Rockwall ISD Update: Board of Trustees April 17, 2023 Meeting

Rockwall, TX (April 18, 2023) – NOTE: Board meeting summaries highlight different agenda items. For more information on every agenda item presented, visit www.rockwallisd.com

Board of Trustees Recognitions The Board of Trustees recognized and congratulated these outstanding individuals and groups for the following accomplishments:
Elementary UIL Winners for 2022-2023 – In the spring of 2023, learners at each of our sixteen elementary campuses participated in the following University Interscholastic League A+ Academic events: Chess, Ready Writing, Music Memory and Number Sense. Ribbons were awarded to campus winners and the top scores were sent to the District-level competition. In each category, District winners were named in the top six places. Congratulations to the following first through sixth place winners from across the District in our Rockwall ISD UIL competition:

A+ Ready Writing:

Third & Fourth Grade – Sophia Garrett (1st), Reese Hunt (2nd), Taylor Wright (3rd), Aria Lee (4th), Sydney Ash (5th), Avery Land (6th)
Fifth & Sixth Grade – Kellan Conover (1st), Seojun Choi (2nd), Carter Krukiel (3rd), Jaylee Jones (4th), Akhil Pisupati (5th), Annalei Howard (6th)

A+Music Memory:

Third & Fourth Grade – Vivian Baucom (1st), Samuel Smyth (1st), Charlotte Oliver (1st), Mara Kluge (2nd), Rosa Longoria (3rd), Ryan Prater (4th)
Fifth & Sixth Grade – Caroline Nelson (1st), Kassie Williams (2nd), Cade Valentine (3rd), Beckett Peterson (4th), Ruby Alcantar (5th), Brookes Nyamamba (6th)

A+Number Sense:

Fourth Grade – David Asikaiwe (1st), Zachary Mallott (2nd), Luke Sofford (3rd), Embry Higgins (4th), Mario Coirades (5th), Grant DeRiemaecker (6th)
Fifth Grade – Lily Kim (1st), Pierce Belt (2nd), Thanh Nguyen (3rd), Jacob Gunter (4th), Jackie McNellie (5th), Melinda Weng (6th)
Sixth Grade – Elise Brockway (1st), Ivana Yan (2nd), Addison Nichols (3rd), Holly Okeke (4th), Ethan Eisenbise (5th), Adan Thompson (6th)

A+Chess Puzzle:

Third Grade – Kason Morssinkhof (1st), Tyler Tran (2nd), Gavin Seeley (3rd), Emma Hernandez (4th), Jace Shiflet (5th), Sophia Ceka (6th)
Fourth Grade – Matthew Denhartog (1st), Joshua Cevallos (2nd), Levi Macy (3rd), Aiden Gavrilescu (4th), Isabella Zhou (5th), Preston McClure (6th), Guransh Aneja (6th)
Fifth Grade – Louispius Rodriguez (1st), Benjamin Beery (2nd), Oliver Woods (3rd), Erik Smajli (4th), Lucas Doll (5th), Harrison Womble (5th), Lucas Padilla (5th)
Sixth Grade – Diego Martinez (1st), Hunter Drake (2nd), Valentino Miraglia (3rd), Ivan Zhou (4th), Logan Poehlman (5th), Davin Anderson (6th)

Class of 2023 Accolades – The Class of 2023 from Rockwall High School and Rockwall Heath High School have earned many accolades. Student Council representatives shared the accolades from each high school and gave each Board of Trustees member an official invitation to the commencement ceremonies. Representing Rockwall High School were Student Council President Kaitlyn Freel, Student Council Vice President – Events Kate English and Student Council Vice President – Operations Maddey Lyon. Representing Rockwall-Heath High School were Student Council President Lauren Neuwirt, Senior Class President Tess Rodden, Student Council Vice President Caroline Seifer, Senior Class Vice President Sofia Engar, Student Council Officer Gracie Fleming and Senior Class Officer Claire Bollman.

Stingerettes Earn National Championship – The Rockwall High School Stingerettes Varsity Drill Team competed at the Dance Nationals Competition against 86 teams nationwide. In the Elite Team division, the Stingerettes won first place in the Jazz, Lyrical, and Open divisions. The Stingerettes were named Best of the Best Elite National Champion and received the WOW award in Elite Lyrical. The Stingerette officers also competed, winning first place in the Officer Jazz, Officer Novelty and Contemporary divisions, and received a WOW award for their Novelty Routine. In the Full Team division, the Stingerettes won first place in the National Champion Lyrical and, in the Open division, received a Wow award for the Production routine and were named National Champion Super Team. In the solo division, Hadley Daffin won National Champion for Varsity High Schools. Congratulations to the Stingerettes and their teachers, Jessica Clark and Whitney Walker!

Visit the Rockwall ISD Facebook page to view photos of all recognized and awarded recipients.

Board of Trustees Report Continuing Education Hours

Continuing education is a basic obligation and expectation for Board members. Board members have met and/or plan to meet all continuing education requirements. Pending the completion of the 88th Texas Legislature session, each board member will also participate in an update related to the Education Code and any major changes in statute related to governance.

Approval of the Board of Trustee Monthly Meetings and Special/Work Session Dates for 2023-2024

The Board approved the Monthly Meetings and Special/Work Session dates for the 2023-2024 school year.

Biehle named Howard Dobbs Elementary School Principal

Luz Biehle has served students and staff in public education for 18 years. Most recently, Mrs. Biehle has served Rockwall ISD as the assistant principal at Dorothy Pullen Elementary. Previously, Mrs. Biehle served eight years as an assistant principal in Garland ISD. In addition to her campus administration experience, she served three years as an instructional specialist and bilingual educator in Garland ISD. She earned a Master of Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a Bachelor of Science from Texas Woman’s University.

Mrs. Biehle’s professional experiences include:

Successful Elementary Bilingual Campus Leadership experience;
Participant in the Rockwall ISD Aspiring Principals Academy;
Title I administrator experience;
Summer School Principal experience;
Participant in Rockwall ISD Strategic Planning Committee; and
Extensive experience in the implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).

Ebeling named Grace Hartman Elementary School Principal

Jill Ebeling has served students and staff in education for 18 years. Mrs. Ebeling has served Rockwall ISD as the assistant principal at Grace Hartman Elementary for the last six years. Previously, Mrs. Ebeling served as a third- grade teacher at Sharon Shannon Elementary. She also has experience teaching first through fourth grades. She earned a Master’s in Educational Administration from Texas A & M-Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Northwest Nazarene University.

Mrs. Ebeling’s professional experiences include:

Successful Elementary Campus Leadership experience;
Extensive experience in the implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLC);
Participant in the Rockwall ISD Aspiring Principal Academy; and
Rockwall ISD Summer School Principal experience.

Academics Update and Planning for Summer 2023

District leadership updated the Board of Trustees in preparation for summer 2023. Summer Professional Development: The leadership team has planned approximately 150 professional development opportunities for staff this summer. Rockwall ISD will provide the following summer programs:

PK-K Bilingual Summer School – May 31 – June 29 – Dobbs ES
3-5 Summer School – May 31 – June 22 – Dobbs ES
ESL Newcomer Summer School – May 31 – June 22 – Dobbs ES
6-8 Summer School – May 31 – June 22 Utley MS
9-12 Summer School – May 31 – June 22 – Utley MS
Extended Year Services (ESY) – June 12-June 22 – Stevenson ES
Extended Year Services (ESY) – June 26-June 29 – Stevenson ES
Extended Year Services (ESY) – July 10-July 13 – Stevenson ES
Title I Science Camp – June 26 – June 29 – Dobbs ES
Elementary Launch Camp – July 24 – August 3 – Jones ES

Summer STAAR/EOC Tests:

US History – June 26
Algebra I – June 26
English I – June 27
Biology – June 28
English II – June 29

Approval of Renewal and Extension of Employment Contracts under Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code for Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Library Media Specialists and Nurses

The Board of Trustees approved renewing and extending contracts under Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code for Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Library Media Specialists and Nurses for the 2023-2024 school year as recommended by the Human Resources Department.

Approval of Renewal of Employment Contracts for Non-Chapter 21 Personnel

The Board of Trustees approved renewing Non-Certified Employment Contracts for those individuals recommended by the Human Resources Department for the 2023-2024 school year.

Submitted Press Release

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