Cynthia Legette
When Cynthia Legette first came to HISD back in 1979, she thought she was accepting a temporary position as a clerk in Food Services. Now, the longtime employee is celebrating her 35th anniversary with the district.
“I went through a temporary service at the time, and it was supposed to be for just one day,” said the Furr High School graduate. “But one day turned into a month, and then they asked me if I wanted to stay permanently.”
Legette spent her first 25 years with HISD in Purchasing, but for the last ten, she has been working as a budget clerk in the little-known Medicaid office, which provides services not only to HISD, but also to 80 other school districts.
“A lot of people don’t know about us,” she said, “and they are so shocked when they hear. But I work in the call center, helping people with login problems on the eSHARS system or questions about what’s billable. We provide consulting services to other districts and bill Medicaid for Special Education services provided to students. That returns money to districts that can be used to pay the salaries of other employees, such as nurses, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists.”
Legette said the most gratifying part of her job is knowing that she is helping students with special needs receive a high-quality education. “My daily work fosters an environment where all students can achieve and learn to believe in themselves,” she said. “That makes for a more sound and secure future for both the students and their communities.”
Legette officially marked her 35th anniversary with the district on Nov. 26, but a few other employees have also marked theirs over the past few weeks (Nov. 21–Dec. 6). See if you know anyone on this list:
35 years
- Rita Robinson, counselor, Coop ES
30 years
- Natalie Adams, teacher, Sharpstown HS
- Joyce Thompson, teacher, Montgomery ES
- Delores Tisdale, teacher, Askew ES
25 years
- Joseph Alva, instructional specialist, Jackson MS
- Marion Gay Jr, teacher, Chavez MS
- Linda Houston, student information representative, Lockhart ES
- Chandra Jones, registrar, Westbury MS
- Theresa Meza, student information representative, Fonville MS
- Robert Miller, teacher, Stevenson MS
- Stephen Roquemore, Special Education employment representative, Madison MS
- Cynthia Vega, student information representative, Briscoe ES
- Jose Zaragoza Jr., site services team lead, Construction & Facility Services
20 years
- Debra Coleman, attendant, Food Services
- Yolanda Dockery, attendant, Food Services
- Maria Garcia, attendant, Food Services
- Tonya Houston, teacher, Reynolds ES
- Carolina Kopinsky, evaluation specialists, Child Study
- Juana Martin, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Deborah Ross, teaching assistant, Furr HS
- Janan Skaf, teacher, Pilgrim Academy
- Suzette Taylor, teacher, Reagan K-8
- Mary Thomas, teaching assistant, Blackshear ES
- Daniel Torres, parent engagement representative, Benbrook ES
- Alicia Villalobos, attendant, Food Services
- Carolyn Washington, teaching assistant, Hobby ES
15 years
- Sarai Barrera, clerk, Cunningham ES
- Gregory Coker, teacher, Briargrove ES
- Guillermo Garza, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Eugene Salazar,senior manager, Construction & Facility Services
- Cuauhtemoc Sandoval, teacher, Barrick ES
10 years
- Diana Aguirre, teacher, Moreno ES
- Richmond Akrofi-Mensah, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
- Karin Atina, teacher, Smith ES
- Vanessa Gamez, teaching assistant, Looscan ES
- Chase May, teacher, Roberts ES
- Vanessa Narvaez, teacher, Ketelsen ES
- Elaine Reed, teacher, Smith ES
- Ana Rodriguez, teacher, Rodriguez ES
- Kenneth Sanders II, teacher, Dowling MS
- Sarah Tovar, instructional specialist, Laurenzo ECC
- Zhong Zhuang, press operator, McCarty Printing
5 years
- Angelica Becerra, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Dennis Bowen, warehouse driver, Food Services
- Shannon Frazier, teacher specialist, Elmore ES
- Griselda Garza, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Catalina Gomez-Monsalve, teacher, Coop ES
- Eugenia Gomez-Warren, teacher, Lyons ES
- Leonardo Hernandez, tractor operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Delton Jones, tree pruner, Construction & Facility Services
- Calvin Justice, warehouse driver, Food Services
- Matthew Lipp, assistant foreman, Transportation
- Maria Mejia, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Ivannia Recio, compliance manager, Alternative Certification Program
- Paola Roldan, teacher, Neff ECC
- Kassie Saucillo, clerk, Herrera ES
- Elva Sifuentes, clerk, Piney Point ES
| Check back next Friday for more December Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees. |
Don’t forget to cast your vote in the 2014 District Advisory Committee (DAC) elections, which are being held online Dec. 8–19, 2014.
Employees are eligible to vote only once for a nominee from their particular Chief School Officer. Classroom teachers may vote for one classroom teacher and other school-based professionals vote for one school-based professional.
To cast your vote, click on the “District Advisory Committee (DAC)” link under “HISD Application Links” on the Employee Portal home page and follow the instructions.
Results will be posted after the election.
Questions about the election itself may be directed to Mark White at 713-556-7285. Please direct technical or access questions to the HISD Help Desk at 713-892-7378.
The legendary Samurai warriors of Japan have long been a source of fascination for Westerners. Now, Houstonians can get a look inside their world at a new exhibit called “Samurai: The Way of the Warrior,” at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Armor, helmets, swords, sword-hilts, saddles, and other battle gear will be on display at the exhibit, along with more personal items, such as lacquered writing boxes, incense trays, and foldable chairs.
HISD teachers can attend a special free preview of the new exhibit on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. thanks to the generous support of Shell.
For complete details, please visit the HMNS website. Registration must be completed by Friday, Dec. 5.
We live in a world surrounded by technology. Whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. That’s why HISD is asking for your support in helping our kids start to take charge of the wired world during the Hour of Code event next week, December 8-14.
Sponsored by Code.org, the Hour of Code is a first step in addressing the need for computer science education in our schools. The event aims to give students their first taste of coding via a series of engaging tutorials.
The event is free, the prep work is minimal, and the curriculum has already been prepared. There are a number of options, including a series of online tutorials and some “unplugged” options for classrooms with limited computer access. Go to hourofcode.com for more information and to register your school or classroom for a chance to win prizes. Just this week, Kolter Elementary won $10,000 worth of laptops for registering every teacher on their campus.
To help spread the word about the importance of coding and to create a “buzz” on social media, we want HISD teachers, schools, and students to share coding pictures and posts during the week of December 8-14 using the #HISDecoded hashtag. Also share your plans for the Hour Code by sending an email to news@houstonisd.org. Members of the district’s Communications team will share your ideas on the district’s website and social media channels.
Interested teachers must sign up via eTRAIN by Friday, Dec. 19 (now extended!), to reserve a space
Elementary school teachers who want to kick their literacy instruction skills up a notch should mark their calendars for early next year.
Experts from Mooresville to provide strategies, tools for 1:1 implementation
High school teachers in phase one and two of the district’s one-to-one laptop deployment are encouraged to sign up for a weekend PowerUp workshop. Representatives from the Mooresville Graded School District will be returning to Houston on Saturday, Dec. 6, to deliver tips on everything from pedagogy to practice, so sign up now to reserve a seat.
Exercise is a part of an awareness campaign during Computer Science Education Week
When you think of a computer programmer, what do you envision? A solitary figure staring at a computer screen in a windowless room? What an inaccurate stereotype! Computer programming, also known as coding, is a creative endeavor with applications all around us. We can find coding in theatrical performances, fashion design, and even the music industry. Careers in fields such as these blend coding with student interests and lead to high-paying, in-demand jobs.
During the week of Dec. 8–14, all HISD schools are encouraged to give their students a taste of what programmers do for a living by participating in the Hour of Code initiative. The event challenges students in grades K–12 to create code for at least one hour during Computer Science Education Week. Its goal is to “demystify code and show that computer science is not rocket science,” said Hadi Partovi, the founder and CEO of Code.org. “Anybody can learn the basics.”
Each classroom that registers at hourofcode.com is eligible to win one of several prizes, including a class trip to Washington D.C. For more information on how to run an hour of code at your school, watch the short video included.
TEACHERS: What is your campus doing? Share your plans for the Hour of Code by sending an email to news@houstonisd.org or check out this article on Clifton Middle School’s “girls-only” coding class for inspiration. You can also post notes about your activities using the #HISDecoded hashtag during coding week, and members of the district’s Communications team will retweet your postings.
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Yates High School Algebra teacher Arthur Hicks is used to sharing resources and lessons plans with fellow math teachers during the school’s weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) meeting. But over the past few weeks, the regular Friday collaborative session with his colleagues has gone high-tech, thanks to the efforts of Yates Instructional Tech Edgar Contreras.
Senior producer/director Debbie Sanchez-Treese works with students from Foerster ES
Debbie Sanchez-Treese has always enjoyed the art of visual story-telling. She began her career in television as a camera operator while still a teenager at the KXIX-TV station in Victoria, Texas, and honed her skills at Sam Houston State University, Channel 6 in the Waco/Temple area, and the Baylor College of Medicine. Sanchez-Treese has been sharing her talents with HISD since 1989.
“It’s fun to showcase the diversity of the district and the real teaching and learning that takes place here,” said the senior TV producer/director in HISD’s Office of Communications. “I enjoy showing that relationship, the connection between the student and teacher. But I like to cover the things no one knows about best. We do so many cool things here.”
Over the quarter of a century she’s been on Team HISD, Sanchez-Treese estimates she has completed about 3,000 individual shows or segments “from conception to delivery”—but she has lost none of her enthusiasm along the way.
“I just like meeting the people,” she explained. “There are so many great principals and teachers I’ve met over the years, and the people we serve are so kind and incredibly appreciative.”
“I feel a really strong dedication to what we do,” Sanchez-Treese added. “We are helping to change people’s lives. My son is autistic, and his teacher changed our life, and we’ll never be able to thank her enough for that. What the teachers give back to the kids…it’s just inspiring.”
Sanchez-Treese officially marked her 25th anniversary with the district on Nov. 20, but a few other employees are also marking theirs this month (Nov. 9–22). See if you know anyone on this list:
40 years
- Alma Davis, teacher, Red ES
35 years
- Anthony Richardson, mechanic team lead, Transportation Services
30 years
- Hester Fleeks, secretary, Shearn ES
25 years
- Angelica Basquez, IT customer service rep. Golfcrest ES
- Gladys Fadden, teacher, Tijerina ES
- Phyllis Franklin,social worker, Special Education
- Darryl King, asbestos abatement team lead, Construction & Facility Services
- Eric McDaniel, teacher, Marshall MS
- Brenda Pegues, warehouser, Construction & Facility Services
- Marili Vaquiz, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
20 years
- Stephanie Clinton, officer, Police Department
- Margaret Flores, clerk, T. H. Rogers
- Charmane Hopkins, associate accountant, Finance
- Carla Jones-Taylor, assistant principal, McNamara ES
- Ismael Landeros, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- José Martinez, tractor operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Richard McColister, officer, Police Department
- Aida Rodriguez, secretary, School at St. George Place
- Maria Rubio, teacher, Seguin ES
- Cecilia Salvador, attendant team lead, Food Services
15 years
- Marcela Baez, principal, Long Academy
- Yolanda Baker, teaching assistant, Seguin ES
- Dorothy Baldwin, teacher, Bush ES
- Lauren Barnes, teacher, Advanced Virtual Academy
- Suzette Bradshaw, student information rep., Young ES
- Yolanda Bravo, attendant, Food Services
- Consuelo Campos, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Antonia Escalante, teaching assistant, Garcia ES
- Blanca Garza, attendant, Food Services
- Dinorah Martinez, teacher, Briscoe ES
- Martha Molina,instructional specialist, Sutton ES
- Yolanda Perez, secretary, De Zavala ES
- Elsa Piñeda, attendant, Food Services
- Adila Ronquillo, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Carla Samuel, teacher, North Forest HS
- Debra Stills, teaching assistant, Lamar HS
10 years
- Mark Ardies, senior HVAC repairer, Food Service
- Lakisher Banks, counselor, Elmore ES
- Felipe Barragan, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Angela Byrd, teacher, Tinsley ES
- Marco Estrada, manager, Internal Audit
- Ana Garcia, teacher, Smith ES
- Yonsuetta Johnson, counselor, Hartman MS
- Lenferd Joseph, teaching assistant, Yates HS
- Bertha Muñoz, teacher, Burnet ES
- Silvia de la Garza Ramos, teaching assistant, Wilson Montessori
- Curtis Reynolds, customer service representative, IT
- Meghann Sadeghian, teacher, Briargrove ES
- Esther Salazar, teacher, Burbank MS
- Marnique Thompson, facilities manager, Bond Fund Program
5 years
- Nicolette Alleyne, teacher, Piney Point ES
- August Bailey, custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Lisa Blackmon-Jones, specialist, Health and Medical Services
- Erica Boseman, teacher, Gregory-Lincoln Education Center
- Melva Brown, senior academic tutor, Frost ES
- Chimere Crosby, teacher, Hartsfield ES
- Jennifer Dennis, clerk, Reagan HS
- Eloiza Diosdado, secretary, Gregg ES
- Daiveda Graves, teaching assistant, Benbrook ES
- Wendy Hernandez, Custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Edward LaSage Jr, manager, Research and Accountability
- Jeffrey Meadows, clerk, Lamar HS
- Adam Medina, warehouse team lead, Furniture Services
- Jacqueline Noland-Williams, teacher, Wainwright ES
- Eddie Price Sr., tree pruner, Construction & Facility Services
- Ivelice Rengifo, teacher, Washington HS
- Diane Reyna, teaching assistant, Travis ES
- Robert Riojas III, teaching assistant, Twain ES
- Carlos Rodriguez Jr, clerk, Chavez HS
- Nancy Roman, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services
- Toshya Smith, evaluation specialist, Child Study
- Charlotte Stephens, specialist, Health and Medical Services
- Alvin Stewart, Custodian, Construction & Facility Services
- Nelia Tabotabo, teaching assistant, Red ES
- Kimberly Williams, clerk, Bell ES
- Lisa Williams, principal, Paige ES
Will it be Legos or Disney dolls this year? Bikes or Barbies?
Tune in next week and you’ll find out.
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 10 a.m., HISD’s Longfellow Elementary School (3617 Norris, 77025) will be announcing the results of its annual Hot Toy Survey, so be sure to check out the HISD website afterwards if you have young ones to shop for this year. The survey is conducted entirely by fifth-graders, and is designed to prevent parents from making poor decisions when trying to figure out this season’s “must-have” toy or game.
