Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum Hosts “Head, Heart and Hands” Art Show

Untitled by Andres Bautista The Show will include a retrospective of the late Andres Bautista. The Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum (AYAM) will celebrate the work of Spring Branch ISD art teachers Oct. 6 – 8. The Biennale Art Show 2015, “Head, Heart and Hands”, will include a retrospective of Andres Bautista, the Spring Woods High School art teacher who died unexpectedly...

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Good Financial Stewards = SBISD’s Finance Department

The Spring Branch ISD Finance Division was recognized at the September Board of Trustees meeting for earning numerous awards and honors throughout the year. From left are Board President Chris Vierra, John McGee, David Bender, Tera Harris, Laurie Payton, Barbara Robillard, LaWanda Coffee, Chris Kamradt, Associate Superintendent for Finance Karen Wilson and Superintendent...

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The Gift of Knowledge

With the start of school comes new experiences, new teachers and, thanks to an annual program organized by the district’s Community Relations Department, a new dictionary for every Spring Branch ISD third-grade student. Thanks to the generosity of community members and organizations, more than 2,600 third graders took home their dictionaries along with supporting...

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Dyslexic Writer Pens More Than 100 Children’s Books

As a young child, author Patricia Polacco loved to draw, but she had great trouble reading, writing, spelling and even doing calculations. Years later, she learned the names for her learning disabilities, which include dyslexia and dysgraphia among other related issues. “Back then, we did not know what was wrong. It was obvious that it was serious. As a young person,...

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Ridgecrest Elementary Fiddlers Pick Up Early Violin Skills

Third-grader Sergio Pescador signed up for summer violin lessons through a grant-funded program at Ridgecrest Elementary School. He’s back this fall for additional lessons through an after-school program. “I kind of like music and the violins,” he says. “I like to sing songs so I came here for violin. We learned how to hold our bows, and how to take violins out of cases, and...

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College Nights 2015 - Learn from College and University Representatives

College Nights 2015, a two-evening informational program designed especially for high school students and their families, will be Oct. 6-7 at Spring Woods High School, 2045 Gessner. The College Nights programs are designed as one-stop “shopping” events and will be held from 6-8 p.m. on both evenings. High school nights and schedules are: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6-8 p.m....

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New School, New Program: A New Day for YES Prep Northbrook High School Students

On a Monday morning in late July, while most Spring Branch ISD students were still enjoying summer vacation, the charter students at YES Prep Northbrook High School were reminded of their significance in district history. “There are very few times in life that you get to say you were the first,” Bryan Reed, the school’s founding principal, told YES Prep Northbrook...

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SBEF Announces Co-Chairs of 2015 Gala

Mano and Melissa DeAyala A Magical Masquerade Ball enchants community on Nov. 21 Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) will host its annual gala, A Magical Masquerade Ball, on Saturday, November 21. Melissa and Mano DeAyala have been tapped to serve as co-chairs of the celebration. The event will raise funds to support Spring Branch ISD students and teachers...

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Bookworm Festival Earns A $5,000 Foundation Grant

The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation has awarded three $5,000 grants to festivals that promote children’s literature and books, including the Bookworm Bookfest held each year at Spring Oaks Middle School. The grants are funded by generous support through Phillips 66, a Houston-based multinational corporation. Neil and Maria Bush co-chair the relatively new...

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Meet Our New Teach For America Recruits

Ten young adults have joined Spring Branch ISD as Teach For America (TFA) corps members and new educators. TFA is a nonprofit organization that recruits recent college graduates to teach for at least two years in school communities across the nation with lower than average family incomes. Teaching in SBISD schools this year with TFA are Tannya Benavides (Terrace Elementary),...

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Down to the Wire, Districts 'Scrambling' for Teachers

Gus Cesar, an assistant principal at Alief Middle School, helps Beau Bennet, a first-year teacher, collect textbooks. Bennett left his job in retail hoping to find something more meaningful, despite the pay cut.  Photo by John Shapley By Leah Binkovitz and Ericka Mellon / Houston Chronicle August 23, 2015 Updated: August 23, 2015 11:18pm Beau ...

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Klussmann Honored by City of Houston

Former SBISD Superintendent Duncan Klussmann (center left) was recognized Tuesday, Sept. 15, by the city of Houston for his service to children and the community. District A Council Member (and SBISD alumna) Brenda Stardig and other council members praised Klussmann and his leadership in Spring Branch, recognizing both his accomplishments and SBISD’s reputation in both excellence...

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Texans Wide Receiver Surprises Meadow Wood Teacher

Houston Texans receiver Cecil Shorts surprised teacher Elise Cooper at Meadow Wood Elementary with a  big “Star in the Classroom” award earlier today. Second-grader Luke Szilagyi and family members wrote the winning nomination. Houston Texans wide receiver Cecil Shorts surprised Meadow Wood Elementary teacher Elise Cooper earlier today by choosing her student-submitted...

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SBISD Team Chosen for Blended Learning Grant Workshop This Fall

Spring Branch ISD is one of 75 school district applicant teams from Texas selected to attend upcoming workshops on blending learning, the popular term for mixing together traditional and online learning. The nonprofit Raise Your Hand Texas supports the $2.5 million Blended Learning Grant Initiative. Ten finalists will be named in January 2016, and then five winning teams...

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New Teachers Choose Spring Branch ISD for Many Good Reasons

New district teachers this year include Gina Blanco, Northbrook High; Yessenia Vazquez, Cedar Brook Elementary; Alex Montes-Torres, Northbrook Middle; Morgan Williams, Memorial Drive Elementary; Yvonne Evans, Stratford High; Julie Wilhelm, Hunters Creek Elementary; and Kaila Irons, Frostwood Elementary. Spring Branch ISD’s new school year has opened with 326 new teachers....

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A Legacy of Style - Fashion Show and Luncheon

Oct. 9 fashion show benefits Spring Branch Education Foundation Designs by Chloe Dao and Elaine Turner to be featured in 5th annual runway event Houston trendsetters will gather on Friday, Oct. 9 for A Legacy of Style, a sophisticated, fun-to-wear runway show featuring looks from designers Chloe Dao and Elaine Turner. The popular...

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