April 22, 2009 - Aldine Independent School District

ActionLine…Your Board Meeting Update
April 22, 2009
Board renames AISD Cross Country Invitational
after long-time MacArthur coach Larry Gnatzig
During the April 21 Board of Education meeting, Aldine
ISD Trustees voted unanimously to rename the Aldine ISD
Cross Country Invitational Meet after long-time MacArthur
Senior High cross-country coach Larry Gnatzig. Gnatzig
served as MacArthur’s head cross country coach and track
coach for 27 years (he served Aldine as a teacher and coach
for 29 years). During his tenure, he led the Generals to two
state championships in cross country (1991 and 1992), three
state runner-up finishes, two regional championships and 22
district titles. In addition to teaching and coaching, he
served as department chair for MacArthur’s physical
education and health department from 1995 until his
retirement in 2006. In 2000, his peers selected him as
MacArthur’s Teacher of the Year. Gnatzig also demonstrated a gift for working with the
school’s special needs students. During his 29 years at the school, many special needs
students were touched by his high expectations, passion, compassion, integrity and belief
in the human spirit. Many students considered him their role model. He reminded his
students that their character, good citizenship, ethics and integrity were values much
more important than material possessions. The recommendation was made by the school
names committee, which is chaired by Rose Avalos and fellow committee members Dr.
Alton Smith and Rick Ogden. Beginning in 2009, the Aldine ISD Cross Country
Invitational Meet will now be known as the Larry Gnatzig Cross Country Invitational
Meet. “I want to thank the board, Dr. Bamberg, and Dr. Blanson for this tremendous
honor,” Gnatzig said. “I have a lot of great memories of my time in Aldine and at
MacArthur and also want to thank all of the principals I worked under who supported our
program, from Wilbert Johnson, to Rose Avalos to Nancy Blackwell. This is a very
special night for myself and my family and all the kids I coached over the years.”

Students, staff recognized
During the April 21 Board meeting, a number of students and staff members were
recognized for achievements and for making a contribution to the district on a daily basis.
Reed Academy fifth-grader Luis Meza was
recognized for being named the winner of the 2009
Texas Arbor Day Poster Contest. More than 6,800
fifth-graders in Texas participated in the contest.
As the state winner, Meza’s poster will represent
Texas in the National Poster Contest. The winner
of the national contest will be announced April 27
during the National Arbor Day celebration in
Nebraska City, NE. Meza’s poster was displayed in
the State Capitol the week of April 20-24. He was introduced by his language arts
teacher, Jan Martinez, who encouraged him to enter the contest. Also in attendance was
Reed Academy principal Gina Rigsby and Luis’ parents, Daniel and Belinda Anderson.
Eisenhower Senior High student Janice
Johnson was recognized for having her book of
poetry, Dragged Through the Mud, published.
Johnson presented each board member, along with
Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg, Deputy
Superintendent Dr. Archie Blanson, and Assistant
Superintendent and General Counsel Jonathan
Hantke, with a copy of her book. Also on hand
were Eisenhower principal Therese Samperi and
career and technology teacher Stephanie Franklin.
Becky Howard, program director of foreign
language, announced that Aldine Senior High
French teacher Wendy Harris was named the
Texas Foreign Language Association’s French
Teacher of the Year. Howard presented Harris with
the plaque she was awarded at that group’s state
convention in Waco during the April 21 Board
meeting.
Dani Sheffield, executive director of child
nutrition service,s named the Eisenhower Senior
High School cafeteria staff as her department’s
Team of the Month. The team consists of managers
Shirley Etundi and Diana Castellanos and
specialists Judith Baillou, Janice Fielder,
Deontranette Glenn, Myra Harris, Victoria

Hunter, Barbara Jacobs, Jacqueline Jacobs, Letha Johnson, Tammie Johnson,
Antoinette Miles, Ola Randolph, Joyce Simpson, Diane Thompson, Etoria
Shepherd, Maria Villarreal, Patricia White and Waltine Woods. The CN supervisor is
Sal Jessa and the school’s principal is Therese Samperi.
Richard Delgado, executive director of
transportation, named Patsy Carrera as his
department’s Employee of the Month. Carrera is a
bus driver who drives out of the west side
transportation department. She has been with the
district for three years.
Emitte Roque, executive director of buildings
and properties, named Reece Academy as his
department’s Yard of the Month. On hand to accept
the award were principal Sherrie Batro, head
custodian Cynthia Johnson and yardman Lonnie
Hicks.
Roque also named Nimitz Senior High School
as his department’s Building of the Month. On hand
to accept the award were assistant principal Alex
Jordan and head custodian Maria Hernandez.

Grants announced
Judy Hoya and Lisa Scarborough, program directors of resource development,
announced three Fund for Teachers grants during the April 21 Board meeting.
Mendel Elementary teachers Theresa Tran and
Geneve Wind were joined by principal Ann
Stockwell to announce that Tran and Wind had
received a $10,000 Fund for Teachers grant to
travel to Japan this summer to study the Japanese
culture and the art of origami to enable them to
engage their students in hands-on activities during
the 2009-10 school year.
Harris Academy librarian Dixie Allen and Reed
Academy librarian Bob Allen received a $10,000
Fund for Teachers grant to travel to Germany this
summer to tour, explore and gather artifacts
representative of the rich literature and cultural
contributions of that country. They were joined at
the April 21 Board meeting by Reed Academy
principal Gina Rigsby.
Hambrick Middle School librarian Neley
Haynes and English department chairperson
Michael Stephens received a $10,000 Fund for
Teachers grant to travel to London this summer to
collect photographs and information about the lives
and societies of British authors, which will allow
them to create an interactive library exhibit for
Hambrick students beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
Program presented
During the April 21 Board meeting, the district’s Early Childhood/Pre-K center
principals presented the program. Principal Dottie Pickens of Vines EC/Pre-K Center,
principal Rosa Estela Mattern of deSantiago EC/Pre-K Center, principal Sandra
Arredondo of Hinojosa EC/Pre-K Center, principal Gladys Moton of Jones EC/Pre-K
Center, principal Maria Galindo of Keeble EC/Pre-K Center, assistant principal Andrea
Davis of Kujawa EC/Pre-K Center, principal Sherrie Batro of Reece Academy and
principal Christina Gomez of Garcia-Leza EC/Pre-K Center, discussed how Aldine’s
youngest students get a head start with a great deal of preparation as they are prepared for
the next 12 years of school.