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Toby Tucker has joined Canyon ISD as the Athletic Director. Mr. Tucker has served as an athletic director, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent along with coaching experience from conferences 1A to 6A.

He came to Canyon ISD from Region 16 Education Support Center where he was the Director of Field Services.

Mr. Tucker is also the Owner/Director of Football Operations of the Amarillo Venom. Along with his involvement with athletics, he has been involved with many Texas Association of School Administrators Committees, Chairman of a Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Committee and he served as a presenter at many state education conferences.

Mr. Tucker is a member of the Amarillo Area Foundation and a director for the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Tucker is married to Stephanie, and they have three children: Kaitlyn, Caden, and Colten.

Canyon ISD is pleased to announce Kandi Kempf as the Gene Howe Elementary Principal. Mrs. Kempf began her teaching career at Crestview Elementary as a 3rd-grade teacher soon after graduating from West Texas A&M University in December 2005. She moved to Arden Road Elementary to teach kindergarten and then joined Hillside Elementary where she taught 1st and 3rd grade.

In 2016, Mrs. Kempf was named the assistant principal at Lakeview Elementary. She has spent her entire education career at Canyon ISD, and as a student, she attended Lakeview Elementary, Valleyview Junior High and graduated from Randall High School.

Mrs. Kempf is a member of the Panhandle School Leaders Association, Texas Elementary Principals Association and Junior League of Amarillo. Mrs. Kempf is married to Bryan, and they have two children, Bracelyn and Beckett.

To the Staff: Spring Break is a time to relax

and refresh. I hope your vacation time away from work was a restful time with family. As we resume our work making a difference in the lives of our students, remember that each day You Matter to each student. You Matter to your parents. You Matter to your colleagues, and You Matter to Canyon ISD.

We continue our steps to prepare to address our enrollment growth. Pinnacle Intermediate is in the final 3-month portion of being ready for next school year. Midway Alternative High School renovations are nearing completion as well. On March 22-23, our architect visited with Randall High School staff to gather feedback on renovations/additions to the RHS campus. We will continue to seek staff input as we address our future needs. Raising Our Level of Safety

In today’s society, social media is unfortunately being used for harsh and insensitive messaging. Our schools are in the mix of the social media atmosphere because students are sometimes the source. The safety of staff and students is a high priority. We realize we must adapt

Superintendent’s Comments

(Continued on page 2)

March, 2018 Volume 40, Issue 4

Dr. Darryl Flusche

Kempf Named as Principal for Gene Howe Elementary

Toby Tucker

Kandi Kempf

Toby Tucker Hired as Athletic Director

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our processes due to the likely recurrence of social media posts that compromise staff and student safety. The DSC administration has reviewed our current efforts surrounding safety and communication. We are designing plans for increasing training for our staff.

We set our next training for CISD staff on March 30th. The training is called Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event (CRASE). The training is about two hours in length. Safety training about social media posts and our processes will need to be ongoing to raise the level of confidence and assurances with our staff and our parents.

Our plans in the realm of student and staff safety will include communication improvements along with giving purpose to educating our students on the responsible use of technology. With the possibility of messages communicating harm or an actual incident, our communication to staff, parents, and our community will be more systematic. A quality and efficient manner of informing our patrons will help calm fears during times of heightened concerns.

We are searching for the best avenue to educate our students on responsible use of technology. I welcome your suggestions. Our purposeful efforts will create awareness with our students in understanding the appropriate and responsible use of their apps and devices.

We cannot assume that students inherently know their levels of risk with their internet and social media presence. We also must be sure they understand the consequences that follow wrong social media posts. Furthermore, we have to engage our parents to be continually aware of their child’s social media interactions and their child’s internet presence. Parents need to be coached on the unsafe exposure their child could wander into without their parents’ supervision.

I appreciate the determination to reach each student - the visible efforts and the hours that are unseen that all of you continue to do to help our students grown in their academic performance and skill development.

Staff Successes

Superintendent’s Comments

(continued from page 1) Tim Gilliland has been named the Texas Associ-ation of Journalism Educators (TAJE) Administrator of the Year. The TAJE executive director said the

selection committee was impressed with the way he actively supports stu-dent journalists by not only showing interest in their work but also getting involved in news gathering. Laura Smith, CHS Journalism Teacher, nominated Mr. Gilliland for the honor, and she writes Mr. Gilliland allows the students the freedom they

need to do their jobs and is frequently the first per-son they want to show when they are particularly proud of their work.

Mr. Gilliland will be honored in Austin in May at the state convention of the UIL Interscholastic Press Conference/TAJE Awards ceremony. The prestig-ious award is another representation the high level of journalism support at Canyon High School.

Laura Smith received the Sponsor of the Year in 2016, and CHS Journalism Team won state in 2017 and 2016.

CISD Administrators Receive Honors

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) recognizes exemplary performance among campus level administrators in Texas. Of the Region 16 schools, Canyon ISD had two assistant principals who were nominated by their colleagues to receive honors. Alexa Watson, Canyon Junior High Assistant Principal, received the Region

16 Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year and Paul Jolley, Randall High School Assistant Prin-cipal, received the Region 16 High School Assistant

Principal of the Year. Both Alexa Watson and Paul Jolley will complete a TASSP Assistant Princi-pal of the Year application to move on through the TASSP program. The pro-gram annually recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning oppor-

tunities for students. State recognition will happen at the 2019 Summer Workshop.

Gilliland Named TAJE Administrator of the Year

Tim Gilliland

Alexa Watson

Paul Jolley

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Student Successes

The Randall County Sheriff’s Department pro-vides a Career Education Academy for students who are interested in pursuing law enforcement after high school. These select group of students are in-troduced to law enforcement methods, procedures, and career opportunities.

Two Randall High Schools students received $500 scholarships for their efforts and knowledge in the 13 week program. The program is directed by Crime Prevention Division Sgt. Cody Jones. Pictured to the right: Randall County Sheriff's Office Student Academy Graduation, Gracie Morris received the Top Student Award and Harrison Granger received the Gary E. Robinson Award.

Randall High and wrestling go hand in hand. For the past 22 years, Coach Quirino has taken wrestlers to the state tournament to compete against the toughest competitors. The Randall Wrestling Team shows their strength and their ability to outperform wrestlers within each weight class. Again, this year both boys and girls teams made their way to the state tournament in Houston, TX on February 23 - 24.

The girls’ team had four wrestlers medal placing them 2nd in state duels and 2nd in individual state. Junior Adriana Ornelas, two-time state medalists, finished 4th both years. Junior Skye Bravo placed 3rd in her weight class making it her first year to medal. Junior Lily Mills, a two-time state medalist, finished 2nd both years in two different weight clas-ses. Lily is also nationally ranked. Senior Jade Larsen placed 3rd in her weight class. Jade plans to compete in college. The Randall Girls Wrestling program is only five years old.

The Randall boys’ team finished 3rd in state du-els and 4th in individual state. Sophomore Jayd’n Heaton, two-time state medalist, finished 4th both years in the 138-pound weight class. Junior Johna-thon Ortegon (Speedy), three-time State Champion, twice in the 120-pound weight class and this year in the 126-pound weight class. Senior Xavier Torres finished his third State Title. As a sophomore, he

RHS Wrestling Team Shows Their Stuff at State Competition

RHS Students Participate in Law Enforcement Academy

finished 3rd, however as a freshman, junior and senior Xavier won a State Title. Xavier plans to compete in college.

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The University Interscholastic League (UIL) Ac-ademics offers many programs for students to excel through high school contests. These contests build upon the academic skills developed in the classroom and offer students an opportunity to stretch their tal-ents above and beyond those requirements.

Taryn Dia, RHS Senior, competed in the UIL Congress Contest on January 9th - 11th finishing 11th out of 60 students. Taryn’s sponsor is Brooke James. This individual contest models the legislative process of democracy, specifically, the United State Con-gress. Within this mock legislative competition, con-testants draft proposed laws that are previously sub-mitted to the tournament, and they research the dock-et of bills and resolutions dealing with real-world so-cial and political policies before the contest to pre-pare their speeches. Students collaborate in commit-tees, deliver the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation, then vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined.

Randall High Senior Taryn Dia Headed to National Tournament

Student Successes

Also, at a recent Speech and Debate tournament, Taryn Dia qualified for Nationals. She competed in three different events, Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, Congress, and Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and she placed first in all three qualifying her for the national competition. Due to timing constraints, Taryn will only get the opportunity to compete in one event, and she chose Lincoln-Douglas Debate. The Lincoln-Douglas debate is roughly 45 minutes long on a given topic, and it consists of constructive speeches, rebuttals, and cross-examination.

The National Speech and Debate Association will have the national tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida June 17-22.

Taryn Dia

CJH - Powerlifter - 2nd in the nation (Need Picture) (I emailed Kirk and Diana) Canyon Junior High is proud to announce that one of our own, Alyssa Ballard is na onally ranked in the sport of power‐weightli ing. She is ranked #1 in Texas and #2 in the country in her division. Please congratulate Alyssa when you see her and wish her luck as she will be par cipa ng in the Texas State Championships this Friday in Dal‐las! Congratula ons Alyssa!

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Members of the Canyon and Randall High Bands and Canyon High School Choir performed in the Texas All-State Music Ensemble. Over 70,000 students initially en-tered the All-State competitive process, and only 2.5% of the musicians were selected to perform in the 15 All-State ensembles, which includes bands, orchestras, and choirs. The All-State performances were held as part of the annual Texas Music Educators Association Conven-tion, February 17th in San Antonio. Randall Band All-State Students

Senior Emily Boschen, Junior Ravyn Denning, and Junior Caleb Mason were selected from Randall High School to perform in the Texas All-State Music Ensem-bles. Emily Bochen has been playing the flute in the Ran-dall band for the past four years. Some of Emily’s other musical accomplishments are a 2017 TMEA All-State band member and 1st chair in Region 1 Symphonic band and orchestra.

Emily plans to attend either Baylor University or West Texas A&M University and major in music educa-tion. Her goal is to become a junior high band director and share her love of music.

Junior Ravyn Denning has performed in the Randall band for three years playing the French horn. This All-State is Ravyn’s second year to be a TMEA All-State Band member. She is the principal horn player for the Amarillo Youth Symphony, and she placed at the state level in the TAME competition in 2017.

Junior Caleb Mason is a percussionist in the Randall band and the Drum Captain of the Raider Rhythm Band. Caleb is on the Randall Band Leadership Team, Randall Jazz Band and he has been the first chair in the All-Region band for the last five years.

Band Director Ginger Denney and Jesse Switzer lead the Randall High School Band. Canyon Band

Senior Braden Lefevre and Junior Meghan Brooks were also selected from Canyon High School to perform in the Texas All-State Music Ensembles. Senior Braden Lefevre plays the saxophone in the Canyon High School band, and this is his second year of becoming an All-State band member. Junior Meghan Brooks plays the bassoon, and some of Meghan’s musical accomplishments are be-ing a member of the Amarillo Youth Symphony, Jazz band, and varsity choir.

Band Director Mike Sheffield leads the Canyon High School Band.

Canyon Choir Five students from the Canyon High School Choir

were chosen to participate in the Texas All-State Music Ensembles. Senior Mitch Hernandez, Junior Audrey Hughes, Junior Tori Ross, Junior Erin Sheffield and Junior Katelyn Spivey received the honor of All-State Choir.

Mitchell Hernandez performed in the mixed choir en-semble, and this is his second year to perform at state. Mitchell is also the Canyon High School Choir President.

Audrey Hughes, Tori Ross, Erin Sheffield, and Kate-lyn Spivey performed in the Women’s Choir at the Texas All-State Music Ensembles.

Another musical accomplishment of Audrey is her participation in the Canyon High School musical.

Tori Ross also participates in Chamber Choir, Show Choir, and the Canyon High School musical.

Not only is Erin Sheffield, an All-State member, but she was also a TMEA Music Scholar as a freshman.

Some of Katelyn Spivey’s musical activities include Show Choir, One-Act Play, and the Canyon High School musical.

Brandon Farren leads the Canyon High School Choir.

Randall County Jr. Spelling Bee Winners

Canyon Intermediate 5th-grader Lathan Lewter (left) placed 2nd in the Randall County Jr. Spelling Bee. Greenways Intermediate student, 5th-grader Daxon Betzen (right) took 1st place at the Bee which was held on February 6. Both students moved onto the Sr. Spelling on February 13 where Betzen finished 3rd out of 35 spellers. Betzen and Lewter were among the youngest students competing, ages ranged from 5th - 8th grade.

Student Successes High School Bands and Choir Preform in All-State Music Ensembles

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2017-2018

Campus Teachers of the Year

Christi Chase Gene Howe Elementary

Logan Fabela Canyon

High

Jennifer Flatt Sundown Lane

Elementary

Alex Junell Arden Road Elementary

Kaylie Massie Greenways

Intermediate

Christine Otterness

Canyon Jr. High

Kendra Parker City View

Elementary

Mollie Peterson Lakeview

Elementary

Jeff Schenck Randall

High

Lisa Trask Canyon

Intermediate

Tori Trela Midway

Alternative High

Jennifer Valenzuela Crestview

Elementary

Monica Weatherly Hillside

Elementary

Rebecca Wesbrooks Reeves-Hinger

Elementary

Sara Zimmer Westover Park

Jr. High

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The Education Foundation of Canyon ISD Funding excellence in education since 1999

Join the Education Foundation of CISD in Celebrating Excellence on February 10th!

Executive Board

Tana Miller, President

Robin Lannou, VP Development

David Neeley, VP Distributions

Heather Peoples, Treasurer

Susan Johnson, Secretary

Keith Brown, Past President

Board Of Directors Jennifer Auburg

Barbara Bain

James Barrington

Debbie Boyer

Meaghan Collier

Aubrey Cypert

Darryl Flusche, Superintendent

Kara Gist

Lisa Harris

Bill Jenkins, CISD Board Member

Krystal Johnson, PTA

Nicole Johnston, Principal Rep.

Laurie Kemp

Deanna Porter

Justin Richardson

Susan Salvato, GH/CTV Counselor

Kim Stroh

Lisa Church, Secretary to the

Superintendent

April McDaniel, CISD liaison

Kelly Norman,

Executive Director

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Tidmore

Acquisition

HR’s Flowers and Gists

The Education Foundation of Canyon ISD

Thank You to Our Partners

Employees of Canyon ISD

Consolidated Beef Products

Canyon Rotary Club 

HUTSON

INSURANCE

Shear Lawn Care

McDonald's

Law Firm