Stream the Meeting | View the Agenda | Learn More About the Board
The Abilene ISD Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Monday, June 10. The evening’s agenda included:
- Installation of New Board Members
- Organization of the Board’s Elected Officers
- Student and Staff Recognitions
- Departmental Report from Fine Arts
- Departmental Report from Athletics
- Shotwell Annex Naming Discussion
Superintendent’s Announcements (16:29)
In his superintendent’s announcements, Dr. John Kuhn recognized multiple AISD campuses for earning Triple Star Awards, demonstrating improvements in specific areas of the 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Triple Star Award winners showed gains in three areas: exceeding prior year campus performance by 15+ percentage points, exceeding the district average, and exceeding the state average.
Recognized campuses include:
- ATEMS, Algebra 1, English 1
- Alcorta Elementary School, Grade 5 Math
- Bonham Elementary School, Grade 3 Reading Language Arts
- Bowie Elementary School, Grade 5 Math, Grade 5 Reading Language Arts, Grade 5 Science
- Clack Middle School, Algebra 1
- Madison Middle School, Algebra 1
- Martinez Elementary School, Grade 3 Reading Language Arts
- Thomas Elementary School, Grade 4 Reading Language Arts
- Ward Elementary School, Grade 4 Reading Language Arts
Organization of the Board’s Elected Officers (17:20)
Terms for four seats on the Board of Trustees ended in May, and two new members were added following the results of the election, Blair Schroeder (Place 3) and Dr. Taylor Tidmore (Place 1). Incumbents Angie Wiley (Place 7) and Rodney Goodman (Place 2) ran unopposed. The new members were sworn in, and during closed session the Board determined a new organization for the structure of elected officers:
President – Angie Wiley
Vice President – Rodney Goodman
Secretary – Cindy Earles
Assistant Secretary – Billy Enriquez
Student and Staff Recognitions (22:00)
During the recognitions portion of the agenda, the Board recognized Air Force JROTC students for being named inaugural winners of the Staff Sergeant Jeremy D. Smith Exemplary Service Award. The award recognizes cadets who demonstrate exceptional leadership, dedication to their country, and service to their communities and fellow citizens.
Congratulations to:
- Trevor Martin, Abilene High School
- Joshua Barajas-Rios, Abilene High School
- Arianna Najera, ATEMS
- Jayvee Bautista, Cooper High School
Additionally, a number of teachers were recognized as Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designees through the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Designation at the Recognized, Exemplary, and Masters TIA levels is based on excellent instruction and outstanding student growth results. A teacher who qualifies for designation earns additional pay from the State of Texas ranging from $3,000-$32,000 each year for five years.
This year, AISD had 58 TIA designees, including 29 first-time designees and seven who ascended in the scale. Congratulations to the following teachers:
TIA Recognized
- Alison Wellborn, Clack Middle School
- Mattison Carter, Craig Middle School
- Amy Dugan, Craig Middle School
- Julie McNally, Craig Middle School
- Sarah Welch, Bonham Elementary School
- Kimberly Vaughn, Alcorta Elementary School
- Bethany Anderson, Thomas Elementary School
- Julia Siewert, Bowie Elementary School
- Kimberly Holmes Abrams, Ortiz Elementary School
TIA Exemplary
- Nicole Homer, Craig Middle School
- Sharon West, Craig Middle School
- LaToya Crisp, Stafford Elementary School
- Blair Phariss, Stafford Elementary School
- Loree Rose, Stafford Elementary School
- Taniece Thompson-Smith, Stafford Elementary School
- Kevin Wright, Bonham Elementary School
- David Ahlschwede, Alcorta Elementary School
- Jessica Gonzales, Alcorta Elementary School
- Kallie Pringle, Alcorta Elementary School
- Chery Steck, Ortiz Elementary School
- Alison Smith, Ward Elementary School
- Nicole Chastang, Bonham Elementary School
- Kelci Lee, Alcorta Elementary School
- Jane Voss, Ortiz Elementary School
TIA Masters
- Eden Doss, Clack Middle School
- Sydney Beverage, Stafford Elementary School
- April Brannan, Stafford Elementary School
- Christine Havens, Stafford Elementary School
- Erin May, Stafford Elementary School
- Madison Bangert, Thomas Elementary School
- Rosanna Day, Thomas Elementary School
- Wendy Morgan, Thomas Elementary School
- Chelsea Squyres, Thomas Elementary School
- Renee Fisher, Stafford Elementary School
- Alisa Anderson, Alcorta Elementary School
- Abby Cummins, Alcorta Elementary School
Fine Arts Departmental Report (51:10)
Executive Director of Fine Arts Clay Johnson provided an update on the district’s award-winning fine arts programs, of which 81 percent of AISD students are enrolled. The department includes more than 100 teachers, administrators, teacher aides, private lesson instructors, temporary employees, and piano accompanists.
Abilene ISD was recently recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for the 8th consecutive year.
Learn more about Fine Arts in Abilene ISD.
Athletics Department Report (55:25)
Executive Director of Athletics Jim Garfield provided an overview on personnel updates and district alignments for the 2024-25 school year. He also reflected on the success of the 2023-24 school year. Teams from nineteen different sports qualified for playoff-level competition, and numerous individual athletes qualified for regional and state-level competition.
Additionally, Garfield recognized the accomplishments of the award-winning coaching staff across AISD and shared the intentional professional development programs provided to AISD coaches. These programs include Seat at the Table, the Head Coaches Academy, and R.O.C.K. Mentorship.
Board Action Items
The board took action on the following items:
- Approved an update to Policy CV (LOCAL)
- Approved HVAC replacement at the Hartford Professional Learning Center
- Approved the ranking of bidders for parking improvements at the Jefferson Technology Center
