HECC students delivering the pledge at board meeting

The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, November 13. The pledges were led by Hempstead Early Childhood Center students. 

During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil recognized the November Students and Staff of the Month, Native American Heritage Month and American Education Week. He also celebrated Hempstead ISD receiving the Texas Education Agency Stronger Connections Grant. 

The TEA Stronger Connections Grant supports systemic change in the way that school districts address and respond to bullying, violence, and acts of hate. The grant also supports the academic and nonacademic needs of students by providing safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. The goal is that these initiatives will result in improved student academic achievement as well as mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical health and well-being of Hempstead ISD students.

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: Aislinn Aguilar

Pre-K 4: Zuis Williams

Hempstead Elementary School

K: Anthony Jimenez

1st: Emilee Pfeffer

2nd: Kimberly Rodriguez

3rd: Alexander Hernandez

4th: Juan Alamilla

5th: Zoe Reese

Hempstead Middle School 

6th: Adrian Sandoval Tejeda

7th: Destiny Vineyard

8th: Trevor DeWees

Hempstead High School 

9th: Derrick Reed

10th: Amyiah Momon

11th: Taliyah Williams

12th: Cheyenne Wood

November Hempstead Reads Award Hempstead Early Childhood Center pre-k student, Elion Wilson, has read 3,800 words since joining the program in September. Hempstead Elementary School kindergarten student, Mia Santos, leads in total hours of usage with 4 hours and 37 min and words read with 11,036 since September. 

 Employees Recognized

November Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award Recipient Superintendent O’Neil named Hempstead ISD community member, Cheryl Hardwick, as the November Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award recipient of the month.

Operations Employee of the Month Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mullens, named Hempstead ISD food service employee, Ruth Arellano, as the November Operations Employee of the Month. Arellano received a certificate for her work ethic and dedication to the students and staff of Hempstead ISD. 

Monthly Staff Recognitions

Hempstead Early Childhood Center 

November HECC Teacher of the Month - Marisha Jordan

November HECC Support Staff of the Month - Doria Williams

Hempstead Elementary School 

November HES Teacher of the Month - Sarah Shaffer

November HES Support Staff of the Month - Shelly Hazel

Hempstead Middle School 

November HMS Teacher of the Month - Melissa Mazurkiewicz

November HMS Support Staff of the Month - Adriana Conde

Hempstead High School

November HHS Teacher of the Month - Casie Westbrook

November Support Staff of the Month - LaTasha Garvie

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

Hempstead ISD Executive Director of Special Education, Dr. Kimberly Harvey, presented a strategic plan update for Goal 3. Goal 3 of the five-year strategic plan, Learning & Leading to Higher Heights, focuses on supporting the whole child. 

Hempstead ISD will foster an environment that promotes social emotional learning, self-awareness and positive relationships.

Harvey presented action steps that will help the District implement strategies created to achieve Goal 3. 

Additionally, the Hempstead ISD Director of Bilingual/ESL, Margarita Paramore, provided a Bilingual Education Overview and a TELPAS update. 

Trustees Approve Action Items

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

  • Approved TASB Initiated Policy Update 122 which includes the following local policies: CQB(LOCAL): TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES CYBERSECURITY; CSA(LOCAL): FACILITY STANDARDS - SAFETY AND SECURITY; DC(LOCAL): EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES; EHB(LOCAL): CURRICULUM DESIGN - SPECIAL PROGRAMS; EHBC(LOCAL): SPECIAL PROGRAMS - COMPENSATORY SERVICES AND INTENSIVE PROGRAMS; EHBCA(LOCAL): COMPENSATORY SERVICES AND INTENSIVE PROGRAMS - ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION; FEA(LOCAL): ATTENDANCE - COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE; FFAC(LOCAL): WELLNESS AND HEALTH SERVICES - MEDICAL TREATMENT; FFB(LOCAL): STUDENT WELFARE - CRISIS INTERVENTION; FL(LOCAL): STUDENT RECORDS.

  • Approved a Board Resolution pertaining to the casting of Hempstead ISD votes for the 2023-2024 Board of Directors - Waller County Appraisal District.

  • Approved board adoption of identified projects and rankings for the Long-Range Facilities Plan as recommended by the committee and Board of Trustees.

  • Approved Board Resolution updating an Investment Officer change, removing Amy Carter, CFO and adding Joseph K. Mathis, Interim CFO.

The December Board meeting will be held on Monday, December 18, and will begin at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building Board Room.