Janet Bakondy, an assistant principal at Jowell
Elementary School, was named the new principal at Ault Elementary School.
Bakondy replaces
Donna Guthrie, who was selected to open Swenke Elementary School (No. 50) in the 2009-10
school year.
Bakondy has 14 years of educational experience, all in CFISD. She taught for
seven years at Ault before taking over as instructional specialist
for two years. She then served a year as instructional specialist at Keith
Elementary School before accepting the assistant principal position at Jowell
in 2005-06.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Slippery Rock University in
Pennsylvania and Master of Education from Prairie ViewA
&M University. She holds certifications in Elementary Self-Contained(1-8),
Special Education (PK-12) and Principal (EC-12).
Kelly Gerletti, an assistant principal at Hamilton Elementary School, was named the new
principal at A. Robison Elementary School. Gerletti replaces
Dan McIlduff, who was named the assistant superintendent for educational support services.
Gerletti has 21 years of experience in education—20 of those in Cy-Fair ISD. She taught for 10 years at Owens Elementary School
with a one-year break to teach at Coppell Intermediate School in Coppell ISD.
She taught one more year at Labay Middle School before being named
instructional specialist at Walker Elementary School. She served in that role
for three years before being promoted to assistant principal, then transferred
to Hamilton Elementary as assistant principal
—a role she has served in for three years.
Gerletti received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas A&M University and Master of Education from Sam Houston State University. She holds certifications
in Special Education and Elementary Education, as well as certification as an
EC-12 Principal.
Laura Perry, former director of instruction at Cypress Creek High School, has been named
the principal at Thornton Middle School. She assumed responsibilities on March
2.
Perry has 23 years of experience in education. She began her teaching career in
Humble ISD in 1985 as a fifth-grade Title I reading teacher and transferred to
Aldine ISD in 1987, where she taught seventh- and eighth-grade reading and
English. She joined the CFISD team as a reading teacher at Truitt Middle School
in 1990 and was promoted to assistant principal in 1993. In 2000 she taught
fifth grade at Hancock Elementary School and was named Spotlight Teacher of the
Year in 2001-02. Perry served as the director of instruction at Campbell Middle
School from 2002-05 and opened Spillane Middle School in 2005. In 2007 she
became the director of instruction at Cypress Creek High School.
Vicki Snokhous, associate principal at Cy-Fair High School, has been named the new principal
at Arnold Middle School. Snokhous has 25 years of experience in education. She
began her career in Oklahoma, teaching high school prior to serving as a middle
school teacher in Mesquite ISD. When she arrived at CFISD, she taught three
years at Dean Middle School and one year as a helping teacher for at-risk
students at Cy-Fair High School. She was promoted to assistant principal and
served three years in that capacity before assuming the role of associate
principal
—a position she has held for five years.
Snokhous received a B.S. in Education from Oklahoma State University and M. Ed.
from Sam Houston State University.
Michelle Curless, Cypress Falls High School paraprofessional, received an Advocate for Education
2009 Bridge to the Future Award for her commitment to prioritizing student
learning and re-assessing each student
’s growth in the learning process. Along with Cy-Fair high School DI helping
teacher
Kay Noshari, Curless was nominated for the award by a fellow colleague.
Cy-Fair ISD received several Gold and Silver Stars and a Best of Category Award for
excellence in school communications at the Texas School Public Relations
Association Star Awards Celebration.
Each year, TSPRA recognizes communicators in school districts, education
foundations, education associations and organizations for their outstanding
work in both print and electronic media. This year, 905 entries were received.
CFISD
’s winners in the class of More than 30,000 students/members are: Best In
Category
– Gary Durrenberger, Photo – Sports Subject, “MVP.”;
Gold Stars – Kimberly Foster, Video Live Event, “Cy-Fair District News – LIVE”; Video Documentary, “Cy-Fair ISD: A Family History”; and Video News/Information, “Cy-Fair District News”; Gary Durrenberger, Sports Action Photo, “MVP”; and Brochure, “Bond 2007”; and Joel Weckerly, Published News Release – Edited, “Schools benefit from service project”; and Brochure, “Bond 2007”; Silver Stars – Gary Durrenberger, Photo – Other Subjects, “Sound of Silence”; Stephanie Migl, External Newsletters, “INSIDE Cypress-Fairbanks ISD”; and Rosario Meehan, Non-English, “INSIDE Cypress-Fairbanks ISD – Bond 2007.”
Three Cy-Fair ISD Partners in Education business and volunteer award winners won Crystal Awards at the Texas Association
of Partners in Education Awards Banquet.
Yeager Elementary School volunteer Don Bollwinkle won an Individual Partnership Award in the Wisdom category. Bollwinkle works
with
bilingual and ESL students every Tuesday and Thursday morning, and has helped
the students demonstrate high achievement on TAKS tests.
Clariza Rath, who implemented specialized tutoring programs at Frazier, Metcalf and Bane
elementary schools, won an Individual Partnership Award in the Role Model
category. Rath said she understands the need for parental involvement at all
campuses and has supported the district VIPS Global program by reaching out to
volunteers and recruiting them to be involved in schools wherever the need is
greatest.
Holbrook Elementary School partner CH2MHill Engineering won a Business Partnership Award in the Career Education category. Each year,
CH2MHill hosts an Engineer
’s Week. The company also raises funds annually to purchase at least 25 bikes and
helmets for students during Christmas. In addition to mentoring, CH2MHill helps
support a variety of education programs within the school.
Cy-Fair ISD teachers named 2009 Claes Nobel Educators of Distinction for excellence in teaching by
the National Society of High School Scholars are:
Nancy Crawford, Jersey Village High School; Kim Fitzgerald, Cypress Falls High School; Jessica Haddox, Cypress Creek High School; Jane Howard, Cypress Creek High School; Eileen Newland, Cypress Springs High School; Chris Rajadurai, Cypress Falls High School; Demetra Roane, Cypress Ridge High School; and Antonia Wong, Cypress Creek High School.
Each year, student members of NSHSS have an opportunity to select the teacher
who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career. The
teacher must be an outstanding role model and a positive influence, someone who
has made a lasting difference in their lives by encouraging them to strive for
excellence.
