Alief ISD is one of only five finalists in Texas competing for a $100,000 prize in the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. A team of six judges came to Alief on Tuesday, March 2, to speak with district superintendent, Dr. Louis Stoerner, and to tour the Alief Early College High School and Taylor High School. The site visit concluded with a luncheon/roundtable discussion with student, community, parent, and district representatives. Lunch was prepared and served by Alief ISD's award-winning culinary arts students.
The H-E-B Excellence in Education Award is the largest monetary recognition program for educators in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation. Alief ISD was selected from 25 semi-finalists from across the state in the large school district category based on its commitment to student achievement through innovative programs, professional staff development, and parent and community involvement. The winner will be announced in early May.
Alief ISD Scholar Athletes
Mr. and Mrs. Lindell (parents), scholar athlete Sarah Lindell,
Asst. Athletic Director Tom Gerber, and Coach Connie Koehn Elsik High School senior Sarah Lindell has been named the Alief ISD's February 2010 Female Scholar Athlete. While being a four-year letterman on the Elsik Soccer team she has maintained high grades and currently has a 3.95 GPA. Sarah has also been an Elsik Cross Country runner for four years and a varsity volleyball player for two years. She is a member of the National Honor Society.
Sarah’s soccer coach Connie Koehn said, “As a current team captain Sarah shows so much passion for the game and she is a natural leader. She pushes herself physically and academically to be on the “A” honor roll consistently over the past 4 years.” Sarah is known to be a hard worker and is well respected by her teammates as Elsik faculty.
Sarah will be attending Houston Baptist University on an academic scholarship next year.
Coach Jens Anderson, scholar athlete Alex Adelabu, Asst. Athletic Director
Tom Gerber, family friend Mr. Okunnu, and Alex's mother Juliana Adelabu. Taylor High School senior Alex Adelabu has been named the Alief ISD's February 2010 Male Scholar Athlete. He is a four-year varsity soccer player for Taylor currently has a 3.8 GPA. Alex has been selected to the All-District team and was chosen First Team All-District Defender as well as Taylor Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.
Coach Jens Anderson said, “Alex is an excellent example of a true student athlete. He is always positive and consistently encourages teammates to compete harder. Alex naturally plays as a forward, but was willing to change positions to benefit the team. Even while playing defense, Alex managed to lead the team in scoring.” When he is not playing soccer or studying, Alex participates in the Taylor African Student Association as the secretary, is a member of the Taylor Christians in Action organization, and he plays drums in his church band.
Alex plans on attending college and hopes to become a doctor.
Alief ISD high schools receive
national AVID certification
Alief ISD’s Elsik, Hastings and Taylor high schools have been named AVID National Certified Schools. This status is awarded to schools that have met the 11 AVID program essentials and data collection documentation that supports program success and student progress, including actual student work, such as college research portfolios, college essays, community service events, college and career oriented field trips, and evidence of college tutorials data. This validation process is designed to assist AVID sites with achieving desired benchmarks that are precursors for academic success in high schools and in colleges.
Campus coordinators are Jeffery Guzman, Elsik; Maura LePory, Hastings; and Rae Ann Chapman, Taylor.
AVID students and their campus coordinators from Elsik,
Hastings, and Taylor High Schools were recognized
at the February board meeting.
Hastings Speech and Debate team
makes strong argument at Harvard
The Hastings High School Speech and Debate team recently competed at the Harvard National High School Invitational Tournament of Champions at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. The tournament was attended by 308 schools from across the United States.
The Hastings students competed well on the Harvard stage. Team members had to compete in their event seven to eight times within two days. In Dramatic Interpretation, Sophomore Robert Jackson and Junior Irene Galvan made it to the eighth round known as octos and finished in the top 25. In Duo Interpretation, Jackson and Junior Irene Galvan, as well as the team of Juniors Hao Tran and Jeanne Manalo finished in the top 25. The team of Juniors Tirhakah Love and Corbin Paulino made it to quarterfinals and finished in the top 16.
Congratulations to the Hastings Speech and Debate team for their outstanding showing at the prestigious Harvard competition.