May 2019 Chatterbox

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CHATTERBOX












District chatter for staff that matters






MAY 2019

CCISD Announces 2019 Teachers of the Year




The Rotary clubs of Space Center, Seabrook and League City
honored Clear Creek ISD’s 44 campus teachers of the year and
announced the 2019 Elementary Teacher of the Year and the
2019 Secondary Teacher of the Year during a luncheon at
South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center on May
20, 2019.


Lyzette Ruiz of Ed White Elementary was chosen as the 2019
CCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year. The Kindergarten
teacher has become a leader on her campus by supporting
campus and district initiatives to build stronger literacy
foundations and improve personalized learning strategies. As
Ruiz explained in her Teacher of the Year application, “I have a
strong desire to empower students to take ownership of their
own learning and give them the opportunity to rejoice in their capabilities.”


Clear Brook High School science teacher, Alaina Garza, is the 2019 CCISD Secondary Teacher of the
Year. A 12-year CCISD teacher, Garza works to cultivate a passion for science through a variety of
techniques for different learning styles. Outside the classroom, she is dedicated to promoting self-
advocacy in all her students by supporting student-centered platforms such as
TEDxClearBrookHighSchool and Safe School Ambassadors. “By asking questions, students will
generate their own ideas,” Garza stated. “As educators, we must create platforms for them to express
and exchange these ideas.”


“Thank you to the Rotary Clubs of Space Center, Seabrook and League City for their ongoing support
of our outstanding teachers in Clear Creek ISD,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Greg Smith.
“Together with our Rotary Clubs, we are proud to applaud these special educators for inspiring their
school communities.”


Clear Creek ISD congratulates both Lyzette Ruiz and Alaina Garza, as well as the other four 2019
finalists: Ashley Hosek, Bauerschlag Elementary 1st grade teacher; Angela Sanders, Greene
Elementary 3rd grade teacher; Kelly Boultinghouse, League City Intermediate science teacher; and
Laura Dunham, Clear Lake High School Family and Consumer Science teacher. Click here to view
the full list of campus teachers of the year.


Ruiz and Garza will now advance to the regional and then possibly state selection process for Texas
Teacher of the Year. In addition to $1,500 from the Rotary Clubs of League City, Seabrook and Space
Center, the elementary and secondary teacher of the year will each receive a custom commemorative
ring from Balfour. Finalists received $750 each. Click here to learn more about the 2019 Elementary
Teacher of the Year and here to learn more about the 2019 Secondary Teacher of the Year.


Click here to view more photos from the event.

2019 Clear Creek ISD Retirees



























We would like to congratulate the 2019 Clear Creek ISD retirees and thank them for their timeless
contributions to our District over the years. Collectively, they have put in 1,953 years for this District, and
we are confident that the impact they have had over the years is reflected in the successes of our students
and schools. We are sad to see you go!

Click here to view the full list of retirees.








We’ve Got Spirit, YES WE DO!




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ISD families with guests. Episodes are recorded live on the
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For Your Benefits























Benefits Open Enrollment
Starting Soon!


Open Enrollment: Professional Learning
July 22 through August 16, 2019
The CCISD Elementary Math Summer

The school year is quickly coming to an end and it’s Institute will be held July 9, 10, and 11 at
time to start thinking about summer. This includes McWhirter Elementary. Elementary math
teachers (K-5) will attend 2-hour math
taking a look at your CCISD benefit elections for next courses provided by Rachel Powell,
year! elementary math curriculum coordinator,
and the elementary math coach team.
The Clear Creek ISD Annual Open Enrollment Period The courses will focus on various topics
will begin on Monday, July 22, 2019 and run through such as Number Sense in 3-5, Teaching
Friday, August 16, 2019. This is the one time per Through Problem Solving, Representing
year that employees can enroll, change, or cancel vs Solving, Dreambox Data, Using
benefits without experiencing a qualifying life event. Technology (Seesaw, Its Learning, and
Classroom One-Note), Lead4ward
This is a great time to review important elections Strategies Used in Math, Conferring in
such as your medical and dental plans, life insurance Math Classrooms, Fluency with
coverage for yourself and your dependents, and Multiplication and Division,
beneficiary information. All elections made during this Understanding Strip Diagrams,
enrollment period will take effect on September 1, Comparing Fractions, and many other
2019. Members of the Employee Benefits staff will topics that will support teaching and
be available for hands on assistance at Clear Path learning in the year to come. At this
Alternative Learning Center on scheduled days time we are excited to say that we have
at least 600 registrants for the various 2
throughout the enrollment period. hour courses. To register, log into
Eduphoria and click "Upcoming
Watch for more information to come this summer via Courses" to view courses that are
postcards mailed to your home address as well as available. Registration closes on June 1.
email notifications.















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Teacher Instructional Spotlight




Joe Miller is the Project CATS I and II instructor at
Seabrook Science Magnet Intermediate School. Project
CATS, or Cooperatively Attaining Team-building Skills,
is a unique course designed to provide Seabrook
Science Magnet students with the opportunity to
explore in greater detail common interests in science
and study its application in the real world, while at the
same time building cooperative learning skills in a team
setting. By forming teams, students are able to gain a
deeper understanding of science topics that exist in
society today.

Miller fully immersed himself in the concept of CATS
while participating in a learning excursion with "The Seven Levels of Change" author Rolf Smith. Upon
completing the excursion, Miller modeled the course from Smith's work and introduced CATS to Seabrook in
1998. After making some minor adjustments since its introduction, Miller has now taught the course in CCISD
for more than two decades. Through Miller's extensive knowledge of the CATS program, he recently helped
to expand the program to the District's second science magnet campus, Brookside Intermediate. Under
Miller's guidance, Brookside adopted the program and has successfully completed its first CATS course in
the Spring of 2019.

"I love how this course truly empowers students to move beyond their comfort zone and take risks to make
things happen that become positive experiences for them," Miller said.

The semester-long course culminates with a parent showcase, highlighting each team's mock business and
their work producing newsletters, brochures, and various multi-media presentations surrounding their
respective topic. Click here for photos from this year's Project CATS presentations.

While Project CATS brings obvious academic benefits, Miller hopes that students also take away an even
greater underlying message about teamwork. "We all think differently," Miller said. "But we can all work
together to get a task done with respect and cooperation."





2018-2019 Service Awards





The Education Support Center hosted a special
Service Pin Ceremony to celebrate employees who
have reached their 10 and 20-year mark working for
the District. We appreciate their contributions to our
students and schools. Congratulations to the
following:

20 Years 10 Years
Laura Adlis Nancy Bradford
Ellen Burton Adeena Henning
Connie Hughes
Sandra Rozas





Click here for the full photo gallery

Naveed Ahmed Lucia Lopez
Austin Brown Brian Maldonado

Ladreama Brown Jennifer Mann

Tiffany Burbridge Beal Nicolasa Ochoa

David Cole Cindy Perez

Irma Estrada Jaime Quintero Tibaquira
Joshua Godinez Paul Roberts

Sandra Helton Devon Wolf

Awards & Accomplishments




Six Clear Creek ISD elementary schools joined the ranks of Character.org’s
highest distinction by being named 2019 National Schools of Character on
May 10, 2019. Out of only 13 elementary schools in Houston and 88 schools
nation-wide, Bauerschlag Elementary, Goforth Elementary, McWhirter
Elementary, Ross Elementary, Stewart Elementary and Weber Elementary
now join the growing list of schools honored by the organization.

Each year, Character.org certifies schools and districts at the state and national level that demonstrate a
dedicated focus on character development, which has a positive effect on academic achievement, student
behavior, and school climate. Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles of Effective
Character, which include providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership,
and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort.

Character.org is a national advocate and leader for character in communities including schools, families,
workplaces, and sports. Since the School of Character program’s inception, the process has impacted nearly
3 million students, staff, parents, and other community members.

Additionally, Clear Brook High School, North Pointe Elementary and Weber Elementary were each selected
as one of Character.org's 2019 Promising Practices recipients. The Promising Practices program highlights
what’s going well in communities across the United States and the world. Each Practice must be tied to one
or more of Character.org’s 11 Principles of Effective Character.

These schools will be honored at the 2019 National Forum to be held Oct 24-27, 2019 in Washington, DC.





Notable Notes



Congratulations to Tamara Perkins, Bayside Intermediate paraprofessional who
became the proud grandmother to Michael "Elliott" Wooddell, a 6lb 8oz baby boy
on April 10, 2019. The proud new parents are Michael and Sally (Perkins)
Wooddell of White Oak, Texas.








May Board Report



Read here for important information and photos from the May
Board of Trustees regular meeting.















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How to Submit Stuff
Got Questions? Call 281-284-0020





You can submit news about yourself and/or fellow employees through Eduphoria. Click on Help Desk, then
click Create a New Request in the bottom left corner. Once there, click Office of Communications, then click
Employee Newsletter to find the submittal form.

Notable Notes
Copy and paste text below into the description box, edit, proofread facts then submit. You may also attach a
photo as a .jpg.

Marriage: (name of employee), (school and title), became the bride/groom of (name of bride/groom) on (date).

Birth (Parent): (name of employee), (school and title), and his/her wife/husband (first name) became the
proud grandparents of a son/daughter (name of baby), (weight of baby), on (date).

Birth (Grandparent): (name of employee), (school and title), and his/her wife/husband (first name) became the
proud grandparents of a grandson/granddaughter (name of baby), (weight of baby), on (date). Proud parents
are (ex: Suzy and John Smith) of (city, state).

Death: Sympathy is extended to (name of employee), (school and title), whose (relation: ex: father) (name of
relation) died on (date). Retirement: After (number) of years in CCISD working as a (job title) at (campus or
campuses), (name), is retiring in (month).

News Features & Photos: Check the box by Award, Achievement, or Photo Worthy, and in the description box
add details such as who, what, when, and where. Attach a photo as a .jpg and hit submit.

Collaboration Corner: Send us your contact information and information about a community service project or
other idea suitable for collaboration with other teachers or employees around CCISD.















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