1

Elmo Express

Pages 2―5

∗ New Employees to CBISD

Page 6

∗ New Employees Orientation

∗ Virtual School Bus at Transportation

∗ Winners at End of Year Breakfast

∗ 2015-2016 Teachers of the Year

Pages 7―8

∗ Convocation

Page 9

∗ Dr. Bertrice Berry

∗ Elementary Kick-off

Page 10

∗ Shining Star: Perry Simmons

∗ Birthday Shout-outs

Page 11

∗ HR Corner: Information to know

∗ Departing Quotes: Sheryl Harris

∗ Announcements and Upcoming Events

August 2015

Superintendent Steven Galloway

Columbia Brazoria Independent School District

What’s Inside

JUST IMAGINe

First, I would like to convey a very appreciate thanks to all staff for your hard work

and dedication in helping CBISD be an institution that our community is proud of.

Success or failure in any organization, or team, begins with individuals first. Here

are 7 practices of successful individuals, which also allow for organizational suc-

cess. This is a must, if we are to lay a foundation that enables our students to just

imagine what big time opportunities lie ahead of them.

1. Clarify the Win – Be clear on your destination so you know if you’re getting

closer or farther away. When all is said and done, what do we want to look

back on and celebrate?

2. Think Steps, Not Programs – Programs should take people where they need

to be. Are the individuals taking the steps in the same direction? Strike one,

two, and one more, must happen before a strikeout can be recorded in the

scorebook.

3. Narrow the Focus – Achieve excellence and make an impact in one thing,

then move to the next. Deliver the right information at the right time.

4. Less for More - If you talk too much, no one knows when you say something

important. If you complain too much, no one knows when you have a good

idea.

5. Listen to Outsiders – Sometimes the insiders don’t tell you the truth. Define

outsider, then listen. No one individual has all of the answers.

6. Replace Yourself – One day someone else will be doing what you are doing,

help the organization, prepare for the inevitable, and leave a roadmap to suc-

cess.

7. Work on It – Carve time to step back and evaluate yourself, honestly that is.

Live in the “real” world, not “your” world.

Create, Innovate, Perform...Endless

possibilities

2

NEW TO CBISD: Welcome to our family!

Spencer Pullen

Reading Teacher/Coach

Carlneka Kerns

Instructional Aide

David Green II

Criminal Justice Teacher

Dawn Thomas

Special Ed Teacher

Hayley Galloway

Teen Leadership Teacher/Coach

Columbia High School

Kayla Scott

Computer Lab Aide

Aryel Kelley

Science Teacher

Kenneth Kuykendall

Social Studies Teacher/Coach

Jonah Vincent

Choir Director (HS/JH)

West Brazos Jr. High

Tanya Raley

Library Clerk

Shelly Norton

Instructional Aide

Christina Collins

English/LA Teacher

Phyllis Larson

Behavior Aide

Gerald Nixon

Assistant Principal

Amber King

Athletic Trainer

Richard Sincere, Jr.

PE Teacher/Coach

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Stefanie Dale

Music Teacher

Erin Bickham

2nd grade Teacher

Kim Gerbich

Special Ed Teacher Keri Jaeger-Weber

Instructional Aide

Belinda Allen

Instructional Aide

Barrow Elementary

Emily Walters

Instructional Aide

Wendy Thoe

Assistant Principal

Caroline Dunn

RN, School Nurse

Chasity Keulemans

5th grade Teacher

Amanda Forrester

2nd grade Teacher

Jenny Massey

Counselor

Annette Martinez

Kindergarten Teacher

Abby Kluttz

Instructional Aide

Trey Rice

Special Ed Teacher

West Brazos Jr. High

Continues

4

West Columbia Elementary

Pam Sanders

Instructional Aide

Kristina Rodriguez

5th grade Teacher

Terez Turner

LSSP Intern

Christine Rodriguez

Special Ed Aide

Sheila Spiller

Behavior Aide

Charlotte Thompson

1st grade Teacher

Amber Urban

3rd grade ESL Teacher

Leigh Ann Morra

1st grade Teacher

Hillary Lemonds

5th grade Teacher

Barrow Elementary

Continues

Wild Peach Elementary

April Breazeale

4th grade Teacher

Heidi Benton

4th grade Teacher

Sharon Argo

5th grade Teacher

Cherie Dominey

Computer Lab Aide

IMAGINE

WHAT YOU

CAN DO…

BIG TIME

5

Toby Cohen

Computer Technician

Ben Mack

Bus Driver

Austin Roch

Administrative Assistant/HR

Sequoyah Thomas

Bus Monitor

Jody Blevins

Bus Monitor

Johnny Chancellor

Crossing Guard

Technology

Transportation

Ashley DeLosSantos

Bus Monitor

Central Administration

LaTasha Foster

Pre-K Teacher

Karen Fields

ELAR 5/6th grade Teacher

Kayla Eubanks

Kindergarten Teacher

Nicole Guilbeaux

2nd grade Teacher

Wild Peach Elementary

Continues

Bobby Woods

Bus Driver

Evelyn Higgins

Bus Monitor

Larry Bryant

Custodian BE

Maintenance

Garrett Magee

General Maint (Electrician)

6

New Employee Orientation

CBISD has 58 new employees to start the new school year. We put our board room size to the test when we all gathered together to go

over benefits, leave and other important information.

During the summer…. Our bus drivers took advantage of an unique advance training given by Larry

Thornton, Safety Training

Specialist at Education Service

Center 6. CBISD drivers were

trained and tested on a bus

simulator that was brought to our

district. The training was featured

in The Facts as a “hands-on,

virtual reality experience.”

Congratulations to our 2015-2016

Teachers of the year!

Elementary Teacher of the Year:

Amanda Biever—Wild Peach Elementary

Secondary Teacher of the Year:

Kate Graham—West Brazos Junior High

Elusive Elmo

Winners:

Pam Stewart

(Ipad)

Pam Martin

(Kindle Fire)

Ipad Mini Winners:

Perfect Attendance

Jake Carr CHS

Excellent Attendance

Evelyn Smith BE

Kathy Stevens BE

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CONVOCATION

TDECU MORTGAGE brought the money booth back this year. The minimum you could win was $100. Our employees, Pam Stewart, Robert

Maurer, Terri Adams, Nicole Guilbeaux, and Dana West all participated in catching flying money. They all caught more than $50. Nicole was the big

winner and walked away with a $200 gift card.

First Assembly of Brazoria hosted our

annual event. We used their building

facilities and then they served the

entire district lunch.

Thank you Dale Frankum and church

family for your continuous generosity!

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8

First Assembly of Brazoria did

it again with their AMAZING

decorations!

Superintendent, Steven Galloway First Assembly Pastor, Dale Frankum Board President, Jonathan Champagne TDECU Rep, Loretta Williams

Cory Norton sings “I Can Only Imagine” Rhinestone Galloway

Sheryl receives recognition for her years

of dedication in CBISD

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Dr. Bertrice Berry Author, Entertainer, Motivational speaker

"When you walk with purpose," Berry says, "you collide with destiny!"

What an honor it was to have Dr. Berry as our keynote speaker for convocation. Her passion and love for all students was evident in her testimony. Tears from realization and laughter was among the crowd.

Most of all, we will always remember “Sumpins Not Right!”

ELEMENTARY KICK-OFF

YOU

MATTER!

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August 25 John Langner

August 26 Karl Harriman

Angela Ohlen

August 27 Barbara Douglas

August 28 Milissa Smith

August 29 Amy Woodrome

August 30 Kay Giles

Dee Ann Ogburn Mandy Prewit

Sheila Spiller

August 31 Sean Cook

Iris Howard

September 1 Belinda Allen

Barbara Bell

September 2 Patrice Ward

Scott Williams

September 3 Troi Johnson Kelly Sims

Rebecca Wilson

September 6 Leigh Ann Morra

September 7 Stefanie Dale September 8 Hayley Galloway David Green

September 10 Toby Cohen

Hollie Nail

September 11 Rhonda Roark

September 12 Barry Bishop

Dawn Terry

September 14 Hanna DeLeon

Nicole Guilbeaux Patty Heidel

September 15 Christina Collins Ricky Rosas

September 16 Mary Neisig

September 18 Susan Thatcher

September 21 Brian Carter

Johnny Chancellor Pam Johnson

Deborah Kaspar

Shannon Kirby

September 22 Stephanie Beall Alfred Black September 23 Annette Martinez Mary Giesecke

September 24 Andrew Beem

BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS

Perry Simmons, Lead Mechanic with the Transportation Department, was presented the

Shining Star Award by Transportation Director, Debbie Jones. Perry went over and be-

yond his job duties to accomplish his Master Technician Certificate. He also received Shop

Supervisor of the Year from Texas Association of School Bus Technicians. “This is a great

recognition among all the districts in Texas,” says Debbie Jones.

Perry states, “there is 1,031 school districts in the state of Texas, many of those having multi-

ple transportation facilities so being chosen shop supervisor of the year for the state of Texas is

quite an honor. I also received

my master technician over the

summer making Columbia-

Brazoria ISD the only Texas

school district to have mechan-

ics whom all have their master

technician certifications.

It’s a honor to receive

the shining star from a

district that holds high

standards for their em-

ployees, reflecting their

compassion for their

students safety and

comfortable learning

environment.”

August Shining STAR

Perry receiving his Master Technician

Certificate

2015 SHOP SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

Texas Association of School Bus Technicians

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• Katy Scarborough is now Katy Wagner! Katy was married on July 11th

to J.R. Wagner. Congratulations!

• Aaron Watts (Class of 1999), son of Ray and Tina Watts, earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Tarleton State University at MCC.

• On a beautiful May evening on a Hawaiian beach in Maui, Jenna Ogburn, daughter of Jeb & Dee Ann Ogburn, said “Yes” to the proposal by Kevin Michael Coulter, son of Kevin and Stacey Coulter. They are both graduates of CHS and are planning a fall 2016 wedding.

• CHS Class of 2000 Benefit for AMANDA EAST JONES: Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Brazoria Heritage Foundation Gym and Conf. Center, starts at 3pm with face painting, silent auction, games, 5pm BBQ plates for $10, 7pm live auction, 8pm DJ & dance til 12am, $30 singles/$40 couples

• SAVE THE DATE: Roughneck Blowout: October 31, 2015 ($25 advance, $30 at the door)

HR CORNER

Departing Quotes by Sheryl Harris Announcements and Upcoming Events

“The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” - Walter Bagehot

“I don’t regret the things I’ve done, I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance - Unknown

“I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you!!” - Howard Pickle

“Rule #1 of life. Do what makes YOU happy.” - Unknown

“Forget all the reasons it won’t work and believe the one reason that it will.” - Unknown

“I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.” - George Burns

Health Insurance changes are due by August 31st.

https://ffga.benselect.com/enroll

Admin Free Days have been reduced TWO times a year, any employee is allowed to take leave up to 2 hours, not to be combined with any other leave. You must obtain permission in advance from your supervi-sor to use this leave and you must clock out (or clock in) to document the time gone. Please contact HR if

you have any questions.

Attendance Incentive is back this year! A drawing for an electronic device will take place at the End of Year Breakfast for employees with Perfect (no missed days) or Excellent Attendance (only missing 1-2 days) from August 14, 2015—June 2, 2016.

• Guidelines — 1. Business leave is considered “working.” 2. Comp days for hourly employees is not counted against attendance (cannot go over 60 hours). 3. Using “Admin Free” leave is not work-ing the entire day and would not qualify for this incentive

• Who is eligible: *All teachers, nurses, counselors and staff assigned to a campus, *All hourly employees, *District profession-als not assigned to a campus, *Campus administration and central administration employees are not eligible **Must be present to win

TRS Contribution rates have increased The contribution rates for TRS active members will increase from 6.7% to 7.2% beginning Sept. 1, 2015. You will see the increase amount come out of your paycheck on Sept. 10th.

To see more changes to TRS rules visit www.trs.texas.gov.

Be sure and create an MyTRS account to obtain on-line benefits.

EMPLOYEE ACCESS CENTER is available with updated infor-

mation after you receive your first pay check for this new contractual year. The EAC can be accessed through CBISD website or click here to go directly to the login

page.

Community Support —Show your school ID for these local discounts:

∗ McDonalds: 15% regularly priced menu item, excluding dollar menu and promotional items alone. Available at Brazoria, West Columbia and Bay City locations.

∗ Sonic: 30% discount regularly priced menu item, excluding dollar menu. Large drinks $.99

∗ Jack in the Box: 20% discount regularly priced menu item