The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, December 19.
Before the start of the December 19 Board meeting, students from Hempstead High School led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Texas Flag. The pledges were led by junior students TJ Ross and Elizabeth Zamora. During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil recognized the Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award recipient, the December Operations Employee of the Month, Campus Teachers and Paraprofessionals of the Month, December Students of the Month, and the December Hempstead Reads Teacher and Students of the Month.
Students Recognized
December Students of the Month
Our campuses have selected one student of the month from each grade level to be recognized for their excellence, efforts, and achievement in being outstanding students on campus.
Hempstead Early Childhood Center
Pre-K 3: Kenleigh Wilder
Pre-K 4: Eryk Ortega
Hempstead Elementary School
K: Marina Nunez
1st: Robyn Knowles
2nd: Christopher Lozano
3rd: Richard Dempsey
4th: Ivan Gallegos-Zamora
5th: Kenndahl Lewis
Hempstead Middle School
6th: Orlando Sanchez
7th: Ja’Leyhia McMurry
8th: Tanay Dalwadi
Hempstead High School
9th: Madison Chandler
10th: Mischa Martinez
11th: Noel Ramirez
12th: Aaron Morales
December Hempstead Reads Award Recipients
- Damon Pittman (1st Grade) - 7 hours of Literacy, 10,357 words, 18 books read, 61 games played, 98 books written.
- Blanca Flores Perez (PK) - 2 hours of Literacy, 3,175 words, 17 games played, 1 book written – 94% of the time is completed at home.
- Tabitha Collins First Grade Class - 53 hr 34 min hours of Literacy, 97,531 words, 78 books read, 470 games played, 945 books written.
Employees Recognized
December Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award Recipient
Superintendent O’Neil named Hempstead ISD bus driver, Donall Watson, the Superintendent’s Higher Heights award recipient of the month. Watson was nominated by his supervisor. He was honored and received a certification for his dedication and service to the students and staff in Hempstead ISD.
Operations Employee of the Month
Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mullens, named Maintenance employee Jesse Ruiz as the December Operations Employee of the Month. Ruiz received a certificate for his work ethic and dedication to the students and staff of Hempstead ISD.
Monthly Staff Recognitions
Hempstead Early Childhood Center principal, Keri Houston, recognized Verania Trujillo, as the December HECC Teacher of the Month and Doria Williams as the December HECC Support Staff of the Month.
Hempstead Elementary School principal, Dr. Brittanee Shiflett, recognized Shelly Hazel as the December HES Teacher of the Month and Yazmin San Miguel as the December HES Support Staff of the Month.
Hempstead Middle School principal, Dr. Rhonda Smith, recognized Cheryl Turner as the December HMS Teacher of the Month and Robert Scrogin as the December HMS Support Staff of the Month.
Hempstead High School principal, Samantha Mullens, recognized Kumina Thomas as the December HHS Teacher of the Month and Kristie Toliver as the December Support Staff of the Month.
Hempstead ISD Police Officers
Newly hired Hempstead ISD police officers, Aldrin Arthur and John Howard were recognized at the December board meeting by Chief Laketra Ervin. Anna Davenport, the administrative assistant to the superintendent, performed the oath of office ceremony.
Trustees Approve Action Items
During the December Board meeting, Hempstead ISD Trustees approved the following action items:
Approved the Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022.
Approved the Resolution for Annual Review and Adoption of Investment Policy (CDA-Local).
Approved the purchase of over $50,000 - SchoolKit (Professional Development using TCLAS Grant Funds).
Approved the purchase of over $50,000 - Technical Laboratory Systems (Welding Equipment using JET State Grant Funds).
Approved the purchase of over $50,000 - zSpace (Welding Equipment using JET State Grant Funds).
The January Board meeting will be held on Monday, January 23, and will begin at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building Board Room.