Competitive spirit still drives grant development manager, even after 30 years

When Annetra Piper first joined Team HISD back in 1983, she initially served as a teacher at Dowling Middle School. But a passion for serving ever-larger groups of students and a fierce competitive streak eventually led her to the grant department, which she has managed since 2004.

Over the past decade, Piper estimates she has brought in more than $500 million to fund district initiatives. “It’s about $80 million a year on average,” she said. “When I first started, it was about $35 million.”

And Piper’s favorite part of the job? “Winning!” she says with a laugh.

Piper officially marked her 30th anniversary with the district on Nov. 11, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week (Nov. 10–16). See if you know anyone on this list:

35 years

• Lafayette Chaney, teacher, Reagan HS

30 years

• Mary Galan, senior secretary, ES School Office           

25 years

• Mary Hordge, teaching assistant, Looscan ES 
• Gretchen Campbell, teacher, Southmayd ES   

20 years

• Sobeyda Falls, teaching assistant, McNamara ES      
• Maricia Butcher, custodial team lead, Construction & Facility Services       
• Gregory Hollas, teacher, Pershing MS   

15 years

• Rossline Hall, teaching assistant, Sterling HS 
• Laurie Zimmerman, research specialist, Research and Accountability       
• Annette Bogany-Williams, evaluation specialist, Child Study           
• Sandra Jackson, clerk, Bell ES    
• Jodi Garrett, teacher, Fonville MS
• Cecilia Egues, teacher, Valley West ES 
• Patricia Butler, bus driver, Transportation Services      
• Margaret Clark, bus driver, Transportation Services     
• Clyde Alexander, crossing guard, Blackshear ES        
• Cathy Thomas, clerk, Yates HS   

10 years

• Arnetta Dewalt, associate teacher           
• Lucy Morales, clerk, Roosevelt ES          
• Irma Rodriguez, attendant, Food Services         
• Roderick Luke, officer, Police Department        
• Youlanda Marshall, teacher, Long Academy    
• Aarica McCall, teacher, Lantrip ES          
• Sandra Johnson, nurse, Hobby ES        
• LaJuan Harris, facilities planner, Construction & Facility Services   
• Deirdre Sharkey, principal, Attucks MS  

5 years

• Celina Castañeda, teaching assistant, Love ES          
• Rebecca Scott, teacher, Garden Oaks ES         
• Gloria Landivar, teacher, Roosevelt ES  
• Martha Cervantes, attendant, Food Services    
• Irma Hernandez, attendant, Food Services       
• Zina Pryor, attendant, Food Services      
• Cathy Coughlen, clerk, Bellaire HS        
• Lucila Aguilar, teacher, Bellaire HS        
• Elton Johnson, senior HVAC repairer, Food Services
• Carnel Davis, associate teachers
• Geni Mask, teaching assistant, Windsor Village ES    
• Karla Hernandez, teaching assistant, Davis HS           
• Reginald Richardson, senior mechanic, Transportation Services    
• Kevin Simon, teacher, Cullen MS           
• Leslie Karp, teacher, Chávez HS 
• Sandra Baham, associate teacher          
• Marion Allen, bus driver, Transportation Services        
• Laura Hylton, bus driver, Transportation Services        
• Rudolph Guevara Jr, warehouser, Warehouse Operations   
• Wai Leung Tsao, digital production technician, Administrative Services    
• Maricela Duran, quality control representative, Food Services          
• Mai Nguyen, quality control representative, Food Services    
• Abdoul Ly, warehouse manager, Food Services          
• Zahra Al Mussawi, teacher, DeBakey HS

Check back next Friday for more November Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees.