January 8, 2025
Dear AHISD Families-
Happy New Year 2025! I loved seeing our students filling our classrooms once again this week. I’m hopeful that like me, you all had a wonderful break and that your children were ready to come back to start the new semester.
As we return to the year with a winter weather forecast this week, I remind you that I work with representatives from the National Weather Service, SA Operations of Emergency Management leaders, and other area Superintendents to determine whether or not the road conditions are safe for us to keep our schools open. Many of our staff members travel from areas outside of AHISD, and it is necessary to assess road conditions outside our local district boundaries as part of this decision. Whenever possible, I will try to make decisions about school closings the day before anticipated dangerous conditions. In most cases, however, I will wait until our highways are assessed in the early hours of the morning by area partners, and will make a call by 5 a.m. All communication about weather closings will be sent through social media and School Messenger. (Many of you know that I grew up in Pennsylvania where school closings were a matter of the number of inches of accumulation of snow and ice. I find myself in a different world here in San Antonio, but rely on the expertise of those on my calls to make final decisions.)
Teacher of the Year
At next week’s Board Meeting, we will celebrate the five AHISD Campus Teachers of the Year- Braden Cain, Alamo Heights HS;
Kimberly Brady, The Junior School;
Barry Adame- LeMaitre, Cambridge;
Kim Holland, Woodridge; and
Jaeleen Fullen, Howard ECC. We will also announce our District Teacher of the Year. I hope you will join me in honoring these five truly AH-mazing educators who choose to share their talents here in AHISD. If you’d like to celebrate them in person, the Board Meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on January 15 in the Woodridge Elementary auditorium.
School Board Recognition Month
January is School Board Recognition Month and I want to thank our Board of Trustees for their leadership, dedication, and love for AHISD. These seven volunteers work tirelessly on behalf of our students, staff, and district. Despite the many challenges facing public schools, our board has remained resolute in its commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. More than anything, I appreciate their big hearts for our students and our staff! Take a moment to read the
message published in our most recent School Views, by our Board President, David Hornberger. I invite you to reach out to our
Trustees to share your own words of appreciation throughout the month (
[email protected]).
Legislative Session
The 89th Texas Legislature will convene next week in Austin. Throughout this legislative session, I hope you will remain engaged and advocate for the needs of public schools.
As a reminder, our AHISD Legislative Priorities are posted on our website. A group of Trustees, and a few students will join me for a trip to the capitol on January 29 to meet with our leaders about the importance of adequately funding our schools.
As I’ve shared before, our District Budget Advisory Council met throughout the fall to provide input and feedback regarding budget cuts for non-required programs and positions in the case that additional funding is not allocated from the state to the basic allotment. Without an increase to the basic allotment, our Trustees will need to consider strategic reduction in programming. The initial recommendation for reductions will be presented at the January 15 Board Meeting.
On Location Video of the Month
Finally, I invite you to
watch my latest On Location video which highlights the MuleTime Media program at The Junior School. I enjoyed visiting with these students and their teacher Mr. Boylan and learning how they’re proudly sharing the story of AHJS through social media, podcasting, and their own news website.
I look forward to all this upcoming semester holds for our school community. It is a great privilege to serve as your Superintendent and I thank you for sharing your children with us each day in AHISD!