Board report, photos of school board

The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, January 23.

Before the start of the January 23 Board meeting, students from Hempstead Middle School led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Texas Flag. The pledges were led by students Brianna Padilla and Leahne Smith. During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil recognized the Board of Trustees, Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award recipient, the January Operations Employee of the Month, Campus Teachers and Paraprofessionals of the Month, January Students of the Month, and the January Hempstead Reads Teacher and Students of the Month. 

Students Recognized

January 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: Arely Valdez-Cruz

  • Pre-K 4: Massiah Allen

Hempstead Elementary School

  • K: Lupita Padron Charre

  • 1st: Raven Glas

  • 2nd: Julian Zamora

  • 3rd: Anne-Marie Mullens

  • 4th: Lesiah Manzano

  • 5th: Saige Trujillo

Hempstead Middle School 

  • 6th: Jake Saucedo

  • 7th: Alfredo Alvarez-Murrieta

  • 8th: Zy’Rhia McDade

Hempstead High School 

  • 9th: Jocelyn Salazar

  • 10th: Dontae Houston

  • 11th: Kelvin Jackson

  • 12th: Dalton Hilburn

January Hempstead Reads Award Recipients 

  • Devin Taylor (PK) - 9 hrs 21 min of Literacy, 25, 742 words, 56 books read, 63 games played, 28 books written. 68% completed at home. 

  • Delton Taylor (1st grade) - 6 hrs of Literacy, 14,441 words, 25 books read, 67 games played, 14 books written – 49% of the time is completed at home.

  • Akia Ratcliff First Grade Class - in the past month 6 hrs 9 min of Literacy for a total of 26 hr 22 min hours, 14,441 words, 25 books read, 67 games played, 319 books written.

  • Valerie Minor 3rd Grade Class - in the past month 6 hrs 40 min of Literacy for a total of 33 hr 8 min hours, 12,711 words, 22 books read, 131 games played, 531 books written.

  • Melissa Hegemeyer - Supporter of the Month

Employees Recognized

January Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award Recipient

Superintendent O’Neil named Hempstead ISD Community Supporter, Melissa Hegemeyer, the Superintendent’s Higher Heights award recipient of the month. Hegemeyer was honored and received a certification for her support of the students and staff in Hempstead ISD.

Operations Employee of the Month

Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mullens, named Food Service employee Lorena Soto as the January Operations Employee of the Month. Soto 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 Catherine Johns, as the January HECC Teacher of the Month and Savannah Bond as the January HECC Support Staff of the Month. 

Hempstead Elementary School principal, Dr. Brittanee Shiflett, recognized Camirey Jackson as the January HES Teacher of the Month and Kimberly Lucherk as the January HES Support Staff of the Month. 

Hempstead Middle School principal, Dr. Rhonda Smith, recognized Karon Neal r as the January HMS Teacher of the Month and Monica Salazar as the January HMS Support Staff of the Month. 

Hempstead High School interim principal, LaKesha Morgan, recognized Carly Becker as the January HHS Teacher of the Month and Barbie Del Real as the January Support Staff of the Month.

Trustees Approve Action Items

During the January Board meeting, Hempstead ISD Trustees approved the following action items:

  • Approved the Proposed Budget Amendment

  • Approved update to policy EIF (LOCAL)

  • Approved the 2023-2024 District Calendar

  • Approved Order of Election for the 2023 Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees Election for May 6, 2023

  • Approved District Rekey Project

The February Board meeting will be held on Monday, February 20, and will begin at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building Board Room.