Budgeting manager feels blessed to be with ‘pioneer’ HISD for 35 years

Boon Chew was a college graduate fresh out of the University of Houston when he joined Team HISD back in 1980. Little did he know that 35 years later, he would still be working for the district.

“I am very fortunate,” said Chew. “I consider myself very blessed. You always hope you’ll be with an institution a long time, but you never imagine it will turn out to be your one and only employer.”

Chew started out as a clerk in the Payroll Department, but worked his way up to senior budgeting manager, a position he has held for the past 20 years.

“It always amazes me how we used to do things without computers,” said Chew. “Back then, it was all done manually. We had long ledgers, a big box of ten-key-by-touch machines, a pencil, a pad, and there you go.”

Chew describes his career with HISD as “quite challenging, but interesting.”

“Anyone who works in HISD has to have a focus on kids, but what makes it extra satisfying is being able to provide funding equities among schools,” explained Chew. “HISD has a very unique funding formula, based on per pupil, but 99 percent of school districts in the nation go by a more traditional one based on staffing ratios. HISD is one of the pioneers in this area, and that is something dear to my heart. At the time, it was considered a big leap, so it’s been very gratifying to be involved in such an initiative.”

Chew officially marked his 35th anniversary with the district on Jan. 21, but a few other employees have also marked theirs this month (Jan. 18–31). See if you know anyone on this list:

40 years

• Priscilla Cohen, teaching assistant, Milby HS

35 years

• Camila Perez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Jose Rangel, senior mechanic, Transportation Services
• Roslyn Vaughn, principal, Anderson ES
• Delores Washington, teacher, Washington HS

30 years

• Claudette Deese, teacher specialist, Harper Alternative School
• Lawana Green, clerk, Construction & Facility Services
• Cynthia Moore, senior program manager, Special Education

25 years

• Bridget Akazie, teacher, Welch MS
• Mark Chapman, teacher, Bellaire HS
• Michael Clark, teacher, Bellaire HS
• David Johnson,senior computer operator, IT
• Elaine Lee, teaching assistant, Blackshear ES
• John Perlitz, analyst, Budgeting & Financial Planning
• Yolanda Ramos, teacher, Rucker ES
• Concepsion Romero, attendant, Food Services
• James Schrader, teacher, Briscoe ES
• Lourna Yzaguirre, teacher, Rucker ES

20 years

• Mona Beckham, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Barbara Dow, teacher, Bush ES
• Margaret Evans-Range,teaching assistant, C. Martinez ES
• Judy Garza, assistant principal, Coop ES
• Patricia Hernandez, secretary, Port Houston ES
• Johnnie Jackson, assistant principal, Lamar HS
• Muriel Jones, teacher, YWCPA
• Harold Krueger III, senior telecommunications repairer, IT
• Bradley Morrison, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Matilda Orozco, school support officer, Elementary Schools Office
• Carolyn Vanderbilt, teacher, Stevenson MS
• Stan Wright, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services

15 years

• Joyce Byrd, associate teacher
• Carl Green, outreach worker, State Comp Ed/At Risk/Homeless
• Nanette Green, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Bob Liggins, associate teacher
• Karen Marshall, teacher, R. P. Harris ES
• Acquanetta Oaks, senior secretary, Tax and Financial Mgmt.
• Jose Perez, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
• Stephanie Perry, speech therapist, Child Study
• Jacqueline Phillips, associate teacher Humberto Salazar, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Jacqueline Posey, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Billy Reed, general manager, Budgeting & Financial Planning
• Patricia Syzdek,clerk, Challenge Early College HS
• Diane Wattenbarger, teacher, T H Rogers School

10 years

• Gershon Ahiabor, teacher, Milby HS
• Tristan Anderson, clerk, West University ES
• Danny Avalos, officer, Police Department
• Earline Banks, program specialist, Special Education
• Jacqualine Barrett, teacher, Neff ECC
• Maria Bedolla, attendant, Food Services
• Angela Byrd, teacher, Davis HS
• Lilia Cerna, clerk, SHMSTC
• Daniel Clark, plumber, Construction & Facility Services
• Joseph Dugas, associate teacher
• Mary Estrada, teacher, Roberts ES
• Francisco Garcia, attendant, Food Services
• Norma Garcia, attendant, Food Services
• Kimberly Green, student case worker, Dropout Prevention
• Josie Gibson, attendant, Food Services
• Adrienne Hicks,teaching assistant, Twain ES
• Nathaniel Howard, officer, Police Department
• Brenda Johnson, teacher, Stevenson MS
• Edwina Johnson, teacher, Foerster ES
• Virginia Lara, substitute aide/clerk
• Eddie Lascola, associate teacher
• Dina Lopez, teaching assistant, Waltrip HS
• Audrey Meshack, crossing guard, Love ES
• Julie Morris, attendant, Food Services
• MarthaMurillo, attendant, Food Services
• Laurel Parks, associate teacher
• Gene Platt, teacher, Eastwood Academy
• Raul Roque, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Dinora Saravia, attendant, Food Services
• Andrea Schultz, teacher, Condit ES
• Jose Serrano, asphalt worker, Construction & Facility Services
• Shirley Thomas, secretary, Construction & Facility Services
• Dolores Vazquez, budget clerk, Medicaid/Property Mgmt
• Nancy Watts, clerk, Westside HS
• Axinia Zepeda, teacher specialist, Berry ES

5 years

• Patrice Burfict, clerk, Worthing HS
• Efren Castillo, teacher, J. P. Henderson ES
• Gabriela Cervantes, attendant, Food Services
• Danielle Clay, teacher, Codwell ES
• Katina Davis, budget clerk, Finance General Accounting
• Nelson Diaz, associate teacher
• Brooke Dies, teacher, Briarmeadow Charter
• Regina Ford, teacher, Highland Heights ES
• Janie Guajardo,secretary, McReynolds MS
• Maria Hernandez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
• Natalie James, clerk, Human Resources
• Eric Jimenez, teacher, Davis HS
• Sonia Lopez, attendant, Food Services
• Ragan Morgan, teacher, Marshall ES
• Shanica Smith, teacher, Frost ES
• Olga Sokolova, teacher, Wilson Montessori
• Minerva Vela, clerk, Marshall MS
• Ryan Wanda, teacher, Kennedy ES

Check upcoming editions for more Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees.