Seven educators enrolled in Rice’s REEP program

Seven educators and principals in Spring Branch ISD are currently enrolled as fellows in Rice University’s Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP). As a part of this program, they attended Summer Institute classes there.

The REEP Business Fellowship for School Leaders is a one-year business training program designed for kindergarten through 12th-grade educators that have at least two years of teaching experience and desire to learn how to apply business theories to the public school setting.

The program is also planned for area educators who have already earned a master’s degree and are seeking a highly focused managerial and leadership training experience. REEP business fellowship students include:

Lynne Barry – A bachelor of business graduate of Texas A&M University, Lynne later helped facilitate the WHEEL (Widespread High Expectations for English Learners) grant in SBISD. She has served as a district literacy specialist and she was an assistant principal at Edgewood Elementary School. She begins the new school year as assistant principal at Meadow Wood Elementary.

Hasina McKend – Hasina earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Emory University in Atlanta. She began teaching in 2006 at Westchester Academy for International Studies. She wrote curriculum and has served as a teacher mentor and department chair. Hasina has taught Pre-AP World Geography, Economics, AP Psychology and Student Leadership. She begins the new school year as lead teacher liaison with the district’s SKY Partnership.

David Rodriguez – A graduate of Angelo State University, David began his teaching career in SBISD. He was named Teacher of the Year while at Shadow Oaks Elementary, and earned a Master’s in Teaching at the University of Houston-Downtown. He currently serves as principal at Buffalo Creek Elementary School.

Robye Snyder – A graduate of Spring Branch ISD schools, Robye graduated from Texas A&M University, and then later earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from A&M. A 25-year veteran in SBISD, she has been a reading specialist, a classroom instructor, a reading recovery teacher, an assistant principal and a school principal. She begins the new school year as the new principal at Hunters Creek Elementary.

Patricia Thomas – The daughter of immigrant parents, Patricia graduated from Texas A&M and worked in the banking industry before becoming an educator. She earned her master’s degree in bilingual education from Houston Baptist University. She began in SBISD as a bilingual special education teacher. Since 2004, she has been the assistant principal and principal at Ridgecrest Elementary School, where she currently serves.

Jessica Waltman – A Trinity University graduate who loves swimming, Jessica holds a master’s degree in teaching from the San Antonio private college. She interned at the International School of the Americas, then moved back to Houston where she has taught at Westchester Academy for International Studies for past seven years and was a department chair. This fall, Jessica will be a technology and instruction I-Coach based at Spring Woods Middle School.

Beth Woodson – An Alabama native, Beth Woodson has taught for 25 years in Houston, including in Alief and Spring Branch ISDs where she has been a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and an assistant principal. In 2008, a grant funded, after-school program Beth supervised was chosen by the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) and Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) to highlight high quality programming and the need for continued Congressional funding. She serves as assistant principal at Memorial Drive Elementary School.