Hempstead ISD

The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, December 18. The pledges were led by Hempstead High School students, Haley Herbert and Kelvin Jackson.  

At the top of the meeting a public hearing for the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) Report. Interim Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Matthis, presented an overview of the report. 

During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil recognized the December Students and Staff of the Month. He also celebrated Hempstead High School freshman, Brianna Padilla, for competing in the state Greenhand FFA Creed Speaking competition. Padilla placed 6th in the state and made history as the first Hempstead ISD student to go to state in this category. Superintendent O’Neil also recognized Hempstead High School football and volleyball All District student athletes.

Football All District Recognition

• Jimmie Toliver, 1st Team Defensive Back

• Kaleb Blackmon, 1st Team Defensive Line

• Percy Bonner-Robertson, 2nd Team Defensive Line

• Tremain Glover, 2nd Team Defensive Back

• Calvin Thompson, 2nd Team RB & Utility Player of the Year

• Marlon Fisher, 2nd Team Quarterback

• JaMarion Mickle, 1st Team WR and District MVP Punter

Football All District Honorable Mention

• Dawayne Crawford - Linebacker

• Floyd Ragston - Running Back

• Jacob Wilder - Running Back

• Ben Mayes - Offensive Line

• Jamari Idlebird - Offensive Line

• Jaysen Smith - Defensive Line

Volleyball All District Recognition

• Haley Herbert, 1st Team

• Akyrah King, 2nd Team

Volleyball All District Honorable Mention

• Jaiden Deese

• Ashley Diaz

• Lucero Montero 

• Celeste Trujillo

• Elizabeth Zamora

• Ja'Novia Kinsey

• Nataly Salinas

Volleyball All District Recognition

• Jaiden Deese

• Haley Herbert

• Lucero Montero

• Celeste Trujillo

• Vivan Uvalle

Volleyball Academic All State

• Haley Herbert, 1st Team

• Vivian Uvalle, Honorable Mention

• Lucero Montero, Honorable Mention

• Celeste Trujillo, Honorable Mention

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

Victoria Medrano - Pre-K3

Leonardo Garcia - Pre-K4

Hempstead Elementary School

Ernesto Colunga-Lujan - K

Angel Ayala Garcia - 1st Grade

Genesis Escobar - 2nd Grade

Sarai Silva - 3rd Grade

Fabian Lopez - 4th Grade

Jacob Galvan - 5th Grade

Hempstead Middle School 

Cayden Cole - 6th Grade

Ayleen Hartley - 7th Grade

Vianney Rodriguez - 8th Grade

Hempstead High School 

Tristan Allen - 9th Grade

Kearstyn Wolfe - 10th Grade

Andrew Salinas - 11th Grade

Lucero Montero - 12th Grade

Employees Recognized

Operations Employee of the Month
Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mullens, named Hempstead ISD transportation employee, Kevin Grimes, as the December Operations Employee of the Month. Grimes received a certificate for his work ethic and dedication to the students and staff of Hempstead ISD. 

Monthly Staff Recognitions

Hempstead Early Childhood Center 

December HECC Teacher of the Month - Sheila Hill

December HECC Support Staff of the Month - Susanna Ramirez

Hempstead Elementary School 

December HES Teacher of the Month - Abraham Ahumada

December HES Support Staff of the Month - Vanessa Carrizalez

Hempstead Middle School 

December HMS Teacher of the Month - Michelle Jendral

December HMS Support Staff of the Month - Devon Jones

Hempstead High School

December HHS Teacher of the Month - Eric Eady

December HHS Support Staff of the Month - Zobeya Williams

At the end of the recognition portion of the meeting, Hempstead ISD Chief Communications Officer, Valonia Walker, APR, surprised Superintendent O’Neil with a special video of students and staff congratulating him on his 2023 National School Public Relations Society Superintendent’s to Watch award. Watch the video

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

Hempstead ISD Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mullens, presented a strategic plan update for Goal 4. Goal 4 of the five-year strategic plan, Learning & Leading to Higher Heights, focuses on aligning resources and infrastructure. 

Hempstead ISD will create a physically and emotionally safe and effective environment where students can learn and teachers can teach at high levels.

Mullens presented action steps that will help the District implement strategies created to achieve Goal 4. Several strategies are ongoing and have been implemented this Fall. Some of these strategies include:

• Maintaining the District Crisis Plan 

• Safety Training/Drills for all staff and students

• Security Vestibules 

• Campus Safety Walks

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, 2023.

• Approved the Resolution for Annual Review and Adoption of Investment Policy

• (CDA-Local).

• Approved the Hempstead ISD Wellness Plan.

• Approved the waiver for remote homebound instruction.

• Approved an update to DEC - Local Policy.