Alief ISD Fine Arts coordinator Sara Chapman was awarded the 2015 Marion Quin Dix Leadership Award by the National Art Education Association. Chapman, who is the Executive Director of the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA), was recognized for her outstanding contribution and service to the profession. Chapman is the third Texas recipient in the award’s history. TAEA President Tim Lowke said Chapman is a “constant leader and model in art education both in Texas and nationally.”

Alief ISD students received 70 Gold Keys, Silver Keys and Honorable Mentions from The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of Harris County. Gold Key winners go on to compete at the national level.
Congratulations to our Gold Key recipients:

  • Elsik High School: Erick Castillo, Mayra Gomez, Michelle Hernandez, Jonathan Pena Cuevas and Vanessa Rivera
  • Hastings High School: Edwin Barajas-Vigil and Aneisha Barrett
  • Kerr High School: Junyuan Tan and Vinh Chu
  • Taylor High School: Jasmine Escobar-Perry and Bianca Uzoma

Killough Middle School tech specialist Dan Blevins is one of 140 educators from across the country selected to serve as an Adobe Education Leader (AEL) by technology company Adobe. The AELs will help the company refine a vision of effective technology to enhance learning.

Budewig Intermediate student Nicolas Hsu won first place at the Alief ISD Sixth Grade District Science Fair. Miller Intermediate student Arturo Joya placed second. Miller’s Aquielle Richards and Owens Intermediate student Kimberly Scarlet Umana tied for third place.

Elsik High School student Stephanie Garcia was named the Houston Chronicle’s Athlete of the Week and spotlighted in the January 27 edition of the newspaper. Garcia is on the girls’ soccer team.

Mahanay Elementary students raised $3,472.94 in two weeks for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Taylor High School student Tepanga Fontenot, Hastings High School teacher Olga Scisco and Hicks Elementary assistant principal Lizette Zeren will be starring in the City Light Theatre production of the musical The Addams Family. The musical will hit the stage February 13-15. The production is directed and choreographed by Taylor High School staff member Monroe Moore.

Scholar Athletes for January

  • Elsik High School student Brenda Velasquez proudly represents the girls’ soccer team. Velasquez has been on the team throughout high school. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, National Art Honor Society and LEO Club. Velasquez, who also works at HEB, previously attended Mahanay Elementary, Miller Intermediate and Albright Middle School. She has already been accepted into Texas A&M University and plans to study to become a dentist.
  • Elsik High School student Orowo Eleyae proudly represents the boys’ basketball team. He has been a member of the program for all four years. Eleyae is also a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. He previously attended Cummings Elementary, Mata Intermediate and Holub Middle School. Eleyae has already been accepted into the University of Houston and Houston Baptist University and would like to study bio-chemistry and pursue a career in pharmacy.