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The Abilene ISD Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 10, following its workshop which was held Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m.
Superintendent’s Announcements | 07:50
During his announcements, Superintendent Dr. John Kuhn shared upcoming events and calendar reminders for families. He invited the community to attend the Taylor Elementary School choir’s upcoming preview concert, a prelude to the group's upcoming performance at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in San Antonio on Thursday, February 13. Additionally, Dr. Kuhn shared the following calendar reminders:
Feb. 14 & 17: Student Holiday and Staff Professional Development Days
March 10-14: Spring Break
Teaching Minute | 13:40
Board President Angie Wiley introduced a new episode in the district’s Teaching Minute video series, which highlights exemplary teaching of TEKS Readiness Standards on AISD campuses. The latest episode features Mr. Richard Green, a 4th-grade teacher at Alcorta Elementary School, and his application of Standard 4.10D. In his lesson, students analyze the figurative language used in the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Recognitions | 24:14
Employee Award Recipients
The Board recognized the inaugural recipients of the district’s new Employee Awards program, which celebrates stand-out educators and staff who exemplify a commitment to collaboration, active classroom engagement, and creating intentional partnerships with the school community.
Employee Award recipients include:
Auxiliary: Mary Rangel, Student Nutrition employee at Mann Middle School
New Teacher: Alfonso Santoya, 5th-grade teacher Alcorta Elementary
Paraprofessional: Kathy Spivey, Hartford SAP Secretary
Student Support: Victoria Smith, Crockett Early Head Start Master Family Advocate
Substitute Teacher: Georgia Smith, Bowie Elementary
Teacher: Karl Wilcox, Cooper High School Teacher and Coach
Click here to read more about the award categories and recipients.
Abilene Young Professionals 20 Under 40 Award
Stafford Elementary School Principal Melissa Scott was recognized for receiving an Abilene Young Professional (AYP) 20 Under 40 award. The award program honors 20 exceptional young professionals who are making a significant impact in the Abilene community by elevating their respective career fields.
Click here to read more about Mrs. Scott and her recognition.
Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA) President-Elect
The Board recognized Director of Human Resources Chris Bailey for her recent appointment to President-Elect of the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA). The organization provides tools, strategies, and approaches to support human resources services in school districts across Texas.
Goal Progress Monitoring - Goals 1 and 2 | 31:00
The district presents regular updates on progress toward achieving the board’s student outcome goals in AISD. During this month’s meeting, Executive Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Keri Thornburg and Elementary Reading Language Arts Content Coordinator Mandy Joiner provided an update on Board Goals 1 and 2.
Goal 1: Early Childhood Literacy - The percentage of 3rd-grade students who score Meets Grade Level or above on STAAR Reading will increase from 40% in August 2022 to 53% by August 2027.
Goal 2: Early Childhood Math - The percentage of 3rd grade students who score Meets Grade Level or above on STAAR Math will increase from 44% in August 2022 to 66% by August 2027.
Mrs. Thornburg and Mrs. Joiner shared strategies teachers and administrators are using to reach their goals, including analyzing MAP, M-Class, and Benchmark assessments, as well as collaborative educator development through professional learning communities (PLCs).
Action Items | 51:35
Policy FL (Local) Directory Information: The board approved an update to Policy FL (Local) that revises the district's definition of directory information. To protect student and family privacy, the policy update designates student addresses, phone listings, photographs, and dates and places of birth as directory information for school-sponsored purposes only (e.g., district publications). Under the provisions of this update, the district is no longer obligated to provide external third parties with the ability to directly solicit students and families if directory information is requested for a non-school sponsored purpose.