High School, moving to serve as principal of Burleson Elementary from 2005 until her retirement in 2008.

Forney ISD Suzanne McWilliams is the new assistant superintendent of accountability and learning. McWilliams replaces Linda Jacobs, who will retire from the district in June.

McWilliams has 30 years of experience in the field of education, beginning her career as a teacher of first, third and fifth grades and physical education for students at Canton Elementary School in Canton ISD in 1980. She moved into education administration in 1990 as the assistant principal of J.E. Rhodes Elementary School in Van ISD before becoming the principal at Van Intermediate School in 1992.

See WHO’S NEWS on page 26

TASSP PRESIDENT profile Dallas ISD principal raises the bar for all

by Whitney Angstadt

A

fter accepting her first teaching job, it took very little time for Benita Noiel-Ashford to realize that she had found her calling in public education.

Now as a school administrator and president of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP), she works tirelessly to help principals give students every opportunity they need to succeed.

It’s a far cry from the career she had her sights set on when she graduated from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University – Commerce) in 1978.

“Originally, I wanted to be an actress,” admits Ashford, who earned a bachelor of science degree in all-level speech and drama and was crowned Miss Black Texarkana the same year.

After college, Ashford worked as a professional model and went on to claim four more pageant titles. Yet, her acting career didn’t lift off as she had hoped. So, Ashford decided to put her teaching certificate, which she had earned while at the university, and her communications skills, which she had honed during her pageant career, to good use.

She began teaching reading and drill team at Lincoln Humanities/Communications Magnet High School in South Dallas in 1986. Under the mentorship of Lincoln High’s beloved and sometimes controversial principal Dr. Napoleon B. Lewis, Ashford quickly realized how important education was to her.

“I grew up in a family of eight and was the first to graduate from college,” Ashford says. “[Going to college] was important to me because I was taught that getting an education was the only way to make it and be successful in life. And sure enough, that stands true today. You must have an education in order to compete.”

Believing in her potential, Principal Lewis encouraged the young teacher to continue her education and to set higher goals.

“It took a star principal to encourage me to get my master’s degree and my doctorate,” says Ashford. “[Lewis] continued to increase my roles and responsibilities in

Pearl C. Anderson Middle School Learning Center Principal Benita Noiel-Ashford (center) meets with staff members (left to right) Demetra Robertson, Chandra Barnett, Carlos Conde and Rockell Wesley.

a leadership capacity, and that is really what inspired me to become a principal.”

After receiving her mid-management certification, Ashford moved from Lincoln High to another Dallas ISD school, the Pearl C. Anderson Middle School Learning Center, in 1991 and continued to teach.

After five years at Anderson, she took a vice principal position at Forney High School in Forney ISD, a smaller school district east of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Ashford stayed at Forney High for three years until 1999 when Dallas ISD hired her back as dean of instruction at Lincoln High. For three years, Ashford worked to bring the school up to a “Recognized” status. Then, she moved to Terrell in 2002, where she became principal at Terrell Middle School.

In 2005, she returned to Dallas ISD — this time as principal of Pearl C. Anderson Middle Learning Center, where she has been ever since.

Ashford says at her school, where most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, success is defined by more than academic performance. It’s about keeping students focused and ready to learn. Her staff also has to contend with the distractions of the inner-city environment at this South Dallas school.

“Not a lot of suburban schools deal with liquor stores around their neighborhoods and students having to walk through that on their way to school,” she says. “At

my school, we have to get the students past all those ills and the baggage that they might bring from home to get them to learn.”

Ashford’s staff tries to build meaningful relationships with each student and encourage involvement in school activities.

From student council to service projects, all of these activities help students build leadership skills — another of Ashford’s passions.

As president of TASSP, Ashford’s mission revolves around defining principalship as not merely a job, but as a position with a purpose that goes beyond the school.

“We’re molding the characters of children and trying to inspire them to become leaders,” Ashford says. “The commitment that we have goes a bit further than just nine to five.”

Ashford continues to raise the bar for herself as well.

“What I hope is next for me is that I move into that superintendency, because I think that the vision I have for children and teaching and learning extends beyond what I’m doing right now,” she says. “I want to be in that leadership role that would help a school district see that same vision and have that same passion that I have for education and learning.”

WHITNEY ANGSTADT is a freelance writer in Austin.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

25

Who’s News WHO’S NEWS continued from page 24

In 1998, McWilliams moved into central administration at Van ISD, where she currently serves as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

Throughout her 12 years in the central administration Susanne office at Van ISD, McWilMcWilliams liams has worked as the executive director of human resources and as

the technology director, has developed and administered the district’s state and federal budget, and has supervised the district’s principals and special programs department.

McWilliams received her bachelor’s degree in education from The University of Texas at Tyler and earned a master’s degree in education from Texas A&M University – Commerce. She holds teaching certifications in elementary art and elementary self-contained and has completed the mid-management certification and the superintendent certification.

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McWilliams is a state board member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and is a Certified Education Foundation Executive.

Jacobs will retire from the district after more than 25 years of service with Forney ISD. Jacobs has served as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent throughout her tenure with the district.

Frisco ISD Five new elementary and middle school principals have been named for the 20102011 school year.

Shannon Acosta will lead Sonntag Elementary, coming to her new job from Tadlock Elementary. An educator with nine years of experience, she was a teacher for seven years before helping to open Tadlock in 2008 as its assistant principal. Both Shannon Acosta her degrees were earned in New York: her bachelor’s degree from Canisius College and her master’s degree from Niagara University.

Phil Evans has been named principal of Cobb Middle School. An educator for 13 years, he was a teacher in Plano and McKinney ISDs for six years, and he was a middle school dean of students/assistant principal in Plano for five years before comPhil Evans ing to Frisco ISD as assistant principal of Liberty High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from the University of North Texas.

Taking the top job at Hunt Middle School will be Gary Nye, currently assistant principal of Wester Middle School. He taught for six years in Fort Worth and Plano ISDs and was dean of students for two years, until 2006 when he joined Gary Nye Frisco ISD. His bachelor’s degree is from Emporia State University in Kansas, and his master’s and doctoral degrees are from the University of North Texas.

Maus Middle School will have Cory McClendon as its principal. He taught for five years in Wichita Falls and Plano ISDs and arrived in Frisco Cory McClendon in 2004 to teach at Centen-

Who’s News nial High School. He has spent the past three years as assistant principal of Roach Middle School. McClendon earned his bachelor’s degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and his master’s degree from the University of North Texas.

Mary Webb, who is the assistant principal of Ogle Elementary, will take the reins at Purefoy Elementary. An educator for 11 years, she was a teacher, librarian and administrator in Terrell and Crandall ISDs before taking her job at Ogle in 2006.

Mary Webb She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree from Texas A&M University – Commerce.

Abydos trainer since 2004, took on her present job in 2009.

Gruver ISD Terry Felderhoff has accepted an offer to serve as Gruver ISD’s athletic director.

For the past two years, Felderhoff has been the athletic director in Valley View ISD. Houston ISD Superintendent Terry B. Grier has announced the appointment of 14 school improvement officers, who will serve as part of

Houston ISD’s leadership reorganization. The officers will report to three chief school officers (elementary, middle and high school) and will provide mentoring, coaching and support to district principals and staff. The new officers and their current positions are: Elementary school:

Deborah Crowe, executive principal, Houston ISD

Kim Fonteno, executive principal, Houston ISD See WHO’S NEWS on page 28

Granbury ISD Jimmy Dawson, Acton Middle School principal, was honored in March with the Instructional Leader Award from Tarleton State University’s Effective Schools Project. Founded to provide professional development activities that Jimmy Dawson involve school principals and university professors and administrators, the project has evolved from its inception in 1988 to be one of the nation’s largest and longest-running school improvement ventures. Dawson was principal of Granbury Middle School from 2003 to 2007, at which time he took on the lead role at Acton. His education career began in 1993 as a teacher and coach in Borger ISD, where he subsequently became an assistant principal before accepting a position as an elementary school principal in Plainview ISD. Amy Wood, technology director, was recognized by Abydos Learning International at its state conference, held in Houston in March, for her work on “Dr. JAC’s Math: Reading, Writing Connections,” which she co-authored with Joyce Amy Wood Armstrong Carroll. Abydos, which was formerly known as the New Jersey Writing Project in Texas (NJWPT), is a research-based program that improves the teaching of writing by working to increase teachers’ knowledge base through hands-on demonstrations and the integration of all language arts skills. Wood, who was previously Granbury ISD’s instructional technology coordinator and who has been an Texas Business Affiars May.indd 1

3/30/10 3:34:34 PM May 2010 • Texas School Business 27

Who’s News

WHO’S NEWS continued from page 27

Karla Loria, school improvement officer, San Diego (Calif.) USD Jocelyn Mouton, executive principal, Houston ISD Marshall Scott, principal, Alcott Elementary, Houston ISD Ann Sledge, executive principal, Houston ISD Andre Spencer, network team leader, Baltimore City Public Schools

Ted Villarreal, executive principal, Houston ISD Rodney Watson, principal, Hickman (Mo.) School District

Middle school:

Julia Dimmit, executive principal, Houston ISD

Anastasia Lindo-Anderson, principal, Revere Middle School, Houston ISD

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John Allen, principal, Sharpstown High School, Houston ISD

Pamela Randall, regional manager, Houston ISD Also, Nancy Matley, a Houston ISD executive principal, has been chosen to serve as the school compliance officer for the district’s high school charter network schools.

Irving ISD Dana T. Bedden has been named superintendent. He comes to his new position from the Richmond County School System in Augusta, Ga., where he served as superintendent. A native of Florida, Bedden began his career in 1991 as a middle Dana T. Bedden school health teacher and basketball coach in Pinellas County Public Schools in Largo, Fla. With a move to Pennsylvania, he was athletic director for the City of York School District, then served as a district community and athletic resource administrator for Exeter Township School District. His next assignment was as a sub-school principal at Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax, Va. He was then principal of School Without Walls Senior High School in Washington D.C. He returned to Pennsylvania in 2003 to serve as the central region superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia. In 2007, he took on his most recent assignment in Georgia. Bedden earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Florida and a master of education degree from Pennsylvania State University. His doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies is from Virginia Tech University.

Leander ISD Leander ISD’s newest campus, Four Points Middle School, will have Joe Ciccarelli as its principal. Ciccarelli, who has 25 years’ experience in education, 16 of those teaching in middle and high schools, will continue in his present position as assistant principal of Leander’s Cedar Park High until the new school opens this fall. He has a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas and a master’s degree and doctorate from Texas State University.

Lindale ISD Moss Intermediate School’s assistant principal, Lori Anderson, has been promoted to principal of the school. Over a 10-year See WHO’S NEWS on page 30

ATPE gathers at Austin Convention Center Yonne Avina and Becky Dominguez of Northside ISD.

Kirk Brown of Beaumont ISD and Tina Briones of San Antonio ISD.

Lynette Ginn of Hale Center ISD and Twila Figueroa of McAllen ISD.

Pamela Tompkins of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Hector Pacheco of Clint ISD and Teresa Toliver of Alief ISD.

Annell Todd, ATPE’s first communications director and former Texas School Business publisher, with Mike Morrow, ATPE’s first executive director, and Sally Wiedemann, ATPE’s third president.

Kim Kriegel of Waxahachie ISD and Teresa Hudson of Denton ISD.

Pat Clos and Gary Clos of Lufkin ISD.

Wanda Bailey, Diane Nix and Melissa McGee of Mesquite ISD.

Jamie Williams and Eileen Walcik of Killeen ISD.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

29

Who’s News WHO’S NEWS continued from page 28

Lori Anderson

30

period at Moss, she taught sixth grade language arts and math and fifth grade language arts, math and science. She became the school’s assistant principal in 2006. Anderson earned an associate of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies from Tyler Junior College,

Texas School Business • May 2010

subsequently graduating cum laude from The University of Texas at Tyler with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education.

She earned a master’s degree in educational administration and her principal’s certification from that institution as well.

Lubbock ISD Sam Ayers, associate superintendent of K-12 teaching and learning for Lubbock ISD’s quadrants 3 and 4, has been named the new principal of Estacado High School. He

initially was a fifth grade teacher in San Antonio’s Alamo Heights ISD. He arrived in Lubbock in 1986 as a teacher at Iles Elementary Magnet School.

He then took on the job of instructional specialist/ Sam Ayers assistant principal at Hardwick, Harwell, Bozeman, Rush, Bowie and Iles elementary schools, becoming principal of Hardwick in 1992. He next served as principal of Wilson Elementary Magnet School and principal of Hutchinson Middle School before becoming Lubbock ISD’s assistant superintendent for elementary education, where he remained until taking his current position.

In addition, he has been an adjunct assistant professor at Wayland Baptist University and Lubbock Christian University, and a lecturer at Texas Tech University.

Joining Ayers at Estacado High as assistant principal will be Jimmy Moore, currently principal of Dunbar Middle School. He has been with Lubbock ISD since 1996, having taught and coached for four years at Estacado High. He then spent four Jimmy Moore years with Lubbock Christian University, first as head women’s basketball coach and then as athletic director. He returned to Lubbock ISD in 2005 as assistant principal of Estacado High, taking on the head role at Dunbar in 2006. Moore’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Lubbock Christian University.

Veteran Lubbock ISD educator David Vasquez, who has been principal of Estacado High School since 2007, will retire at the end of this school year. An educator since 1977, he began as a middle school physical education teacher and athDavid Vasquez letic director. He became assistant principal of Lubbock’s largest junior high school, Evans, in 1988. In 1991, he took on the same role at the city’s largest high school, Coronado, where he remained until accepting principal positions, first at Atkins Junior High and then at Cavazos Junior High. He then served for two years as the executive director of the district’s at-risk and dropout prevention program before taking the lead role at Estacado. Vasquez earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas Tech University.

Brian Yearwood will step into the role of principal at Dunbar Middle School, coming

Who’s News to his new position from Iles Elementary, where he has served as principal since 1998. He began his career in 1985 as a teacher at Lubbock State School.

After three years in that position, he was a case coorBrian Yearwood dinator for mentally handicapped students at Bethpage Mission South.

His work in Texas public schools started in Lubbock ISD in 1990. His first administrative assignment came in serving as assistant principal of Dunbar Middle School from 1993 to 1995. He then was assistant principal for instruction at Cavazos Junior High for three years until taking on his role at Iles. Additionally, Yearwood was an adjunct professor at Texas Tech University and continues to serve in the same capacity at Lubbock Christian University and as a senior instructor in the pre-engineering summer program at Texas Tech University’s Department of Mathematics. He has an associate of arts degree from the New Mexico Military Institute. He also has a bachelor’s degree in geosciences/geology, a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership, all from Texas Tech University.

Mason ISD The new superintendent is Pam Kruse, who has been promoted from her position as principal of Mason High School.

An educator who has spent her career with the district, she began as a coach and a teacher of family and consumer sciences and math in Pam Kruse 1987. In addition to coaching girls’ basketball and girls’ and boys’ track, she was the cheerleading coach and served as the executive director of Mason ISD’s Education Foundation. Kruse took her first administrative position in 2004, as assistant principal of Mason Elementary/ Junior High for a year before taking on the job of principal of the junior high. After three years in that job, she was named principal of Mason High, where she has served until accepting her new position. Kruse has a bachelor of science degree from Angelo State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Texas Tech University at Fredericksburg. Her superintendent certification was also earned from Angelo State.

Mesquite ISD Randy Jackson has been selected to serve as athletic director and head football coach at Poteet High School. He has more

than 20 years’ experience, 10 of those as a head coach and athletic director. His first head coach position was in Paducah ISD, and he subsequently took on similar roles in Mason and DeKalb ISDs. From 1990 to 1999, he served in assistant positions at the 4A and 5A levels, including one year at West Mesquite High School. He transferred to Lone Oak ISD in 2004, where he will remain until the start of the next school year. Jackson is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University.

Overton ISD Arthur “Bo” Talkington has returned to Overton High School as head football coach and athletic director, a position he previously held from 1981 to 1988.

Plano ISD Twenty-four years after taking the lead job at Plano Senior High School, Principal Doyle Dean has announced his upcoming retirement. Dean’s first assignment as an educator was as an eighth grade math teacher for the district in 1965. He began his administrative career in 1970, serving as assistant principal in several Plano schools until 1986, when he accepted the principal position at Plano Senior High. With 45 years of experience in Plano ISD, Dean is the district’s longest-serving employee. A few hours after sending his letter of resignation to district administrators, Dean was on his way to Phoenix, Ariz., to attend a national conference for secondary school principals.

Rockwall ISD Jeff Bailey, who has been serving as deputy superintendent since May 2009, has been promoted to superintendent. Prior to coming to Rockwall, he was with Plano ISD, where he began his career in 1979, teaching and coaching.

Jeff Bailey He subsequently served in that district as an assistant principal, principal and personnel director before being named deputy superintendent in 2007, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of Plano ISD’s 68 campuses. Bailey earned both his bachelor of science degree in secondary education and his master of science in educational administration from East Texas State University.

Seguin ISD Jolene Yoakum, an educator with more than 30 years’ experience, has been named assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. She comes to Seguin from Houston ISD, where she was interim assistant

superintendent of secondary curriculum, instruction and assessment. Yoakum has a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri University, a master’s degree from Central Missouri State University and a docJolene Yoakum torate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Seguin High School has a new head football coach and athletic director. He is Wayne Walker, a coach for 22 years, most recently in La Grange ISD. During his 19942005 tenure as offensive coordinator at Ennis High School in Ennis ISD, the Lions took home three state 4A championships.

Socorro ISD (El Paso) Eastlake High School has its first athletic coordinator/head football coach. He is Jimmy J. Calderon, an El Paso native who played football for Ysleta ISD’s Hanks High School. He then played for four years at his university alma mater, Sul Ross Jimmy J. Calderon State University, where he began his coaching career, serving as an assistant football coach and athletic recruiter. He next worked as an assistant varsity coach in Houston ISD’s Elsik High School and at Giddings High School in Giddings ISD. He returned to El Paso in 2001 as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator for Riverside High School in Ysleta ISD, where he remained for six years. He was promoted to head coach in 2007.

Tahoka ISD Steve Burleson has been named the district’s superintendent. He is an educator with 34 years of experience, including 10 of those as a teacher and coach in Sanderson, Sweetwater, Gruver and Perryton ISDs. He was a campus administrator in Perryton, Booker and Abernathy ISDs. He spent two years as assistant superintendent of Morton ISD and five years as superintendent of Spur ISD, before transferring to his most recent position as assistant superintendent of administrative services in Frenship ISD. Burleson’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

Victoria ISD For the 2010-2011 school year, Courtney Carter has been hired as head volleyball coach at Victoria West High School.

See WHO’S NEWS on page 32 May 2010 • Texas School Business

31

Who’s News Ron Blane Hinton as its head band director. Prior to joining Victoria ISD, he held positions in Brownfield and Snyder ISDs, as well as with Abilene Christian University. He taught music for several years before coming to the district this school year as an assistant band director.

The new coordinator of assessment and accountability will be Dionne Loughman, currently assistant principal of Shields Magnet School. She has been with the district since 1995, when she taught at Rowland

WHO’S NEWS continued from page 31

She comes to Victoria from Wharton ISD, where she currently is the head basketball and volleyball coach.

The new head band director for Victoria East High School is David Edge. He has been with Victoria ISD since 1999.

Mickey Finley, head coach at Memorial High School for the past three years, will take on the role of head coach at Victoria East High School.

Victoria West High School will have

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Texas School Business • May 2010

Elementary School. She then taught in AustwellTivoli ISD, returning to Victoria in 2001 as Smith Magnet School’s reading/ language arts curriculum facilitator, the position she held until transferring to Dionne Shields Magnet in 2007.

Loughman She earned her bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University and her master of education degree in administration and supervision from the University of Houston.

Leonard McAngus has been named head football coach and coordinator for Victoria West High School. He served as offensive coordinator, head strength and conditioning coach, and sociology and physical education teacher at Victoria High School from 1990 to 1996. He then transferred to Gonzales ISD, where he spent seven years as the high school’s head coach. In 2002, he became the head football coach at Northwest High School in Justin ISD. He is currently director of campus services in health, physical education and athletics at that school.

Jayme Pauley will move from serving as head volleyball coach at Memorial High School to the same role at Victoria East High School.

Willis ISD Ben Cooper is stepping down from his position of athletic director, but he will remain with Willis ISD as an administrator, taking on the role of assistant principal at Parmley Elementary School. Cooper began his career as a head coach in Aldine ISD, spending five years in that position before becoming an assistant principal in the district, where he remained for three years. He then transferred to Conroe ISD as a junior high assistant principal. He spent 12 years in the private sector before returning to Willis ISD as the high school assistant principal and then principal. He became the athletic director in 2006.

Kelly Savoy, Willis High School girls’ basketball coach, is the district’s new athletic director. He has been with Willis ISD for 12 years and previously served as a coach in North Carolina.

CORRECTION In the April 2010 issue of Texas School Business, we made some errors in the item about Midland ISD Superintendent Sylvester Perez’s retirement. Perez took on the position of athletic director in Harlandale ISD in 1988.

He then served as principal of Harlandale ISD’s McCollum High School before becoming superintendent in Mathis ISD. We sincerely regret the errors.

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Kim Rothfus and Kim Pitman of Garland ISD.

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Rene Schafer of Comal ISD and Debbie Rhea of Texas Christian University.

Shelly Drumm of Judson ISD and Gina Castro of Harlandale ISD.

Mel Finkenberg of Stephen F. Austin State University and Rich Almstedt of Lone Star College at Kingwood.

Rachael Naylor and Jeremy Rizzo of North East ISD.

Jackie Sweet of Pasadena ISD, Elaine Magee of North Forest ISD and Kelly Costley of Pasadena ISD.

Kathy Cammarata of Forney ISD and Kayla Peak of Tarleton State University.

May 2010 • Texas School Business

33

THE BACK PAGE Advertiser Index

by Riney Jordan

It’s about the kids

D

on’t you appreciate it when others confide in you? Isn’t it a huge responsibility to be asked for your advice in a situation? In just a matter of a few days, I received three such requests.

The first was from a distant cousin whom I had only recently gotten to know.

She and her husband had been transferred to a much smaller community, and they were so disappointed in some of the things they were seeing and hearing there. Two of their children were in elementary grades, and to quote the third grader, “They’re so grumpy at the school!”

My cousin went on to express that the other children’s parents, for the most part, were disrespectful and rude to their own children. “I’ve heard so many parents telling their children to ‘shut up!’ or ‘sit down!’

“What is a mother to do?”

My suggestion: You can never tell your children too many times that you love them. Our responsibility as parents is to be their protectors, their providers and their encouragers. All children are going to witness events of which we, as parents, do not approve. Discuss the event with them if it troubles them, and provide opportunities that are more in line with what you deem important as a parent.

The second contact was even more disturbing. It came from a young man we have known for several years and who once served as a pastor of a church. We recently called to catch up on things, and he informed us that he and his wife had divorced. He then asked if I would be willing to read something on which he had been working.

Later that day, in a lengthy email, he told his life story of no father, a working mother and a male “friend” of his mother who moved into their home when he was 11. At first, it looked like he might have a father figure like all of his friends. But such was not the case. Years of sexual abuse, alcohol consumption and introduction to drugs followed. School became a blur; weekend trips with the “dad” in his life turned into nightmares.

34

Texas School Business • May 2010

I read his story and wept. How many children sitting in our classrooms today are going through similar things? I read a statistic in his story that estimates one in six children is sexually abused. Horrifying!

This young man is still recovering from these troubling events, and I have no idea whether or not he will ever fully recover.

Quite frankly, I didn’t know what to say to him, except that we love him and his family, and we will always be there to listen, to encourage and to pray for him.

Finally, I received an email from a young man who said he would be passing through our little Central Texas town of Hamilton and would like to stop by to visit.

“I’ve created a video that I want you to see,” he wrote. “I heard you speak in San Antonio, and you made me realize that it’s not about me or the school or the parents.

It’s about the kids.”

So, on a spring day, he arrived at our home in the country. The birds were singing and the wildflowers were blooming. The world seemed like such a good place. And as I watched his video, I couldn’t help but be grateful that this young man was determined to be someone who helped others realize that “it’s about the kids.”

His video showed bright-eyed youngsters smiling and enjoying the security of a classroom without danger.

And yet, behind those smiles, you wondered if their worlds outside the classroom were ones of fear, of abuse, of mistreatment. Because we cannot be certain of what happens when they’re out of our classrooms. Our roles as teachers and administrators parallel those of parents. We are protectors, providers and encouragers.

Because everything that we do in our schools should be — must be — about the kids.

RINEY JORDAN, whose best-selling book, “All the Difference,” is now in its sixth printing, is an international speaker and humorist. He can be reached at riney@htcomp.net or by visiting www.rineyjordan.com.

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Lifetime Achievement

Daniel Ortega Elementary

Gary Schepf

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Barbara Barnes

Halletsville Elementary

Beth Huckabee

Marvin Baker Middle School

Griselda Rodriguez

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Mesquite ISD• Alief ISD Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD • North East ISD • Aransas County ISD

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Small District

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Finalists receive the following awards: Teachers receive $1,000 and a matching grant goes to their school.

Principals receive $1,000 and their school receives a grant for $2,500.

Small School Districts receive $2,500.

Large School Districts receive $5,000.

All of these finalists will go on to the statewide competition where they have a chance to win $5,000 to $100,000 for themselves and a matching grant for their school.

H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Awards were created to celebrate and recognize the contributions of public school professionals whose leadership and dedication inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.