Why Do We Teach? The Class of 2014 of The New Teacher Training Academy Know Why They Do

Meet the class of 2014!

This past week, first year teachers from around the district came to our training room to be acknowledged and celebrated for completing our newly formed New Teacher Training Academy.

The New Teacher Training- K-5 School Teachers Class of 2014.
(Scroll down the post for a complete list of names and additional photos.)

This was the culmination of a three day course designed to inform, equip and prepare teachers entering Huntsville Independent School District.  (We covered the first session in an October 2013 blog post found here.)

HISD Superintendent Dr. Steve Johnson congratulates Huntsville High's Lisa Black.

Celestin Gbae with Superintendent Dr. Steve Johnson.  Celestin is originally from the Ivory Coast in Africa.

This last session, however, was a celebration and acknowledgement of what these teachers have accomplished, and also a public acknowledgement of the power they have to inspire and instruct through their enthusiastic passion and vigor, their ideas and their commitment.

The New Teacher Training- 6-12 Teachers Class of 2014.
(Scroll down the post for a complete list of names and additional photos.)

Each participant spent considerable time envisioning their "Why?" statement..."Why am I here?"...  "Why do I teach?"  We all know that teaching is more vocation than "job," yet each teacher has their own distinct "Why?" and these new teachers put in the time to articulate their Mission and Vision Statement.  Linda Grigsby then took each statement and created a graphic document for each one.

In his Vision & Mission Statement, David Brockhausen related a "light bulb moment" a student had, when after struggling to figure out a seemingly complicated concept, said to David,  upon understanding it,
"You're telling me it's that simple?"

Excerpt from Dakota Alexander:
"I want my students to be self-confident, self-reliable and self-sufficient."

Portions were read aloud over lunch, and our Superintendent Dr. Steve Johnson presented the framed documents to each teacher.

Dr. Johnson and Stewart Elementary teacher Taylor Hodge listen
as iTech Melissa Thornton reads from Taylor's statement.

Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction Marjetta Spriggs (in red) listens
with (right) Dakota Alexander and Kim Beth Buchanan. 

Dr. Johnson:  Teaching is NOT easy, and it can be tough to stay motivated and
focused with all the competing priorities, yet it's never about "us," it's about "them"- our students.

This lunch celebration came at the end of an extensive process that took place over the past five months.  Along with this envisioning exercise, the Academy also focused on nuts and bolts issues:  classroom management, parent teacher communication, utilizing social media, standards and testing.

Huntsville Elementary teachers Megan Smith, Jessica Hunter, Joeann Bon-Jorno and Jamie Pesl take a photo break.

The Academy also created the opportunity for camaraderie and expanding their professional learning network.  We also ended up having an impromptu photo shoot: the results of which are below.  :-)

(Two of our participants, Brandi Dougherty and Elizabeth Gore, were not able to attend this last session, so are not pictured here.)

Please welcome and congratulate our New Teacher Academy graduates, and ask them to share their vision and mission statement.  And, if you are so inclined, you may want to take time and ask yourself:

Why are you here?  

Why do you teach?

  

What is your mission; your vision?

Elizabeth Ashley, HHS

April Barton, Gibbs PreK

Lisa Black, HHS

Joeann Bon-Jorno, HES

Seth Bracken, HHS

David Brockhausen, HHS

Suzanna Carvajal, STE

Amanda Cason, HHS

Amanda Fisher, SJE

Celestin Gbae, HHS

Katy Gipson SJE

Kenneth Goines, HHS

Keri Herzog, HHS

Taylor Hodge, STE

Shandilynne Holley, MPMS

Jessica Hunter, HES

Douglas Johnston, HHS

Perry Kelly, STE

Cathleen Landrum

Brittany Long, HIS

Amber Meeks, HIS

Kelli Miller, HIS

Melissa Miller, SHE

Yolanda Nephew, HHS

Magen Parish, SJE

Jamie Pesl, HES

Melissa Peterson, SHE

Patrina Polviriyakij, HES

Elizabeth Poprick, HIS

Holly Ramirez, HHS

Gloria Roberts, MPMS

John Rudolph, HIS

Marlene Sapien-Najera, HHS

Megan Smith, HES

Lauren Thomas, SHE

Jennifer Walters, HIS

Charolyn Washington, MPMS

Bailee York, HHS

Amber Young, HIS

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District

Estafania Martinez: Huntsville High Senior, Homecoming Queen...Star of Documentary Movie?

By now, you have probably already seen the two great stories KBTX ran about Estafania Martinez's crowning at this year's Homecoming back in September. (If not, click Huntsville Students Shake Up Homecoming Traditions &  Inspirational Homecoming Queen Crowned in Huntsville.)

Through the viewfinder- Estafania joined by friends moments after being crowned. 

What you may not know is that Huntsville High Senior and 2013 Homecoming Queen Estafania Martinez is the subject of a documentary written, directed and edited by a group of her classmates here at Huntsville High.

The crew forms a game plan before the ceremony- from left to right- Vic DeMatos (in hat) , Jomar Pueyo and Keona Wynne (both obscured by tripods), Teacher Andrew Stewart and Antoniette Williams (in blue).

As the story captured the attention and hearts at KBTX, so too did it our students, and they believe it is a story worth sharing.

Estafania is looking forward to seeing the finished product in March.

Cameraperson Keona Wynne is covering the action.

Members of Mandy Stewart's Broadcast Journalism class and The HIVE announcement team, Andrew Stewart's Advanced Audio Visual Production class, along with volunteers are helping with the production.  Daniel Arroyo and Huntsville High School Spanish teacher Mrs. Ruiz worked on the translation.

In addition to having Estafania sit for an interview, the crew taped interviews with her family, friends and teachers.

They have recorded interviews, taped the Homecoming crowning and are beginning the editing process. Their goal is to submit the finished film to the University Interscholastic League competition later this school year. We'll keep you posted!

Producer Sandra Rodriguez and Cameraperson & Editor Jomar Pueyo are both seniors in Andrew Stewart's Advanced Audio Video Production class, and are the leads on the project.

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District

We Need You- Our 2014 Bond Proposal and an Invitation to Tour and Participate in Bond Proposal Process

Our district is inviting you!

Come tour our campuses, and come to our Proposed Bond Committee meetings.  We want and need your input!

On the tour, you can leave the driving to us and hop on the bus.

This past week we began Saturday tours of our campuses so our community members can see our facilities.  As the District considers a bond proposal to address facility needs, we want you to come and take a look for yourself.  

Tours begin at the Hawkins Administration Building at 9 a.m. located at 441 FM 2821 Road East, Huntsville, Texas, 77320. The tour is scheduled to last between 2-2.5 hours, and you can leave the driving to us and hop on the bus, or caravan in your own vehicle.  Tours scheduled for the following Saturdays:  January 18, January 25 and February 1. 

Brandon K. Scott of The Huntsville Item (in the Mance Park Middle School locker room) was on the tour, and we thank The Item for covering this critically important issue.

The tours include stops at those campuses with the most identified needs- Huntsville High School, Mance Park Middle School, Scott Johnson Elementary School and Gibbs Pre-K Center.  

Dr. Steve Johnson answers questions at the Gibbs Pre K Center.

If you can make it, please come on out.  You can see the facilities, and have the chance to speak with Superintendent Steve Johnson or Deputy Superintendent Sonny Cruse with any questions you may have.

School Board member Sam Moak (second from right) was among those on the tour.

And please keep in mind our upcoming meetings- we want you to come and join us.  

As School Board Vice President Rissie Owens put it at last Monday's community meeting, the community is the committee, which is to say that committee participation is open to all.  

The board reviewed the report, and opened up the floor for comments.

Check out our district's page devoted to the potential 2014 Bond here.

Community member Craig Bleekman shares his perspective during the last meeting.

All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday, January 30, we will meet at the Huntsville High School Auditorium located at 515 FM 2821 Road East, Huntsville, Texas 77320.

On Monday, February 3, we will meet at the cafeteria at Gibbs Pre K located at 1800 19th Street, Huntsville, Texas 77340.

On Monday, February 10, we will meet at the cafeteria at Huntsville Intermediate School located at  431 U.S 190, Huntsville, Texas 77340.

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District

Western Art Show Stampedes Mance Park Middle School

If you are looking to check out some fantastic artwork, come by Mance Park Middle School between now and Thursday,  January 23rd.  The Commons has been transformed into an art gallery, where student contestants of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo sponsored Western Art Show have hung their work for all to see.

Caution- Fine Art Ahead!

Visitors can stop by anytime during school hours, with the exhibit culminating in an Artists' Reception from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m the night of Thursday, January 23rd.

Mance Park Students Anju Ali (pointing) and Allison Burtt discuss their classmates' winning artwork.

The judges visited Huntsville last week, and the Best in Show and Blue Ribbon winners work will hang in the prestigious Hayloft gallery during the Rodeo.  The organization reports that over 300,000 Texas students participate in this program that showcases the culture, history and heritage of the West.

Check Out the Mance Park Art Gallery!  (Kind of looks like the Commons :-) )

Our winners' work will not only represent Huntsville at the Rodeo's prestigious Hayloft Gallery, the student artists will attend a by-invitation-only reception and awards ceremony, receive free Carnival Packs and may have the opportunity to attend (depending on age group) an art camp at the Museum of Fine Arts Glassell Junior Art School or the Western Art Academy @ Schreiner University in Kerrville.

Mance Park Middle School Student Amanda McMillan

We caught up with a couple of Mance Park student winners yesterday, Amanda McMillan and Chloe Abbott.  They are excited about winning and looking forward the reception at the end of the month AND heading to Houston in March.

Mance Park Middle School Student Chloe Abbott

Art, Art and More Art!

Rodeo Clowns and Horses, Abstract and Realistic

Cowgirls and Teepees

Emily Gutierrez, Best in Show, Scott Johnson Elementary School

Colleen Payne, Gold Medal, Huntsville Elementary School

Amanda McMillan, Best of Show, Mance Park Middle School

Chloe Abbott, Gold Medal, Mance Park Middle School

Cristian Dominguez, Best of Show, Huntsville High School

Nate Archuleta, Gold Medal, Huntsville High School

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District