Founders Day Honors Middle School Social Worker

Left to right:  Suzanne Stiles, president of Spring Branch ISD Council of PTAs, and School Bell award winner Lourdes Jimenez

A Spring Forest Middle School staff member who is employed with Communities in Schools (CIS) was named recently as the School Bell Award winner during the annual Founders Day Dinner. The year’s celebration was held Feb. 16 at Rummel Creek Elementary School.

School Bell award winner Lourdes Jimenez, a social worker with Communities in Schools at Spring Forest Middle, wears blue jeans and has worn a purple streak in her hair. Kids flock to Ms. Jimenez and her aura of calmness and acceptance.

“Lourdes Jimenez does whatever it takes, regardless of time, resources and money, to help children and families in our community. She truly has the biggest heart of any person you have ever encountered, and she is described by parents, teachers, community members and administrators alike as an angel,” her nomination states.

“Ms. Jimenez goes above and beyond to find and reach any child that needs help, whether the issue is emotional, social or academic,” it also states. 

Sponsored by the Spring Branch ISD Council of PTAs, the annual Founders Day dinner honors and recognizes parent volunteers who serve on campus or district PTA organizations, parents who have served campus PTAs for many years, and local educators who are nominated for the top School Bell Award.

The SBISD Council of PTAs represents more than 10,000 parents locally. It is an active and key grassroots group supporting the ongoing excellence and vitality of SBISD schools.

Founders Day is celebrated in memory of a February 1897 meeting in Washington, D.C., marking the first meeting of the Parent Teacher Association ever held in the United States.

The Feb. 16 dinner included keynote remarks by Superintendent of Schools Scott R. Muri, Ed.D. The Rummel Creek Elementary Choir and Fiddlers also provided special event entertainment.

SBISD Council of PTAs leaders who provided program support included Suzanne Stiles, president; Susan Wienert, vice president, programs; Tammy Hampton, awards chair; Kristin Hopper, Founders Day event chair; and Michelle Majewski, vice president leadership.

The Founders Day Dinner was made possible through support from campus and local business groups: Rummel Creek Elementary; Caliente Restaurant; Nothing Bundt Cake; Hudella Real Estate; Bel’s Bakes; First Community Credit Union; Randall’s Grocery Store; and Hand and Stone Massage.

2016-2017 School Bell Nominees

School Bell Award nominees represent outstanding SBISD staff members who promote the purposes of the PTA and advocate for all children.

Wendy Franco, Bendwood Elementary

Claudia Puente, Bunker Hill Elementary

Tobey Unrath, Buffalo Creek Elementary

Sarah Warren, Cedar Brook Elementary

Bill Burger, Cornerstone Academy

Laura Whitnel, Frostwood Elementary

Delia Dunavin, Hunters Creek Elementary

Jessica Leonard, Meadow Wood Elementary

Gianina Dixon, Memorial Drive Elementary

Rebecca New, Memorial High School

Liz Rushing, Memorial Middle School

Stacey Zubair, Nottingham Elementary

Dominga Herrera-Fernandez, Northbrook Middle

Sharon Cates, Pine Shadows Elementary

Erin Hiner, Rummel Creek Elementary

Carmen Cordova, Sherwood Elementary

Marta Petraglia, Spring Branch Middle School

Lourdes Jimenez, Spring Forest Middle School

Maria Luna, Spring Shadows Elementary

Horacio Fernandez, Spring Woods High School

Max Ayala, Spring Woods Middle School

Carol Salva, Stratford High School

Rosie Jones, Terrace Elementary

Tuoi Robichaux, Tiger Trail School for Early Learning

Erin Mills, Valley Oaks Elementary

Eliana Razo, Westchester Academy for International Studies

Jennifer Franson, Wilchester Elementary

Deneen Stanfield, Woodview Elementary

2015-2016 Texas PTA Lifetime Members

Lifetime Member Award recipients are selected by school PTAs and represent outstanding volunteers or educators who give generously of their time, expertise and enthusiasm.

SBISD Council of PTAs Lifetime Membership Award winners this year were Kristin Hopper and Minda Caesar.

Elementary Schools

Bendwood Campus: Delyar Pace

Bunker Hill Elementary: Kelly Basham, Shannon Childress, Amanda Davison, Rebecca Howard, Lori Maddox, Katie Moses, Sheila Smith, Adam Stiles, Suzanne Stiles, Megan Uzick

Cornerstone Academy: Danielle Allen, Linda Baker, Melinda Feeney, Katie Fitzpatrick, Robin Tompkins

Frostwood Elementary: Dayna Beardsley, Suzanne Farrow, Lisa Lauter, Kristi Robishaw, Janice Teske, Christy Engvall, Rick Carr, Dean Lane

Hollibrook Elementary: Laura Flores, Veronica Flores, Marisela Gonzalez, Maria Torres

Hunters Creek Elementary: Nan Chandler, Kimberly Conrad, Allyson Glass, Michelle Kelley, Jill Oliver, Pamela Thompson, Katie Wall

Meadow Wood Elementary: Frederick Belledin, Patricia Belledin, Melissa Endicott, Katie Fitzpatrick, Larry Maple

Memorial Drive Elementary: Ginger Butler (Extended Service Award), Toni Listengart, Ricardo Montano (Extended Service Award), Melissa Moss, Monica Muschalik, Roslyn Pittsford

Memorial High School: Susan Hilder, Gary Koch, Lisa Larberg (Extended Service Award), Darla Shirley, Jim Stones (Extended Service Award), Emily Waltman

Memorial Middle School: Cathy Blundell, Ave Duran, Dulce Segovia, Lauren Simpson, Mickie Strait, Stephanie Tippitt, Francine Todes

Nottingham Elementary: Mary Hoffman, Nancy Lancaster, Michelle Pendleton, Maria Thurow

Pine Shadows Elementary: Ashley Harlan, Michelle Morford, Natalie Plavney, Sarah Pollicove

Rummel Creek Elementary: Kris Burk, Mary Kerr, Amy Mahood, Shannon Otermat, Karen Ross (Extended Service Award), Jill Terrell, Francine Todes, Marnie Vandenburg, Pam Wichmann

Sherwood Elementary: Heather Camfield, Kelly Schuler

Spring Branch Middle School: Cathleen Ezanidis, Margaret Sanders, Suzanne Stiles, Merrie Watkins

Spring Forest Middle School: Lori Brown, Susi Hagedon, Kelly Harkins, Kenneth Jones

Spring Woods High School: Theresa Rivera

Stratford High School: Diane Fishman, Scott Kennedy, Gene Rutland, Robin Udstuen, Amy Watkins, Lauren Yonkin

Valley Oaks Elementary: Bruce Burgner, Kim Graham, Lyn Greenwood, Rebecca Kim, Connie Pike, Mary Kay Schuessler, Winnie Youngblood

Wilchester Elementary: Elizabeth Elliott, Leigh Fowler, Christine Gentil, Mimi Hamilton, LaJeana Hardig

SBISD Council of PTAs: Wayne Schaper Sr., Dmel Tatum

Secondary Schools

Academy of Choice, Vutheary Lazo

Cornerstone Academy, Linda Bosworth

District Alternative Education Program (DAEP), Ricardo Concepcion

Guthrie Center for Excellence, Erin Land

Landrum Middle School, Maricela Olivarez

Memorial High School, Stephanie Mosley

Memorial Middle School, Pilar Rivera

Northbrook High School, Jonathan Claydon

Northbrook Middle School, Crystal Nicholas

Spring Branch Middle School, George Ochoa

Spring Forest Middle School, Alissandre Robbins

Spring Oaks Middle School, Edith Lewis

Spring Woods High School, Alicia Maples

Spring Woods Middle School, Anthony Bergstrom

Stratford High School, Suza Sharp

Westchester Academy for International Studies, Daniel Robison