Cheryl Johns, principal at Labay Middle School, was named principal at Langham Creek High
School. Johns replaces
Tom Strother, who retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Johns has 26 years of experience in public education. She began her career at
Klein High School in Klein ISD before coming to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in 1986
as a speech and debate teacher at Cypress Creek High School. She transferred to
Cypress Falls High School as a teacher prior to being promoted to the position
of director of instruction at Truitt Middle School in 1995, where she served
for six years. In 2001, she transferred to Jersey Village High School, where
she served as director of instruction for one year before moving to associate
principal. In February 2005, she took over as principal at Labay.
Johns received her bachelor of science from the University of Texas and her
master
’s and doctorate degrees in education from the University of Houston.
Jim Wells, Cypress Creek High School principal, was selected to attend The Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education this summer by Raise Your
Hand Texas, a nonprofit, bi-partisan advocacy organization supporting public
education.
Wells is one of 100 principals out of 350 applicants statewide to attend one of
the center
’s 12 summer institutes. Wells will attend the institute, Redesigning High Schools For Improved Instruction in Cambridge, Mass.
The program will provide the theories, knowledge, tools and best practices
necessary to redesign high schools to become powerful learning for students and
adults.
“This is an opportune time to participate in the program at The Principal’s Center since Cypress Creek is going through a redesign and reprogramming phase
over the next couple years,
” Wells said. “It is a great opportunity, both personally and professionally.”
Yvette Garcia, assistant principal at Holbrook Elementary School, was named the new principal
at Francone Elementary School. Garcia replaces
Sue Romanowsky, who retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Garcia has spent 26 total years in education. She began her teaching career in
Cy-Fair ISD at Moore Elementary School, where she taught for six years before
teaching in California for two. She returned to Cy-Fair ISD as a teacher at
Sheridan Elementary School for nine years, then served one year as the
instructional specialist and three years as an assistant principal at Post
Elementary School. She then transferred to Holbrook, where she has spent the
past three years.
Garcia received her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and her Master of Education from
Stephen F. Austin State University.
Becky Koop, an assistant principal at Warner Elementary School, was named the new
principal at Matzke Elementary School. Koop replaces
Anne Odum, who retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Koop spent 14 total years in education. She began as a high school teacher in
San Antonio, and after three years came to Cy-Fair ISD as a teacher at Hancock
Elementary School for three years. She taught a year each at Hamilton Middle
School and Matzke, then served as instructional specialist at Emmott Elementary
School for one year. She served three years as an assistant principal at Jowell
Elementary School before moving to her current position at Warner, where she
has been for two years.
Koop received her Bachelor of Science from UT-San Antonio and her Master of
Education from Prairie View A
&M University.
Walmart selected six Cypress-Fairbanks ISD teachers as 2008 Walmart Teachers of the Year and they were recognized at the 2009 Crystal Awards. The teachers were among 34
Walmart Teachers of the Year from an eight-county region.
Cy-Fair ISD’s honorees are: Tamera Felder, Sheridan Elementary School; John James Jr., Dean Middle School; Jennifer Sorrells, Fiest Elementary School; Jennifer Buchert, Fiest Elementary School; Terri Cole, Hamilton Middle School; and Anne Donlevy, Post Elementary School.
Teachers Win Energy Scholarships - Five Cy-Fair ISD teachers were named Texas’ winning teachers in the 2009 A+ for Energy program, sponsored by BP. The A+ for
Energy program was developed to recognize teachers for innovation and
excellence in teaching energy conservation in the classroom. BP awards up to $5
million each year in grants and scholarships to pre-K through 12th-grade
teachers who create innovative projects focused on energy.
The Cy-Fair ISD teachers who won the A+ for Energy scholarships are: Bang
Elementary School teacher
Jeanetta Mieth for her project “Start Treating Our Home Planet with the Respect it Deserves.” The school-wide project for K-5 students will explore the benefits and
importance of recycling, and allow each music class to learn and perform songs
about recycling.
Arnold Middle School teacher Mary Patterson received a grant for her project “Our Potential is Growing.” The project will culminate with a powerful event, “An Evening of Energy,” led by student leaders who share what they havelearned about energy. Arnold
will involve the community by signing up energy star pledges and collecting old
CFL bulbs for proper disposal.
Millsap Elementary School teacher Carmela Simmons’ project “Mustangs Race Toward a Brighter Future” will use high school students as volunteer mentors to help first-grade students
learn about the science of energy through hands-on experiments and improve
their language arts skills.
Reed Elementary School teacher Rhoda Goldberg’s project “EmPOWERing Students” will provide real-world connections for students, who will participate in many
hands-on, inquiry-based activities that will allow them the freedom of choice
and creativity. The major project will be to create booths and present at a
school-wide Energy Fair.
Smith Middle School teacher Doreen Jarvis’ project “Exploring Our Potential!” will allow for a professional development workshop that allows additional
knowledge and curriculum ideas about energy resources and conservation. Jarvis
will use new resources as teaching tools for at-risk and struggling students.
Catherine Wafford was honored by The Houston Choral Society and ConocoPhillips with the 2009 Vocal Music Teacher of the Year award. She is the Langham Creek High School choir director.
The first annual award recognizes the excellent work of area vocal music
teachers. The HCS board of directors solicited nominations from students and
colleagues before presenting Wafford with a plaque and $500 check during a
brief ceremony at the start of the HCS spring concert.
During her 10 years at Langham Creek, Wafford’s choirs have won numerous festival awards and received Superior ratings at UIL
concerts and sight reading contests, and have been selected as a Texas Music
Educators Association
honor choir four times.
NAM launches 2009 Back-to-School Drive. Northwest Assistance Ministries is asking for cash donations to provide more than
2,000 children in need with basic school supplies and clothing to help prepare
them for school in the fall.
Donations can be made online through the virtual Back-to-School Drive at www.namonline.org/bts or send them to NAM, 15555 Kuykendahl Road, Houston, TX 77090. Donations also
can be made by telephone via credit card by calling 281-885-4605.
