Cornelius ES principal says 35-year HISD career ‘couldn’t have worked out better’

As a fresh college graduate in 1979, Karen Jackson didn’t set out to work in a public school system, but her first job as a speech therapist landed her at HISD’s (now closed) Alamo Elementary School. In the intervening years, she has served in that same capacity at Oak Forest and Mac Arthur elementary schools, as well as in the role of assistant principal at Gregg Elementary and Cornelius Elementary.

Jackson has now been the principal of Cornelius for 15 years, and she attributes her longevity at HISD both to a positive attitude and a long line of excellent mentors.

“I didn’t plan it. I just happened,” she said. “But it couldn’t have worked out better. I guess along the way there were people who saw things in me that I didn’t, because here I am, years later. I think one of the reasons I’ve lasted so long is because I have the mindset that I create my own environment, instead of becoming a part of something negative. There is real joy in this work for me.”

Jackson describes Cornelius as “one of the happiest schools you’ll ever walk into,” noting that “we take pride in that,” and “you can really tell we love our work.”

The best part of being an educator, she added, is connecting with the kids. “I think it’s something really special,” she said. “They can always come up with something that completely changes your emotional weather. You can be having the worst day, but then one student says something hilarious, and it just changes your whole mood.”

Jackson is officially marking her 35th anniversary with the district on Aug. 22, but a few other employees are also marking theirs this week (Aug. 17–23). See if you know anyone on this list:

35 years

• Deborah Anderson, teacher, Ashford ES
• Diane Berger, teacher, Bell ES
• Elba Carrion, principal, Martinez ES
• Doris Chachere, teacher, J. R. Harris ES
• Susan Childs, counselor, Bellaire HS
• Phillip Emmite, senior psychologist, Psychological Services
• Janice Evans, teacher, Sutton ES
• Antonia Falcon, nurse consultant, Community Services
• Janet Fisch, teacher, Rodriguez ES
• Cathy French, teacher, Walnut Bend ES
• Diana Gibson-Johnson, school support officer, Elementary Schools Office
• Michael Giles, teacher, Reagan HS
• Ethel High, student information representative, McGowen ES
• Catherine Hipps, teacher, T. H. Rogers MS
• Betty Hunt, program specialist team lead, Child Study
• Markelas Jackson, teacher, Milby HS
• Valerie Jackson, teacher, Cook ES
• Bertha Johnson, program specialist, Special Education
• Gelesta Kamau, teacher, Bell ES
• Bridgette King, teacher specialist, Sharpstown HS
• Cheryl Lidsky, teacher, Kolter ES
• Sandra Lord, teacher, Rucker ES
• Gaile Lovett, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Anna Marie Marek, instructional coordinator, Lyons ES
• Margaret Morris-Licea, teacher, Roosevelt ES
• JoyettaNickerson, teacher, Herrera ES
• Mary Patnod, teacher, Thomas MS
• Karen Pikett, teacher, Parker ES
• Gwendolyn Richmond, teacher, Sam Houston MSTC
• Luz Rodriguez, clerk, Harvard ES
• Sarah Samuel, associate teachers
• Kathy Shearer, teacher, T. H. Rogers MS
• Bertha Simon-Hobbs, teacher, Scarborough HS
• Lee Smith, teaching assistant, Blackshear ES
• Ricardo Sutherland, teacher, Bell ES
• Cathy Tavangarian, teacher, Westbury HS
• Cheryl Willis, teacher, Holland MS

30 years

• Misa Batcheller, teacher, J. P. Henderson ES
• Vicki Creeks-Lacy, teacher, Hines-Caldwell ES
• Rosalio Esqueda, officer, Police Department
• Cynthia Ford, instructional specialist, Reagan HS
• Ethel Greene, teacher, Durham ES
• Diana Hughes, teacher, Jackson MS
• Gwendolyn Hunter, principal, Pleasantville ES
• Blanca Kwartler, teacher, Askew ES
• Charlett Mounts, teacher, Emerson ES
• Andre Pleasant, teacher, Lewis ES
• Rosita Sam, attendant, Food Services
• Deborah Standfield, teacher, Field ES
• Mary Stowe, teacher, Long Academy
• Regina Ward, student information representative, Garden Villas ES

 

25 years

• Alice Honoré, senior manager, Construction & Facility Services
• Patricia Marshall, student information representative, Wesley ES
• Darlene McCloud, attendant, Food Services
• Patricia Melton, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Amie Moses, attendant, Food Services
• Janet Perry, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Erica Smith, teacher specialist, Martinez ES

20 years

• Melissa Alvarez, teacher, Hobby ES
• Amy Amos, teacher, Sinclair ES
• Olga Antonetti, teacher, Wilson Montessori
• Roberto Arechiga, tractor operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Scholastica Ariwodo, teacher, Gross ES
• Fraulyn Baisey, nurse, Hines-Caldwell ES
• Andres Balp, teacher, teacher, Lyons ES
• Kathleen Blakeslee, teacher specialist, Twain ES
• Franchelle Brooks, teacher, Hamilton MS
• Samanthy Brooks, attendant, Food Services
• Kayla Brown-Hogans, teacher, Lockhart ES
• Glenda Calloway, director of School Support Services, Futures Academy
• Gustavo Castro, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Rosanade Childress, teacher, Whittier ES
• Michelle Collins, teacher, Robinson ES
• Maria Cosio, teacher, Northline ES
• Cynthia Cox, librarian, Revere MS
• Claudine Crego, teacher, Milby HS
• Armando Cruz, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Magdalena Davy, teacher, J. P. Henderson ES
• Sylvia De Leon, counselor, Stevenson MS
• Donna Dickson-White, teacher, Hartman MS
• Carol Downey, secretary, Curriculum & Instruction
• Joan Elizondo, teacher, Carrillo ES
• Tally Fletcher, associate teacher
• Kelci Gabriel, teacher, White ES
• Catalina Garcia, teacher, Tijerina ES
• Maria Gayosso, clerk, Bellaire HS
• Nohemi Grajales, teacher, Wainwright ES
• Noblette Grant, associate writer, External Funding
• Janet Gray, teacher, Johnston MS
• Susan Griswold, teacher, Brookline ES
• Maria Guerra, teacher, Almeda ES
• Quanda Guillory, registrar, Yates HS
• Joann Hartwell, Title I coordinator, Jordan HS
• Sylvia Healy, teacher, Rodriguez ES
• Stephen Hill, teacher, Petersen ES
• Lourdes Houston, teacher, Coop ES
• Nathalie Hoyt, dean of students, West Briar MS
• Despina Ioannidis, teacher, Reagan HS
• Elisa Jackson, teacher, Grady MS
• Ronald Jacobs, teacher, Jordan HS
• Claran Johnson, assistant principal, Johnston MS
• Elnita Jones, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Fanisha Jordan, teacher, Parker ES
• Mark Kelley, teacher, Bellaire HS
• Aladrine Lakey, teacher, N Q Henderson ES
• Rosie Lampley, teacher, Frost ES
• Monica Leal, teacher, Piney Point ES
• Lori Lueptow, principal, Whittier ES
• Alejandro Martinez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Antonia Martinez, clerk, Bonner ES
• Odessa Mattern, clerk, Waltrip HS
• Meredith May, teacher, Welch MS
• Ruth McCoy, evaluation specialist, Child Study
• Claire Middleton, nurse, Daily ES
• Rayfield Miller, teacher, Madison HS
• Sharlene Miller, teacher, Hartman MS
• Shirley Miller, teacher, Rice School
• Angie Miranda, school support officer, Elementary Schools Office
• Jaime Morales, teacher, Northline ES
• Anne Nelson, instructional coordinator, Sam Houston MSTC
• Botumile Ngoma, instructional specialist, Long Academy
• EnriqueNiño, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Delesa O’Dell-Thomas, principal, YMCPA
• Irma Orozco, teacher, Davila ES
• Roberto Padron, tractor operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Josefina Perez, clerk, Waltrip HS
• M. M. Perez, teacher, Grady MS
• Susana Perez, teacher, Robinson ES
• Lisa Pizarro, teacher, Deady MS
• Donald Pope, teacher, Burbank MS
• Albert Raymond, crossing guard, Lockhart ES
• Edward Rendon, officer, Police Department
• Stephanie Rengel, teacher, Herod ES
• Kimberly Rhodes, teacher, Lyons ES
• Maria Rios, teacher, Austin HS
• Guadalupe Rivera, clerk, Brookline ES
• Carter Robette, teacher, Atherton ES
• Francisco Rodriguez, teacher, HSPVA
• Gina Rodriguez, teacher, Southmayd ES
• Yolanda Rodriguez, principal, Roosevelt ES
• Helen Ross, associate teacher
• Mary Ryerson, evaluation specialist, Child Study
• Ernest Saldivar, teacher, Lamar HS
• Daniel Santiago, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Elizabeth Santos, teacher, Grissom ES
• Leticia Santos-Carter, teacher, Mistral ECC
• Janet Schell, teacher, Garden Villas ES
• Sally Schroeder, clerk, Milby HS
• Lilu Schwartz, evaluation specialist, Child Study
• Kurt Shide, teacher, Pershing MS
• Theresa Shojai, teacher, Neff ES
• Maria Smith, senior plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Larri Spade, registrar, Milby HS
• Rachel Spring, teacher, Shearn ES
• Kelly Strange, teacher, Bush ES
• Drew Thurman,curriculum specialist team lead, Career and Technical Education
• Patricia Treviño, teacher, Rodriguez ES
• Quentin Wilson, officer, Police Department
• Phelecia Winfro, secretary, Forest Brook MS
• Deborah Vining, teacher, Early College HS
• Lisa Virgadamo, teacher, Briscoe ES
• Accelyn Williams, counselor, Milby HS
• Cedric Williams, teacher, Westbury HS

15 years

• Jones Bernadine, teacher, Lamar HS
• Tau Dang, teacher, Lamar HS
• Sharon Dennard, teacher, HSPVA
• Neysa Gonzalez, teacher, Petersen ES
• Lauren Goonan, manager, Psychological Services
• Nancy Gutierrez, accountant, Finance
• Liling McClain, teacher, Kolter ES
• Francisco Medellin, teacher, Looscan ES
• Martin Molina, teaching assistant, Braeburn ES
• Miguel Morales, teacher, Elrod ES
• Oscar Perez, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Jesse Pitre, associate teacher
• Pamela Richards, associate teacher
• Kevin Taylor-Jarrell, associate teacher

10 years

• Judit Alaniz, teacher, Coop ES
• Monica Cofield, teaching assistant, Montgomery ES
• KaVorna Conkrite, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Cristina Cruz, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Santana Diaz, associate teacher
• Joyce Foley, associate teacher
• Maria Gallegos, teacher, Bonner ES
• Anna Gastmyer, teaching assistant, Harper Alternative
• Monica Goffney, teacher, Washington HS
• Marilyn House, attendant, Food Services
• Antoinette Jimenez, teacher, Wharton ES
• Marline Kulang, teaching assistant, Bonham ES
• Joseph Lawanda, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Martha Lockett, nurse, North Forest HS
• Felicia Mask-Jackson, teacher, Windsor Village ES
• Joyce Jones, attendant, Food Services
• Joseph Mata, assistant principal, Lee HS
• Carlos Medellin, teacher, Kennedy ES
• Rolando Nuñez, security guard, Police Department
• Bernard Ostroff, associate teacher
• Juanita Ramos, teacher, Austin HS
• Ray Redmon, teaching assistant, Sterling HS
• Davetta Reed, teaching assistant, Yates HS
• Joyce Robertson, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Karen Rogers, teacher, Garden Villas ES
• Dinora Segovia, secretary, Highland Heights ES
• Steven Shetzer, principal, Kolter ES
• Melanie Smith, teacher, Cook ES
• Shirley Smith, attendant, Food Services
• Stacia Spillane, counselor, Rice School
• Cynthia Stang, teacher, Reagan HS
• Graves Starlie, associate teacher
• Toniette Tinker, instructional specialist, Pershing MS
• Blanca Ventura, clerk, Austin HS
• Paula Williams, attendant, Food Services
• Jose Zarazua, associate teacher

5 years

• Tanya Atkinson, attendant, Food Services
• Tellis Aubrey, teacher, Hartsfield ES
• Cristina Bagos, teacher, Reagan HS
• Islah Bankhead, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Kristin Bowie, teacher, Windsor Village ES
• Idelia Braxton, attendant, Food Services
• Tiffany Brooks, associate teacher
• Claudia Buitrago, teacher, Benbrook ES
• Erika Carcamo, attendant, Food Services
• Veronica Carrera, teacher, K. Smith ES
• Carla Carter, nurse, Codwell ES
• Cathy Chambers, attendant, Food Services
• Jhonny Chenier, warehouse, Food Services
• Alexis Coleman, teaching assistant, Williams MS
• Cora Collins, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Danielle Degrate, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Alejandra Delgado, attendant, Food Services
• Miguel Diaz, teacher, Lyons ES
• Maria Doria, parent engagement representative, Farias ECC
• Pamela Dotson, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Robin Duerr, teacher, Challenge HS
• Michelle Edwards, associate teacher
• Imman Ekwere, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Sandra Espinoza, aide, Port Houston ES
• Chiquita Fill, attendant, Food Services
• Dale Franklin, teaching assistant, Harper Alternative
• Diane Fraser, teacher, Sutton ES
• Mac Galley, crossing guard, Foerster ES
• Lucia Galvan, attendant, Food Services
• Araceli Garcia, attendant, Food Services
• Yvette Garcia, associate teacher
• Felicia Gonzales, attendant, Food Services
• Bertha Gordon, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Tiffany Green, grants administrator, External Funding
• Evelyn Gudiel, teacher, Southmayd ES
• Randy Hampton, teacher, Chávez HS
• Lloyd Hart, project manager, Construction & Facility Services
• Chad High, teacher, Reagan HS
• Candice Johnson, teacher, Sharpstown Intl. School
• Roderick Johnson, teacher, Forest Brook MS
• Wayne Johnson, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Cassey Lewis, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Rafael Lewis, teacher, Cook ES
• Ana Lobo, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Debra Loewenstein, teacher, Wilson Montessori
• Jacqueline London, associate teacher
• Lauren Mailhiot, teacher, Neff ES
• Deborah Mathis, attendant, Food Services
• Aldo Molina, teacher, Deady MS
• Mae Moore, attendant, Food Services
• Stacey Norman, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Ma Ortiz, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Lois Parker, attendant, Food Services
• Rosalyn Parks, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Maricela Perez, teacher, J. P. Henderson ES
• Doris Potts, attendant, Food Services
• VictoriaPruitt, attendant, Transportation Services
• Elizabeth Rodriguez, attendant, Food Services
• Tamera Rodriguez, teacher, Milby HS
• Arneishia Rusk, attendant, Food Services
• Norma Sanni, associate teacher
• Leticia Sauceda, secretary, Attendance Boundaries Transfer
• Sammi Sicinski, teacher, Travis ES
• Winifred Sheridan, program specialist, Special Education
• David Slackman, teacher, Westbury HS
• Mallory Smith, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Sharon Sneed, attendant, Food Services
• Linda Stapenhorst, associate teacher
• Caravella Stephens, teacher, Isaacs ES
• Solondra Summerville, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Carol Tosh, speech therapist, Child Study
• Cynthia Turruviate, attendant, Food Services
• Connie Walthall, teacher, Hines-Caldwell ES
• Lelawrence Washington, teacher, Fonwood ES
• Deborah West, associate teacher
• Melvin Williams, attendant, Food Services
• Cloria Witherspoon, bus driver, Transportation Services

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