A Publication of South Texas Independent School District August/September 2014

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STISD Board approves name for new San Benito junior high

STISD receives high accountability ratings from TEAJeff Hembree, Deputy Superintendent of STISD, reported on the district’s performance under the state’s ac-countability system during the Sept. 23 board meeting. A public hearing was also held.

Based upon the State of Texas As-sessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) examinations, STISD, and each of its campuses, received the high-est accountability rating available this year - Met Standard.

STISD was also one of 26 districts in the state and one of four districts in the Region One area to receive the Postsecondary Readiness distinction designation, the only distinction des-ignation available at the district level.

Every campus also received the maxi-

mum number of distinction designations available. These distinctions include: Academic Achieve-ment in Reading/ELA, Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Academic Achievement in Science, Academic Achievement in Social Studies, Top 25 Percent Closing Performance Gaps and Postsecond-ary Readiness.

“It is gratifying to see these kinds of results,” said

Hembree. “As a district, we strive to not only meet the standards of state accountability, but to surpass them. Our rigorous district goals can only be met through the hard work students, parents and faculty put in on a daily basis.”

Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Region One Education Service Center, was present the evening of the board meeting to award STISD with an Excellence in Education plaque for the district’s outstanding achievements and distinction designa-tion in Postsecondary Readiness.

For more information about STISD’s accountability ratings, visit www.stisd.net -- About Us -- Accountability & Needs Assessment -- State Account-ability.

Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez, Executive Director of Region One Education Service Center, awards STISD Superintendent Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D., and STISD Board President Homero Garcia with an

Excellence in Education plaque.

The STISD Board of Directors ap-proved South Texas Academy of Ris-ing Scholars (STARS) as the name for the district’s new Cameron County junior high, which is set to open in time for the 2015-2016 school year.

“I am extremely excited that a decision has been made and approved,” said Carrie Sauceda, STARS Principal. “Thank you to everyone involved in the selection process and to the Board of Directors for making the final approval. This is just the first step in establishing our new school. We will continue to work diligently to ensure STARS has a solid start come time for its opening

next fall.”

STARS will open its doors in the fall of 2015. Dur-ing the initial year, the campus will enroll seventh-grade students. STARS is projected to serve between 250 and 300 students during its first year, and a total of about 550 students at capacity.

The campus will open in the facility that currently houses STISD’s South Texas Academy for Medical Professions (Medical Academy) campus, located at 151 S. Helen Moore Road in San Benito. A few modifications are being made to the building to prepare the facility to meet the needs of its new student body.

Sauceda is currently working on the creation of a

brand for the campus, while also col-laborating with other administrators in the district to finalize the course sequence for the 2015-2016 school year.

As enrollment for STARS will begin on January 17, 2015 – on the same day it opens for all other STISD campuses – student recruitment is also a priority for the fall semester. Enrollment will take place online - at www.stisd.net - on a first-come, first-served basis. The start time for STARS will be 2:00 p.m. For all other STISD campus start times, visit www.stisd.net -- Students -- Future Students -- Enrollment Timeline.

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Students speak on summer symposium experiences Students from South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High) and The Science Academy of South Texas (Sci Tech) presented on their experiences as part of the DocPrep, MD Anderson and Rice Symposium Summer Institutes, during the Sept. 23 board meeting at Biblioteca Las Américas in Mercedes.

Med High took 20 rising seniors to partici-pate in DocPrep, an academic enrichment program at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) June 8-13, where they toured vari-ous buildings throughout the college as well as enjoyed off-campus trips to museums.

DocPrep provides health professions and science-related activities at the Texas Medi-cal Center in Houston. Students attended medical lectures with professors from Rice University and BCM, received college and medical school counseling, participated in a communications course taught by gradu-ate students, and experienced hands-on anatomy laboratory experiences.

Students also toured hospitals in the Texas Medical Center and were able to observe an open heart surgery.

“This impactful experience provided pro-found insight, a broadened perspective, and

a heightened drive for the outlook of their future,” said Miguel Celio-Torres, Med High Teacher and DocPrep Coordinator.

Twenty-five rising Med High seniors vis-ited two of the MD Anderson research facilities in Central Texas - The Michael E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and the Virginia Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center at Science Park - as part of the MD Anderson Summer Institute. Students toured areas of the compound and interacted with veterinarians, scientists and other research center staff.

Students also visited the Texas A&M Health Science Center. They toured the facility and participated in various activi-ties, which included listening to a panel of current medical Ph.D. students.

“This opportunity allows each student to experience the myriad of possibilities for careers in medicine, which they may have not known even existed,” said Rosemary Courtney, Lead Coordinator of the MD Anderson Program. “I believe the exposure to these options is what truly makes the MD Anderson experience valuable.”

Sci Tech took 20 rising senior students on a two-week summer program at Rice

University in Houston. The purpose of the Rice Summer Symposium program is to expose participating students to the col-lege experience, and to give them an idea of what the various science and engineering fields encompass.

The program allowed students to engage in bioscience and bioengineering work, with graduate students serving as student mentors, and it culminated with a presen-tation at the symposium’s closing banquet ceremony.

Off-campus tours included trips to MD Anderson, BCM, Natural Science Museum and the University of Texas (UT) School of Dentistry.

Students are selected into the program based on GPA, PSAT scores, teacher evalu-ations, extracurricular involvement and an essay related to bioscience.

“The Rice Summer Symposium is a fan-tastic opportunity for these students to not only apply some of the knowledge they have acquired, but to see that there is so much more out there that they have yet to learn and experience,” said Scott Wiley, Sci Tech Teacher and Rice Symposium Coordinator.

A few of the Med High students who attended the 2014 DocPrep educational program, and their sponsor: Left to right: Christian Encarnacion of Mission, Oliver Rosa of Edinburg, Larissa Ramilo of Mission, Helen Chen of Mission, Mathew Peynado of Mercedes, Mary Ycu of Mission, Patricia Guz-

man of Mission, and Miguel Celio-Torres (Instructor).

A few of the Med High students who attended the 2014 MD Anderson Summer Institute, and their sponsors: Left to right:Rosemary Courtney (Instructor), Julianna Berlanga of Mission, Brittany Garcia of Pharr, Nadia Garcia of San Benito, Amanda Solis of Brownsville, and David Kohlhase

(Instructor).

A few of the Sci Tech students who attended the 2014 Rice Summer Symposium, and their sponsors: Left to right: Ga-briel Silva of Weslaco, Louisa Benavidez (Instructor), Isabella Gomez of Los Fresnos, Isabella Soto of McAllen, Monica Marin of Mission, Loretta McGee (Instructor), Hannah

Wiley of Weslaco, Mashad Arora of Brownsville, and Scott Wiley (Instructor).

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New addition at Med High to be named after Tony GonzalezA recommendation to name the new Med High health science addition af-ter a long-time member of the STISD Board of Directors was approved dur-ing the August board meeting.

In accordance with STISD Board policy, a special facilities naming com-mittee for the addition was appointed by Homero Garcia, STISD Board President, earlier this year.

The special committee met on July 31, 2014, at the STISD Administration Building, where a recommendation was placed by an unanimous vote of the special committee.

The STISD Board of Directors ap-

as an STISD Board member, he has strongly advocated for a quality educa-tion for all children, using his time and talents to support the principle that all children deserve this.

Gonzalez has served as a National School Board Association director for two years, as a Texas Association of School Boards trustee for nine years, as a National Association of Latino Ap-pointed and Elected Officials for two years and on the Texas School Services Foundation for five years.

A building dedication will be held at a later date during the 2014-2015 school year.

proved the recommendation to name the new addi-tion the Octaviano (Tony) Gonzalez Health Science Center, after STISD Board member Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, a native of San Juan, was elected to the STISD Board of Directors in 1989, and is currently in his 24th year of service to the district. In his role

South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy (BETA) is in its third year of the International Bac-calaureate (IB) Diploma Program, an academically challenging and balanced program that prepares students for suc-cess at the university level and beyond.

Marcos Flores, BETA Teacher and IB Coordinator, presented a Past, Present and Future Report on the program at the Sept. 23 meeting, honing in on the challenges and successes up to this point.

BETA IB started with its first cohort of 30 IB Diploma students during the 2012-2013 school year, with eight IB subjects offered. During the next school year, BETA experienced a 57 percent decrease in the first cohort. The remaining 17 students were offered nine subject areas for study. The ending result was 15 percent of the remaining 17 students in the cohort received the

IB Diploma.

The IB Diploma Program’s second cohort consisted of 51 students, a 41 percent increase from the first cohort. Students from this cohort who tested in IB Spanish B scored 2 points above the global average in the language, with 41 percent of these students earning perfect scores on their exams. After taking only two of the six exams required in order to earn an IB Diploma, 51 percent of the students in this cohort have obtained half the total points necessary.

BETA added its tenth IB subject to the curriculum for the 2014-2015 school year. Of the 51 students in the second cohort, 48 remain in this new school year. This number shows only a 6 percent decrease compared to the first cohort’s 57 percent decrease.

BETA’s third cohort now consists of 65 students, a 22 percent increase from the program’s second cohort, and a 54 percent increase from its first. Looking ahead, 75 sophomore students are pro-jected to sign up for BETA’s PreIB cohort four. This would be a projected 13 percent increase from the third cohort.

Flores ended his report with a story on former BETA student and member of the first IB cohort, Carolina Ball. Ball’s appreciation for the IB program goes far beyond what the vigorous curricu-lum prepared her for at the university level. In fact, one of the most valu-able lessons she received was from the community, action and service (CAS) program requirement.

This requirement allowed Ball the op-portunity to break through a personal barrier, and she continues to use that experience in helping others who are dealing with that same situation by being actively involved in community outreach programs. “The IB program is not just an academic program,” said Ball. “The South Texas ISD Board has created an opportunity to also promote and celebrate individuality, creativity and most importantly compassion. For that, I am forever grateful.”

BETA’s IB Diploma Program going three years strong

Five Schools, One Journey!

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #333McAllen, TX

Bulletin Board• STISD Board Meeting: 7:00 p.m. on Tues-

day, Oct. 28, at Medical Academy Library in

San Benito

• October: National Principals Month

• Second Semester Enrollment: Nov. 4 at 9:00

a.m. at www.stisd.net.

• Parent Connection Meeting (Med High):

Nov. 13 at 6:00 p.m. - Homework Resources

+ Student Skill Builder

BoardWorks is published for patrons of South Texas Independent School District after each regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Board meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Board minutes are the final authority on action taken at STISD board meetings.

Editor: Amanda Odom(956) 514-4255 or amanda.odom@stisd.net

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BOARDWorks

100 Med High Dr.Mercedes, TX 78570

Phone (956) 565-2454Fax (956) 565-4639

Website www.stisd.net

SUPERINTENDENT

Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D.

Homero Garcia, PresidentJoe “Joey” L. Lopez, Vice-PresidentDouglas “Doug” E. Buchanan, SecretaryGraciela CamargoEduardo L. “Larry” CantuYolanda CuellarJavier FariasRichard Fleming, M.D.Adrian GarciaSylvia Sánchez GarzaHector GonzalesEduardo “Ed” Gonzalez

Octaviano “Tony” Gonzalez Maria G. Leal

Filomena Leo, Ed. D.Robert “Bobby” J. Lerma

Henry LeVrier Ramon Montalvo, III

Eliceo Muñoz, IIIBerta Palacios

Irma Perez-TreviñoIsrael G. QuintanillaJulio S. Saldaña, Jr.

Rick Villarreal, D.D.S.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Find us on Twitter: @SouthTexasISD &

on Facebook at: https: www.facebook.com/SouthTexasISD

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• Marla Guerra, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, presented her goals for the 2014-2015 school year to the STISD Board of Directors during the Sept. 23 board meeting. The full report may be accessed through the district website at www.stisd.net -- About Us -- Accountability & Needs Assessment -- District & Campus Improvement Plans & Goals.

• According to the district’s graduate report, the district and campus goal is to have 95 percent or higher of students complete the recommended or distinguished plans, and 70 percent or higher of this group complete the distinguished plan. The 2014 district graduate report shows over 96 per-cent of students having completed the recommended and distinguished programs. The full report may be found at www.stisd.net -- About Us -- Accountability & Needs Assessment -- Graduate Reports.

Med High to receive New Touch of Life Technologies

The STISD Board of Directors approved a new cutting -edge technology table for the Med High campus. This table will allow students and faculty to interact with anatomical visualizations.

The VH Dissector Sectra Visualization table is presently being used in medical schools across the country, but Med High will reportedly be the first high school in the nation to utilize the full capabilities of the system.

Integrated VH Dissector software provides a complete, whole body, 3D and cross-sectional anatomical reference built on data from the Visible Human Project. The system includes a 55” multi-touch screen, PACS workstation, and height-adjustable stand with tilt operation from 0 degrees horizontal to 90 degrees vertical.

The system will be set up in the lecture hall of the new Med High addition.

New Touch of Life Technologies, Inc. will conduct train-ings with faculty, staff and students.

“The company is so fascinated by the concept of our STISD schools that they want us to partner with them on several cases,” said Barbara Heater, Ph.D., Med High Principal.

“One of those is to have faculty involved in the visible man projects and have some of our students do the research in that area. From what started as simply trying to upgrade our anatomy and physiology courses, we now see a lot of benefits and opportunities coming to our school with this new cutting-edge technology.”

Med High Principal Dr. Barbara Heater with VH Dissector Sectra Visualization Table

Staff Ethnicity, Gender & Degree Report The STISD Board of Directors received the 2013-2015 Staff Ethnicity, Gender & Degree Status Report at the Sept. 23 board meeting at Biblioteca Las Américas in Mercedes.

Of the 297 STISD professionals, there are 239 teachers and 58 administrators or support specialists. Compared to last year, the number of teachers decreased slightly, by 0.42 percent, and the number of administrators/support specialists increased by 9.43 percent.

For teachers, the breakdown of college degrees is as follows:•Associate&Non-Degreed:6(2percent);•Bachelor:159(67percent);•Master:72(30percent);and•Doctorate:2(1percent).

The breakdown of ethnic status for teachers is 77 Anglos (32 percent), 150 Hispanics (63 percent), and 12 who belong to another race (5 percent). By gender, it is 136 females (57 percent) and 103 males (43 percent).

For administrators and support specialists, the breakdown

of degrees is as follows:•Associate:2(4percent);•Bachelor:7(12percent);•Master:46(79percent);and•Doctorate:3(5percent).

The breakdown of ethnic status for this group is 11 An-glos (19 percent), 46 Hispanics (79 percent) and one who belongs to another race (2 percent). By gender, it is 38 females (66 percent) and 20 males (34 percent).

For the full report, visit www.stisd.net -- About Us -- Ac-countability & Needs Assessment -- Misc. Reports.

Tell Your Friends & Family!

Enrollment for the 2nd semester begins Tuesday, November 4.

www.stisd.net