Education briefs for May 19

Contributed Reports
Posted 5/19/22

Education briefs for May 19

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Education briefs for May 19

Posted

Katy ISD educator recognized as TASC high school advisor of the year

Mayde Creek High School Student Council Advisor Patricia “Patty” Wangler was recently recognized by the Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) as the recipient of the 2022 Eddie G. Bull TASC State Advisor of the Year Award.

Wangler has been an advisor for 15 years, four of which have been in Katy ISD. She has guided her council team to numerous outstanding student council and sweepstakes awards. Wangler currently serves as the coordinator of TASC District 13, as well as one of the directors of summer leadership workshops. She has worked with several Mayde Creek students who have held officer roles in TASC, including president of the Houston area association, and she is a former member of the TASC Board of Directors.

“Patty is an advocate for all students and always wants what is best for them,” Mayde Creek High School Principal Gina Cobb said. “She is a leader on our campus and her passion for the important work we do is contagious.”

“Ms. Wangler emits a sense of positive energy felt by even our newest council members,” Jonathan Huang, Mayde Creek student and TASC District 13 president, said. “She pushes students and peers to be the best version of themselves and allows them to truly see what they are capable of doing. There can be no better person to represent the ideals of TASC.”

TASC is the largest student council organization in the United States. It helps develop leadership abilities in students, promotes democracy as a way of life and establishes and upholds high standards for local student councils.

Katy ISD names new assistant superintendent, principals for 2022-23 school year

Katy school trustees Monday approved Emily Craig as the district’s newest assistant superintendent for secondary school leadership and Support.

Craig replaces Jeff Stocks, who will be retiring at the end of the school year.

Trustees also approved the naming of three new principals: Thea Wofford for Exley Elementary, Tanya Heard for Rylander Elementary and Jason Brown for Williams Elementary.

Craig began her career as an English teacher in 1997 at Spring Forest Middle School in the Spring Branch Independent School District. That same year, she joined Katy High School and in 2003, she became a counselor at Memorial Parkway Junior High. Five years later, she became assistant principal at WoodCreek Junior High and returned to Memorial Parkway in 2014, where she has since served as principal. Since Craig took over at Memorial Parkway, the campus has consistently been in the top 10 middle school rankings in the Houston area, according to Niche. Additionally, Craig was named the Katy ISD Principal of the Year in 2021 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Auburn University, a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Houston at Victoria, and a principal certificate and doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

Wofford is returning to Exley Elementary, where she began her educational career in 2005. This time she’s joining Exley as its new principal. In 2016, she was named assistant principal at Alexander Elementary and in 2021 she joined Adams Junior High as its assistant principal. Wofford holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University.

Heard began her career as an educator in 1994 in Florissant, Mo., where she taught at both the elementary and junior high levels. In 1998, she came to Texas and took a position with Richardson Independent School District. Throughout her career, Heard has served as a team leader, science teacher, instructional technology facilitator, educational instructional technology coordinator, dean of instruction and assistant principal at schools in the surrounding area. In 2020, Heard joined Katy ISD as assistant principal at Mayde Creek High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts education from Monmouth College, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri, a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix in Dallas and a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Executive Leadership at Texas A&M University.

Brown began his teaching career in 2003 in the Alief Independent School District. In 2007, he accepted a position as a fourth-grade teacher at Griffin Elementary in Katy ISD. He worked his way up to a leadership role and became the assistant principal at Exley Elementary in 2008.  He remained there for two years before being named assistant principal at Holland Elementary. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in design from Clemson University and a master’s degree in educational management from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

All individuals will assume their new roles this summer.

Harmony Public Schools Houston south and west districts announce graduation plans

Harmony Public Schools Houston south and west districts announce graduation plans for the Class of 2022.

High school graduations will be held on May 27 and May 28 at the Morris Cultural Arts Center at Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren Road, in Houston. The specific times and dates for the graduation ceremonies are as follows:

  • Harmony School of Innovation - Sugar Land: 7 p.m. May 27.
  • Harmony Science Academy - Houston: 10:30 a.m. May, May 28.
  • Harmony School of Innovation - Katy: 3 p.m. May 28.
  • Harmony School of Ingenuity: 7:30 p.m. May 28.

All graduation ceremonies will be streamed live online at the website youtube.com/c/harmonyschools.

Katy ISD, Exley Elementary, Rylander Elementary, Williams Elementary, Harmony Public Schools, graduation