Alief ISD teachers have been selected to receive training from non-profit organization Neuhaus Education Center. The center understands Alief ISD is committed to quality literacy instruction, and the selected pre-kindergarten teachers will receive customized job-embedded coaching, four full days of training sessions and assessment data to drive instruction. The teachers chosen to participate are: Rachel Gray (Heflin), Sarah Heinsbroek (Heflin), Cathy Nguyen (Heflin), Ashley Digan (Youens), Bonnie McCarthy (Chancellor), Kirsten Carlson (Boone), Amy Martinez (Rees), Nicole Craddock (Petrosky), Brittany Walker (Alexander), Lisa Joe (Liestman) and Shelia Evans (Outley).

Scholar Athletes for October:

  • Charlesia Jones represents the Elsik High School volleyball program. She is currently ranked sixth out of a class of 856 students. Jones is a three-year varsity letterman in volleyball and also plays club volleyball year-round. She plans to attend Charleston Southern University on a volleyball scholarship and plans to major in finance. Jones, who previously attended Chambers, Chancellor and Alief Middle, hopes to build a career as an investment banker.
  • Temisan “TK” Kuyatsemi represents the Hastings High School football program. He has been a member of the football program for four years and has been a starter on the varsity team for three of those years. Kuyatsemi also has been a part of the basketball and track teams for the past three years. He has volunteered for several Alief ISD events and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Kuyatsemi previously attended Cummings, Boone, Mata and Holub. Kuyatsemi is being recruited to play football for Stephen F. Austin University and the University of Houston and plans to study Anatomy and Kinesiology. He hopes to pursue a career as a strength and fitness trainer.

The Hastings High School Marching Band earned straight 1’s at the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region 23 Marching Competition. This is the first time in almost 20 years that the Hastings Marching Band has earned the Sweepstakes Superior Rating at UIL. Elsik and Taylor’s bands both made a 2 (Excellent Rating).

O’Donnell Middle School student Johnny Nguyen won a spot in the UIL Region 23 Middle School Philharmonic Orchestra. Nguyen, who plays the violin, was the only Alief ISD student to advance.

Alief ISD Career & Technical Education students placed at the Harris County Fair. Gustavo Rodriguez (Elsik) placed first and made it to the auction with his plant design in dish gardens. Gardenia Leon (Elsik) also placed first with her floral design, while Joy Ihenwe (Elsik) placed second in the horticulture 10-inch basket design.

Elsik High School teacher John Branch Jr. recently attended the St. Jude Celebration of Hope Event as the National Director of Community Service of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. This celebration was aimed at recognizing all of those individuals and organizations who have raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this year.