Category: Education

County Schools Earn Comptroller’s Honor

honorsCircleTexas Comptroller Susan Combs recently announced the 2013 Texas Honors Circle. This award recognizes school districts and campuses that have achieved significant student academic growth while keeping spending relatively low.

Campuses honored in Henderson County included:

  • Cross Roads Junior High School
  • Murchison Elementary School

Each Texas public and charter school campus receives a Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) rating from one to five stars. Each campus’s FAST rating is determined by taking the average of the district’s composite academic progress percentile and its spending index. The Texas Honors Circle recognizes campuses that have achieved superior student academic growth while keeping spending low.

To achieve Texas Honors Circle designation, an elementary school must have a five-star FAST rating, while middle and high schools must attain a rating of at least 4.5 stars.

Middle and high schools have a slightly lower threshold because they are less likely than elementary schools to achieve high academic progress scores.

Malakoff Students Nominated for National Scholarship Program

Malakoff ISD press release

Two Malakoff High School seniors and members of the Malakoff High School National Honor Society, Fernando Garcia and Tori Barker, have been nominated to compete in the National Honor Society scholarship program for this school year.

Martin Brumit, principal of Malakoff High School today announced the nominations. This year, the program will award more than $200,000 in college scholarships. Special recognition and additional awards will be presented to state and regional winners. One national recipient will receive a $13,000 award.

“Fernando is a great student and leader at MHS. We are proud of Fernando’s accomplishments, and we know he will continue to be successful in college,” said Mr. Brumit. “And Tori is a wonderful student and leader of MHS. She has been a great asset to our school and community. She will accomplish great things in the future.”

High school National Honor Society chapters from across the country were eligible to nominate a limited number of senior NHS members to compete. Nominees are selected on the basis of their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, achievements in the arts and sciences, and general academic record.

“Students nominated for the NHS scholarship not only demonstrate academic excellence, but also excel in the areas of service, leadership, and character,” said NHS Associate Director David Cordts. “In recognizing leadership in co-curricular activities as well as academic performance, the NHS Scholarship program highlights the importance of a well-rounded education.”

The NHS Scholarship program, in existence since 1946, annually recognizes 200 of the nation’s top high school seniors who are members of NHS.

While at Malakoff High School, Garcia has served as a class officer all four years, he currently serves as President of the National Honor Society, his grades keep him on the “A” honor roll, and he is ranked number one in his graduating class. He has also been involved in numerous community service projects, participates in UIL academics, and he has been able to keep a part-time job in the community. He plans to attend The University of Texas at Austin to study Business Administration.

Barker has been involved in several clubs and activities including the MHS band, track and powerlifting, a class officer, a student council officer, a member of the Spanish Club and FCCLA, as well as the National Honor Society, and she participates in UIL academics. She plans to attend The University of Texas at Tyler to study business management.

NHS is a program of NASSP, the nation’s preeminent school leadership organization. NASSP serves as the national voice for middle level and highs school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders. NASSP promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character development, leadership development, and physical well-being of youth through its programs and student leadership services. NASSP administers the National Honor Society, and the National Association of Student Councils. For more information, visit www.nasssp.org or www.nhs.us.

January is School Board Recognition Month

January is school board recognition month in Texas, a time set aside to remember the men and women across the state who donate countless hours to service at our public schools.

As the Texas Association of School Boards‘ Executive Director, James B. Crow, said:

“Please join me in recognizing the service of local boards as they strive for excellence in our public schools. The long hours and enormous responsibilities of school board service often are not visible to those who may not fully understand the challenges facing public education. Yet, these local trustees embrace hard work as they demonstrate compassion and concern for the success and well being of every Texas student. They work closely with parents and educators to develop sound education policies in their districts and set high standards for student success.”

“In communities across the state, school board members willingly step forward to tackle serious issues, deal with financial uncertainties, and still provide excellent education experiences for all of our children. We urge every community to thank local board members and support them as they tackle this important job. Join us in applauding them for making the time to care about the future of Texas schoolchildren, their local communities, and this state,” he said.

The following serve on school boards in Henderson County:

Athens: President Rob Risko, Vice President David Freeman, Secretary Robert Spears, Eric Smith, Ginger Kirk, Steve McElhany, and Alicea Elliott.

Brownsboro: Wes Johnston, Michele Rinehart, Michele Blackmon, Brian Bersano, Steve Sanders, Jeffery Fulgham, and Scott Williams.

Cross Roads: President Scott Huddleston, Vice President Darren Himes, Secretary Keith Pryor, Shelly Robertson, Dr. Russell Giles, Scott McCurley and Larry Scoggin.

Eustace: President Gary Walsh, C.D. (Sonny) Hodge II, Bobby K. Ashton, Vice President Michael Cates, Secretary Ashley McKee,and Billy (Cotton) Walker.

LaPoynor: President Keith Bristow, Vice President Richard “Bubba” Holcomb, Shaun Hanks, Bryan Forester, Ryan Reynolds, Stan McCurley, and Kyle Riley.

Mabank: President Kenneth Odom, Vice President Dr. Darrell Kinnard, Secretary Mike Cathey, Tyson Johnson, Todd Grimes, Dr. Jeff Gaddis, and Gary Sapp.

Malakoff: Gary Woolverton, Todd LaRue, Daymon Sims, Mike Monroe, Billy Sparks, Jason Darymple, and Rick Vieregge.

Murchison: President Donald Goines, Vice President Lloyd Smith, Nelda Tillison, Secretary Sheryl Sims, Mike Davis, Nancy McCall, and Gayla Roberts.

Trinidad: President Eric Airheart, Vice President Ricky Stanfield, Billy Hornbuckle, Mike Airheart, Bill Tart, Brian Snider, and Secretary Dennis Parker.

HCRSPA Christmas meeting

HCRSPA

At the December meeting of the Henderson County Retired School Professionals, members enjoyed a wonderful Christmas program presented by the Athens High School Show Choir led by Kern Railsback. After a Christmas luncheon the choir sang Christmas songs and led the group in some old favorites. The Christmas spirit was shared by all.

TVEC Charitable Foundation grant to APEF

APEF 002

The TVEC Charitable Foundation has awarded a grant in the amount of $3,000 to the Athens Public Education Foundation (APEF). The grant was awarded Friday, Jan. 3.

Pictured are, from left, Sarah Grey and Colin Barrett of APEF; Kari Wilmeth, TVEC; and John Trent, APEF.

The Athens Public Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports educational opportunities for students in the Athens Independent School District. The goal is to involve the community in building a strong public school system that delivers quality education to the leaders and workers of tomorrow.

The TVEC Charitable Foundation is funded by donations from Operation Round Up. Operation Round Up is a voluntary program that allows TVEC members to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount. The portion that is rounded up goes to the TVEC Charitable Foundation and may be used to award grant requests to local charitable organizations.