50 Students Attend First Spring Branch ISD Code Camp

Spring Branch ISD students gathered on July 28 at the Technology Training Center to begin a four-day camp revolving around what many believe to be the language of the future — coding.

Led by SBISD Educational Technology Director Sheri Alford, Code Camp is the first-ever, computer science-based coding camp in the district. It was started with the help of computer science advocate and former teacher Karen North and Spring Branch parent liaison and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) advocate Janice Teske.

“Coding is the next literacy and I think people are just now starting to see the importance of it. The camp was created to familiarize students with computational thinking and get them interested in computer science as a whole,” North said.

Open to students in grades 4-8, Code Camp housed 50 campers from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with breaks throughout the day. The students were divided into two different groups by grade level.

 The fourth-and fifth-grade group was taught by Nottingham Elementary third grade teacher Annie Mitchell and Memorial Middle tech apps teacher Shanda Fraser. The older group — grades 6-8 — was taught by Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) technology teachers Cheryl and Shaun Wegscheid, a mother and son duo.

While the students were separated by age, some of the fourth-and fifth-graders were moved up to the older group due to their knowledge of coding and computer science as the week progressed.

Ryan Stanicic — an incoming fourth-grader at The Spring Branch School for Highly Gifted Students (SHGS) — joined the elder group shortly after the first day began.

“So far Code Camp has been the best thing I’ve done this summer. While I am here, I hope to learn more about Java and Tynker [two different computer programs],” Ryan said during his lunch break on the first day.

“You can do anything you want through coding. You can build anything, create anything; it is incredible really,” he added.





The older coders began their camp adventures with Tynker, a relatively new online software that teaches important computer science concepts. These include repetition, conditional logic, computer drawing, app creation, problem decomposition, algorithmic thinking and automation.

Tynker and many of the other programs used during Code Camp and similar camps across the nation are recommended and made available through Code.org.

 “Tynker is pretty similar to Scratch [a program created in 2007 by the MIT Tech Media Lab] except they [Code.org] have taken away what some people didn’t like about Scratch and then reworked it to be easier on some levels,” Cheryl Wegscheid said.

 “Not having this camp set by skill level allows us to meet them wherever they are with their interest and knowledge of computer science, specifically coding. We want to introduce a variety of programs and give them resources that they can go to and continue learning from even after the camp ends,” she adds.

Code.org is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding computer science education in schools and increasing participation of women and other underrepresented student groups in the field.

Backed by a number of major corporations such as Facebook, Google and Apple, Code.org has had more than 39 million people participate in an “Hour of Code,” a campaign aimed to familiarize computer science by encouraging millions to try just an hour of coding.

Buffalo Creek Elementary participated in the campaign during Computer Science Education week last December, after which the school received a $10,000 technology grant from the organization.

Alford and other involved educators have already begun planning next summer’s Code Camp. As a result of a large pool of applicants this year, they are hoping to expand the camp so that more students can participate.

For more information on Code Camp and the topics explored during its duration please visit:

http://edtech.springbranchisd.com/et/campcode/tabid/31162/default.aspx

http://code.org/

Code Campers Include:

Elementary-
Hank Davis, James Grossman, Joshua Harris, Jude Jamison, Ryan Lamprecht,  Cameron Longo, Bradley Marrs, Camilla Pearson, John Perkins, William Rother, Benjamin Saterbah. Danielle Semine, Faris Soliman, Ryan Stanicic, Sophia Tang, Caleb Tatum, Alex Teske, Lorenzo Toro,  Camila Trujillo, Christopher Vukadin,  Megan Xie, Caleb Xu, Logan Zaozirny

Middle-
Nathan Bender, Alyssa Bommer, Camron Carr, Carson Foster, Chandler Gartner, Daragh Haddon, Nicholas Herrmann, Brady Hoffman, Thomas Hughes, Ava Leitner, Phillip Liou, Thomas Moll, Julia Paulik, Zane Pramudji, Gavin Sharp, Craig Tarco, Alex Lamprecht, Samuel McClintook, Evelyn Silsby, Charlie Simpson, Susanna Teske, Gabriel Toro, Finn Haddon, Sean Healy, Gerald Hoffman, Robert Peterson, Trinity Tang

Communications Intern Kali Venable wrote this story.

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Spring Branch ISD names new Memorial High School principal

Lisa Weir has been named as the new principal at Memorial High School. She has 22 total years in education including 17 years in Spring Branch ISD as a teacher, assistant principal and principal at Memorial Middle School.

Principal Weir earned her bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. She later completed a master’s degree in educational administration in 1997 through the University of North Texas in Denton.

Her 17 years of service at Memorial Middle School includes five years as a math teacher and coach. She later served five years as an assistant principal and seven years as principal at Memorial Middle.

Elsewhere, she taught for three years at Highland Park High School in Highland Park ISD, then served as dean of schools and associate principal for four years, also at Highland Park High.

“I’m very excited to continue working with the community at the high school level, building a culture that helps prepare our students for their future,” Principal Weir says.

Memorial High School’s entire leadership, faculty and staff are committed to working together to assure that every student is well equipped with the academic and life skills to meet the district’s goal known as Spring Branch T-2-4.

The T-2-4 goal calls for all our students to successfully complete some form of higher education after graduation – military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

Principal Weir holds the following state certifications: Mid-Management Administrator (Grades PreK-12); Elementary Self-Contained (Grades 1-8); Elementary Mathematics (Grades 1-8); Secondary Health Education (Grades 6-12); and Secondary Physical Education (Grades 6-12).

Outside of school, Principal Weir loves to travel and spend time with family and friends. She replaces William Lakin, who has retired.

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Spring Branch ISD names new Memorial Middle School principal

Dave Parker has been named as the new principal at Memorial Middle School. He has 17 total years in education including 15 years in Spring Branch ISD as a teacher and assistant principal at two secondary schools.

Principal Parker earned his bachelor of science degree in education from Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, La., in 1997. 

He received his master’s degree in educational administration & supervision from the University of Houston in 2008. 

After teaching two years at Thibodeaux High School in Louisiana, Mr. Parker joined the staff at Stratford High School in 2000 as an English teacher and as an assistant tennis coach. Since 2004, he’s served as an assistant principal at Memorial High School.

Among leadership qualifications, Mr. Parker completed his administrative internship at Stratford High. He was a member of the 2008 SBISD Leadership Institute and a member of the Memorial High CIT (Campus Improvement Team). He is currently a member of a cohort of SBISD educators enrolled in the Rice University Educational Entrepreneurship Program, known as REEP.

For the past five years, Principal Parker has played a key role in the district’s summer programs serving as state testing coordinator and instructional principal. For the past two summers, he’s acted as the program director for secondary summer programming in SBISD.

“I am both honored and humbled by this appointment,” Principal Parker says. “Memorial Middle School is steeped in a rich tradition of excellence, and I am thrilled to join a family of such dedicated, professional educators, along with a community that offers unparalleled support for its students.”

“I am committed not only to continuing those traditions of excellence, but also to pushing forward with new and innovative ways to ensure that our students continue to be positioned for success and excellence at the next level,” he also says.

Memorial Middle School’s entire leadership, faculty and staff are committed to working together to assure that every student is well equipped with the academic and life skills to meet the district’s goal known as Spring Branch T-2-4.

The T-2-4 goal calls for all our students to successfully complete some form of higher education after graduation – military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

Principal Parker holds state certifications in Principal (Grades EC-12) and English (Grades 6-12).

In his family, Mr. Parker comes from a long line of educators and ministers. His mother retired following a 30-year education career as a teacher and assistant principal, and his father retired after a long career as a Baptist pastor.

Principal Parker is an avid sports enthusiast, and an animal lover who volunteers time at a local animal shelter. He also loves to travel.

He replaces Principal Lisa Weir, who was recently named Memorial High School’s new principal.

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Spring Branch ISD names Woodview Elementary School leader

Pamela Pennington has been named as the new principal at Woodview Elementary School. She has 28 years in education including 17 years in Spring Branch ISD as a teacher, diagnostician, instructional specialist and assistant principal.

Principal Pennington earned her bachelor of science degree in elementary education and special education from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in 1984. One decade later, she received her master’s degree as an educational diagnostician from the University of Houston.

In 2004, she earned Principal Certification in educational administration through a program offered by the University of St. Thomas in Houston. 

She taught for eight years in Houston ISD schools, then served three years as an educational diagnostician in Aldine ISD before joining the staff at Wilchester Elementary in 1997 as a resource teacher. Beginning in 2004, she served for four years as an educational diagnostician at Spring Branch Middle and Meadow Wood Elementary schools. For the past four years, she was assistant principal at Bunker Hill Elementary.

“In my career, I have worked with children from the ages of 3 through 21, and I truly enjoy every age. I believe in teaching the whole child with love and high expectations. No matter the circumstance, a child comes to school with the desire to learn and be successful. It is my job, our job, to make that happen,” Principal Pennington says.

“My professional goal is to lead the hard working and passionate staff at Woodview with vigor, pride, consistency and positive energy,” she also says. “Teaching is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and I strive to be a source of personal and professional encouragement and optimism.”

“I want us to work together, to pool our resources and expertise to help each other grow, learn and become even better than we are today. I want the children of Woodview to know how capable and amazing they are. I want the parents to know that every single child on our campus is important, and not just to me, but to every single employee he or she interacts with every day,” Principal Pennington adds.

Woodview Elementary School’s entire leadership, faculty and staff are committed to working together to assure that every student is well equipped with the academic and life skills to meet the district’s key goal known as Spring Branch T-2-4.

The T-2-4 goal calls for all our students to successfully complete some form of higher education after graduation – military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

Principal Pennington holds state certifications in Principal (Grades EC-12). Educational Diagnostician (Grades PK-12), Elementary Self-Contained (Grades 1-8), and Mentally Retarded (Grades PK-12).

At home, Principal Pennington and her husband of 25 years are the parents of two sons, and the family includes two pet Labradors. Her hobbies and interests include gardening, jogging, cooking and boating.

She replaces Principal Neda Scanlan, who retired recently.

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Spring Branch ISD names Executive Principal for two area campuses

Patricia Thomas has been named to the new role of executive principal of both Ridgecrest Elementary and Landrum Middle schools. Landrum Middle is a district-charter collaboration site for the SKY Partnership that includes KIPP Courage at Landrum Middle School program.

Principal Thomas has served 25 years in education including 15 years in Spring Branch ISD as a special education teacher, school improvement specialist, assistant principal and principal.


In 1982, Ms. Thomas earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Texas A&M University. She later received a master’s degree in bilingual education in 1994 from Houston Baptist University, and then earned principal certification in 2004 through the University of Houston.

She taught first-grade bilingual education for 10 years in Houston ISD before joining the Spring Shadows Elementary staff as a bilingual special education teacher in 1999. In HISD, she managed a computer lab, and she was the instructional coordinator at her campus. At Spring Shadows Elementary, she provided instructional support for math, science and technology and, in 2002, was named the math instructional specialist there.

In 2004, she was named assistant principal at Ridgecrest Elementary. She has served as Ridgecrest’s principal since 2006. In January, she took on the role of interim principal at Landrum Middle School, due to a principal retirement.

“I truly enjoy working with students of diverse backgrounds, and I always strive to create an environment of safety and educational growth for all children,” Principal Thomas says of her past and current position.

“I am excited about continuing the collaboration between the elementary and middle schools and the SKY Partnership in my new role. I’m committed to creating exemplary learning environments at Ridgecrest and Landrum for the students and staff in the community,” she also says.

The leadership teams, faculties and staffs at Landrum Middle and Ridgecrest Elementary are committed to working together to assure that every student is equipped with the academic and life skills to meet the district’s key goal known as Spring Branch T-2-4.

The T-2-4 goal calls for all our students to successfully complete some form of higher education after graduation – military training, technical certification, or a two-year or four-year college degree.

Principal Thomas holds state certifications in Principal (Grades EC-12), Generic Special Education (Grades PK-12), Bilingual/ESL (Grades PK-6), and Elementary Self-Contained (Grades PK-6).

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Dedication of the Tina Young Field at Memorial High School to be held on August 6

A special dedication ceremony will be held for the softball field at Memorial High School on Wednesday, Aug. 6, beginning at 6 p.m. The students’ playing field will be dedicated at this time in honor of longtime Memorial High softball, volleyball and basketball coach Tina Young, who passed away on Feb. 10, 2014, after a long battle with cancer.

 

The softball field at Memorial High is located at the end of Mustang Alley, which is the driveway for campus parking on the south side of the school located at 935 Echo Lane.

 

Members of Tina Young’s family, former players, Memorial High faculty and staff, Board of Trustees members, Spring Branch ISD administrators and community members will be among those honoring Tina’s life and legacy through this dedication event.

 

Tina Young coached and taught at Memorial High for 10 years, and she served for 25 years overall in education and coaching. After her death, the Tina Young Memorial Fund was established by the Spring Branch Educational Foundation.

 

Media with questions should call SBISD Athletics' Paige Hershey at 713-251-1202, or Steve Brunsman in SBISD Communications at 713-251-2465.  

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