Sterling HS Academic Advisor marks 25 years of service
Jerome Cowthran, an academic advisor at Sterling High School, didn’t set out to be an educator. But after a string of part-time jobs consistently led him back to working with young people, the son of two retired educators quit resisting the call of his family’s legacy.
Drawn by the warm weather, low cost of living, and proximity of relatives, Cowthran moved to Houston in October of 1987, and joined Team HISD as a physical education teacher at Whittier ES about a month later. Over the years, the Chicago native has also served at Twain ES and Thomas MS as a teacher, an in-school suspension supervisor, and a school counselor.
As an academic advisor, Cowthran now works directly with students to make sure they are taking the classes they actually need. “I go over their transcripts with them and try to find out what they’re interested in so I can pinpoint the ones that will get them where they want to go,” he said. So far, Cowthran’s proudest achievement is finding a program at Worthing HS that would help overage middle-school students recover the credits they needed to catch up with their peers.
Many HISD employees are also marking milestones in late November—see if you know anyone on this list:
20 years
- Maria Canas, attendant, Food Services
- Carmen Jimenez, student information representative, Wheatley HS
15 years
- J. P. Majors, crossing guard
- James Mathew, senior analyst, Payroll
10 years
- Robert Flores, plant operator, Barrick ES
- Mary Gaines, custodian, Bellaire HS
- Victor Gendrett, after-school program specialist, Cornelius ES
- Martine George, clerk, DeBakey HS
- Tammy Parker, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Jeffrey Thomas, attendant, Food Services
5 years
- Lauren Bay, lecturer, HSPVA
- Martha Dobbins, bus driver, Transportation Services
- Kathleen Flood, nurse, Elrod ES
- Meg Izuakor, associate teacher
- Sharon Keller, associate teacher
- Maite Leiva Martin, teaching assistant, Benavidez ES
- Billie Jean Lincoln, associate teacher
- Bartolo Lopez, graphic designer, Administrative Services
- Guadalupe Martinez, clerk, Memorial ES
- Theresa Mason, nurse, Browning ES
- Amanda Medina, teaching assistant, Lantrip ES
- Patricia Murphy, associate teacher
- Yukiko Phillips, teacher, Westside HS
- Rosemary Rueda, clerk, Patterson ES
- Mildred Smith, associate teacher
- Maggie Trendell, Durkee ES
- Veronica Valle, student worker, Rucker ES
- Cornell Vaughn, associate teacher
| Check back next Friday for some early December Milestones – and if you know someone who should be featured in this space, let us know at info@houstonisd.org. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
I would like to congratulate Robert Flores from Barrick Elementary for this outstanding milestone. He has always been a good, hard worker, and never misses a day of work. He is a model person both at work and at home. Love, your wife, Virgie
I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE JEROME COWTHRAN FROM STERLING HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE MILESTONE AND OUTSTANDING JOB.YOU KEEP THE PRIDE THAT INSIDE YOU. MY BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE! VMH.,PEACE!
Congrats Mr. Cowthran! You have truly been an inspiration.