ATPE Awards Andrews Elementary $1,000 in Curbside Appeal Contest
Andrews Elementary School was presented with a $1,000 check by Texas ATPE (Association of Texas Professional Educators), delivered by ATPE's Doug Ekart of Austin. Accepting the check was Melissa Duffey, Andrews ATPE representative, and colleagues. The school won the award in ATPE's "Supporting Your Freedom to Teach" Campus Curbside Appeal Contest. Andrews is one of three schools in the state awarded through the program for projects or items that would benefit the entire school not just ATPE members. With the winning funds, Andrews will order a much needed poster maker, walkie talkies to increase student safety for outdoor recess and staff raincoats and umbrellas to wear for arrival and dismissal duty on rainy days.
Student Services Coordinator Awarded by Plano Community Forum
 James Thomas, III, student services coordinator / homeless liaison, was recently honored by the Plano Community Forum with an educator award during its 28th annual awards banquet in October. The Forum is a nonprofit community organization of African-American leaders which provides scholarships to minority graduates of Plano schools and promotes cultural enrichment and community involvement among African-American citizens.
Mr. Thomas has served 25 years in education. In his current role, he is responsible for disciplinary, security and truancy related issues. He facilitiates constant communicaton with administrators, judges, probation officers, parents, security agencies, local police departments and other social and community organizations. He is further responsible for the district's elementary summer school programs and is the district's homeless persons liaison. In the latter role, his duties include providing resources such as food and shelter for homeless families in Plano ISD. Mr. Thomas takes an active role in multiple school and community service related organizations, and he is the proud father of three sons and the proud grandson of James Thomas, namesake of Thomas Elementary School in Plano.
National Forensic League Honors Plano Teachers
Nancy Lewis, Plano West Senior High School speech and debate teacher, has joined the select company of coaches who wear two diamonds in their NFL pins. The total of 30,000 points earned by students in her program is indication that they are provided comprehensive training in the art of communication. Ms. Lewis has attained a total of 3,473 points (1/10th of her students' points). In June, Nancy received special recognition at the Lincoln Financial Group/NFL Natrional Tournament for her devotion in training effective leadership skills.
Cheryl Potts, Plano Senior High School speech and debate teacher, has earned significant recognition from the National Forensic League because her chapter achieved 200 degrees or more last year, placing it in the top 5% of NFL chapters nationalwide and qualifying it for the NFL "200 Club." The award demonstrates the program's commitment to teaching essential life skills - communication, research, listening, writing and organization - to a large number of students.
Robinson Choir Earns National Honor Under Director's Leadership
Director Kimberley Ahrens and the Robinson Middle School Choral Department were recently notified that the Robinson 2008-09 A Cappella Women's Choir was selected as a national winner in the 2009 National Choral Honors Project. Top candidates for the award are selected national winners based on submitted tape recordings of the students. The Robinson choir emerged as the top national winner among 155 recordings from 28 states.
Rice / Jasper Choir Director Announces First Published Composition
Evan Ramos, assistant choir director at Rice Middle School and Jasper High School, was recently notified that Alliance Music Publishing will publish one of his choral compositions. "El Dorado!" will be Mr. Ramos' first published composition, although he has been writing pieces for his groups at Rice and Jasper since joining the Plano staff in 2007.
"El Dorado" is an accompanied piece for three men's voices with text from Edgar Allan Poe's poem by the same name. Evan says of his work, "I wanted to try to write a piece that was interesting and yet accessible for middle school boys. It has a lot of very different harmonies and dissonances that are all approached step-wise." This piece was performed by the Rice Middle School Men's Choir on their recent fall concert.
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