September Board Meeting Group Photo

The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, September 18. The pledges were led by Hempstead Middle School student Jaylen Smith. 

During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil celebrated the unity seen across the district during the 2023 Homecoming Week, the district receiving the  $567,386 JET grant, and highlighted the learning and leading happening across all campuses. 

September 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: Christopher Cornell

Pre-K 4: Jazari Smith

Hempstead Elementary School

K: Jasmine Rahdarian

1st: Maurilia Alvarado

2nd: Chloe Herndon

3rd: Kimberly Benavides

4th: Kynlee Duncan

5th: Beckett Trimboli

Hempstead Middle School 

6th: Antwain Wilder

7th: Ta’Nyrie Kennedy

8th: Naomy Castillo Valdez

Hempstead High School 

9th: Kenadie Anderson

10th: Noa Zain Weidemann

11th: Nayeli Ramirez Carillo

12th: Brylee Sanders

Summer Reading Challenge Hempstead Reads Award Recipients 

Honorable Mention

Jasmine Rahdarian (Kindergarten) - 1,517 words read

Yanelis Medina Figueroa (2nd Grade-Bilingual) - 1,870 words read

Grade Level Winners

Chloe Mitcham (Pre-K) - 1,620 words read

Adam Mancilla (2nd Grade) - 4,693 words read

Blanca Flores Perez (Kindergarten-Bilingual) - 13,494 words read

Kenari Hood (5th Grade) - 21,746 words read

Employees Recognized

September Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award Recipient

Superintendent O’Neil named Hempstead ISD Coordinator of CTE/Advanced Academics as the Superintendent’s Higher Heights award recipient of the month.

Operations Employee of the Month

Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mullens, named Hempstead ISD Maintenance employee, Brent Meier, as the September Operations Employee of the Month. Meier received a certificate for his work ethic and dedication to the students and staff of Hempstead ISD. 

Monthly Staff Recognitions

Hempstead Early Childhood Center 

September  HECC Teacher of the Month - Kelli Johnson

September  HECC Support Staff of the Month - Quintasia Ketchum

Hempstead Elementary School 

September HES Teacher of the Month - Kimberly Smith

September HES Support Staff of the Month - Tony Uvalle

Hempstead Middle School 

September HMS Teacher of the Month - Jessie Trimboli

September HMS Support Staff of the Month - Loretta Smith-Harris

Hempstead High School

September HHS Teacher of the Month - Dr. Paul Nagel

September Support Staff of the Month - Barbie Del Real

The following information items were presented at the monthly board meeting. 

Hempstead ISD delinquent tax collection attorney, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, presented the annual Hempstead ISD Collection Report. 

Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Leading, Brittany Anderson, and Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Emily Vermeulen, presented 2023 STAAR/EOC data and provided a strategic plan update for Goal 1. 

Goal 1 of the five-year strategic plan, Learning & Leading to Higher Heights, focuses on ensuring success for all learning. 

Hempstead ISD will provide the tools and resources to support effective teaching and learning that fosters communication, engagement, and critical thinking.

Vermeulen presented action steps that will help the District implement strategies created to achieve Goal 1. 

Trustees Approve Action Items

During the September board meeting, Hempstead ISD Trustees approved the following action items:

  • Approved the Resolution regarding the Extracurricular Status of the Waller County Texas 4-H Organization.

  • Approved the Adjunct Faculty Agreement with Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Cooperative Extension Program for the 2023-2024 school year.

  • Approved an Interlocal Contract between The Department of Information Resources and Hempstead Independent School District relating to the use of the DIR Shared Services Master Service Agreements.

The October Board meeting will be held on Monday, October 16, and will begin at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building Board Room.